The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) held two free seminars, hosted by the Enderby & District Chamber of Commerce, to help businesses make a smooth transition to the Harmonized Sales tax (HST) in time for July 1, 2010.

Business owners learned what steps are needed to prepare for the changeover and how the HST will affect their business.

The seminars were held on:

Date: April 27, 2010
Times: 10:00am to 12:00pm and 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Download poster.

Background

On July 23, 2009, the Government of British Columbia (BC) announced its plans to implement the HST. Legislation to enact the HST has been passed into law by the Governments of Canada and Ontario. Similar legislation is expected to be introduced soon in the province of British Columbia and, subject to legislative approval, would also provide for the implementation of HST in British Columbia beginning July 1, 2010.

If legislation passes as proposed, the Canada Revenue Agency would be responsible for the administration of the harmonized sales tax (HST) in Ontario and British Columbia. The HST would replace existing provincial sales taxes and the Goods and Services Tax in those provinces beginning July 1, 2010.

Transitional rules are required to determine which tax - the existing provincial retail sales tax or the provincial part of the HST - would apply to transactions that straddle the implementation date. The Canada Revenue Agency and the provincial governments will ensure that businesses receive the information that they need, when they need it, for the transition to the federal administration of the harmonized sales tax.