How Will You Be Affected by the HST?
Here are some examples of common products and services and how they will be affected by the HST.
83% of the goods we purchase on a daily basis will not have any additional tax.
| NO CHANGE |
NO CHANGE |
NO CHANGE |
CHANGE |
| Both taxes already applied |
Tax Exempt |
GST only/ PST exempt |
HST applicable |
- Cell phone charges
- Home phone services
- Cable TV service
- Movie tickets & admission
to professional sports
events (provincial tax
reduced from 10% to 8%)
- Restaurant meals
- Vehicles and parts, labour
charges for vehicle repair
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Major household
appliances and building materials
- Home Service calls to
repair free standing
appliances such as
refrigerators, televisions
- Toys
- Cleaning products
- Radio & stereo equipment
- TVs, DVDs and CDs
- Auto rentals
- Luggage, bags, briefcases |
- Basic groceries
- Prescription drugs
- Over-the-counter
medications
- Municipal water
- Certain medical devices
- Prescription glasses
- Most health care services
- Most educational services
- Most financial services
- Municipal public
transportation
- Child care services
- Residential rent
- Music lessons
- Auto insurance
- GO Transit
- Resale homes |
- Books (including audio
books)
- Children's clothing
- Children's footwear
- Child car seats and car
booster seats
- Prepared foods and coffee
sold for $4 or less
- Newspapers
- Adult incontinence products
- Feminine hygiene products
- Diapers
- New homes up to $400,000 |
- Electricity
- Professional services
- Heating fuels
- Gasoline
- Personal services
- Internet access fees
|
Dates to Remember
For those who qualify, government cheques (or direct deposit) will be issued on the following schedule:
2010
-
June – 1st HST transition payment
- July – GST rebate
- August – NEW* Ontario Sales Tax Rebate
- October – GST rebate
November – Ontario Sales Tax Rebate
- December – 2nd HST transition payment
2011
-
January – GST rebate
- February – Ontario Sales Tax Rebate
- April – GST rebate
- May – Ontario Sales Tax Rebate
- June – 3rd and final HST transition payment
- July – GST rebate
August – Ontario Sales Tax Rebate
- October – GST rebate
- November – Ontario Sales Tax Rebate
*The eligibility rules for the Ontario Sales Tax Rebate are, for the most part, the same as those for the GST rebate. If you currently receive a quarterly GST credit, you will soon start receiving the new permanent Ontario Sales Tax Credit (rebate) of up to $260 per year for yourself, your spouse or common law partner and each dependent child 19 years of age and under.
Your must file your income tax return in order to qualify for tax benefits – even if you have little or no income. You will still receive your transition cheques and other benefits if you file after the April 30th deadline but your cheques will be delayed.
File Your Taxes In Order to Qualify for Tax Benefits
(Even if you have little or no income)
Over a year ago, our government unveiled plans to reform Ontario’s outdated tax system.
Our tax reform package was designed to create jobs by making Ontario more competitive, reduce business taxes and provide personal tax relief.
As part of this plan, we initiated a wide range of new credits, benefits and tax cuts that are now available to Ontarians.
But there is only one way to get the money that is rightfully yours: you need to fill out your tax forms.
Even if you have little to no income, or if you haven’t completed a tax form in a number of years, filling out this year’s tax form is the only way to qualify for the tax benefits.
At the outset, if you are an individual making less than $80,000 a year, you may be eligible receive $300 in Ontario Sales Tax Transition Benefit payments.
Or, if you are in a family with an annual income below $160,000, you may be eligible to receive $1,000 in Ontario Sales Tax Transition Benefit payments.
If you have a low or modest income, the Ontario Sales Tax Credit offers up to $260 a year for each member of your family.
Do you have children? In this case, you may be eligible for the Ontario Child Benefit which provides up to $1,100 a year per child.
Do you own a home or pay rent? The combined Ontario Property Tax Credit provides up to $900, per family or single person.
Are you a senior? You could receive up to $1,125 a year from the combined Ontario Property Tax Credit, and up to an additional $500 a year from the Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant.
In addition, the tax rate on the first personal income tax bracket was reduced starting January 1, benefiting 93 per cent of Ontario personal income tax payers.
All of these benefits are part of our tax reform plan which also includes the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax and tax cuts for business. It is estimated that these changes will help create almost 600,000 net new jobs within the next 10 years.
This tax package is a key component of our government’s five-year Open Ontario plan to create jobs, grow the economy, and build a stronger Ontario.
But you must complete your tax form for 2009 in order to qualify for this tax relief and receive the cheques that will follow.
For more information on our tax reform package, contact the info line at 1-800-337-7222 or visit the website www.ontario.ca/taxchange