PROVINCE OF ONTARIO PLANS TO IMPLEMENT HARMONIZED SALES TAX

IMPLEMENTATION DATE:  July 2010

 

YOUR PROVINCIAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT:  John Yakabuski

TELEPHONE:  613 735 6627 OR 1 800 267 2515

 

ONTARIO BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE FOUND AT:

 

www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2009/chpt3.html

 

        OF PARTICULAR NOTE:

         

        13% harmonized sales tax on most services (many services previously not subject to Ontario retail sales tax)

        13% harmonized sales tax on new homes (homes under $500,000 subject to partial rebate)

        13% sales tax on certain taxable financial services

        Ontario sales tax continues on certain insurance premiums

        Bicycles were exempt from Ontario retail sales tax and will be subject to 13% sales tax

        Energy efficient appliances were exempt from Ontario retail sales tax and will be subject 13% harmonized sales tax

        Commercial rents will be subject to 13% harmonized sales tax

        Transient Accommodations will be subject to 13% - increased from 10%

 

.  Transition credits of up to $1000 provided to businesses to support changes in their point of sales equipment

 

.  RST Vendor compensation would be discontinued (presently provided for PST collections)

 

.  Businesses would see an increase in the “input tax credits” they are able to claim

 

.  Public Service Bodies (Municipal Government, Colleges, Hospitals, Charities, Non-Profit Organizations would be fiscally neutral.

 

.  Families earning less than $160,000 would receive up to $1,000 during the transition period

 

.  Businesses will see an increase in the value and number of items eligible for input tax credits

 

 

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESEARCH THE PROVINCE’S PROPOSAL AND

DETERMINE HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS.

 

CALL YOUR MPP AND VOICE YOUR OPINION!

 

SEE BELOW FOR RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM PREMIER MCGUINTY

in email to CABA member, Moira Hutchison, May 29, 2009

 

Our government's highest priority is to help Ontarians through this

recession and build a stronger, more competitive economy. Moving to a

modern single sales tax, beginning July 1, 2010, is one of the most

important things we can do to create jobs and position our economy for

future growth. Ontario is doing what 130 countries and four Canadian

provinces have already done - modernized their tax systems to boost the

economy and make it more competitive. The single sales tax would also

benefit all Ontarians by attracting more investment to the province.

Businesses would see cost savings, which would lower prices for

consumers.

 

To help families adjust to the single sales tax, we would provide $4

billion to Ontarians. Families with incomes of less than $160,000 would

receive $1,000, and individuals earning $80,000 or less would receive

$300. In all, about 6.5 million families and individuals in Ontario

would receive sales tax transition benefits. We would also provide a

number of exemptions on items such as books, children's clothing and

footwear, diapers, children's car seats and car booster seats, feminine

hygiene products and newly constructed homes under $400,000.

 

We are also proposing to cut taxes so that 93 per cent of Ontario

taxpayers would pay less personal income tax. Ontarians would receive a

16.5 per cent cut in the tax rate they pay on the first $36,848 of

taxable income, and low- and middle-income families would see a new

sales tax credit of up to $260 per adult and child to replace the

existing sales tax relief provided through the Ontario Tax Credits.

 

Business taxes would be cut by $4.5 billion over three years, making

Ontario more competitive among its trading partners. Combining the

proposed corporate income tax cuts and single sales tax would cut

Ontario's marginal effective tax rate on new capital investment in half.

The corporate income tax rate for small businesses would be cut by 18

per cent, and the general corporate income tax rate would be cut by 28

per cent. For more details on our proposed tax reform package, please

visit http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2009/bk_tax.html

 

Ontarians have been through tough times before - and, by working

together, we have always pulled through. As in other times of

uncertainty, our province will rise to the challenge and seize

opportunities to strengthen economic growth, create new jobs and

continue to be a great place to live and invest.

 

Thanks again for contacting me. I welcome your input and assure you that

your views will be taken into consideration in our efforts to stimulate

the economy for the benefit of Ontario citizens and businesses.

 

Dalton McGuinty

Premier of Ontario

 

 

<http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/default.asp>.

 

 

 

This 2 page document prepared for CABA members, June 2009.