Beating the HST?

Torstar News Service Robert Benzies reports:

'Book soon and “beat the tax.”

That’s the advice of Revenue Minister John Wilkinson to anyone making recreational plans for the summer.

“Flights within Canada, services like gym memberships, landscaping and … theatre tickets” will be cheaper if purchased Thursday or Friday, Wilkinson told the Star.

With the transition toward the harmonized sales tax starting Saturday, Ontarians should brace for levies on numerous goods and services to rise from either 5 per cent or 8 per cent to 13 per cent.

But Wilkinson said Wednesday that consumers – most of whom are receiving “transition” cheques of up to $1,000 per family starting in June—could get a tax break on many things by shopping early.

“Some businesses are having ‘beat the tax sales.’ The rules are very clear,” the minister said, referring to the transition regimen announced last Oct. 15 to relatively little fanfare. There was no further announcement from the provincial government.

Because of the lack of media coverage on the phase-in, many Ontarians are likely unaware that as of Saturday, they will begin being charged the full 13 per cent HST on anything to be used after July 1.

That means, for example, that a flight from Toronto to Vancouver booked within the next two days for travel anytime after Canada Day would be taxed at a lower rate than one purchased this weekend or later.

Theatre tickets bought after this Saturday for an August performance of, say, As You Like It at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival would be more expensive than those picked up beforehand.'

Are you making purchases now, or prior to July 1, to beat the tax? Do you believe the economists and experts who say the benefits of the HST to business will eventually pay off for consumers?

Comments

[Ed2]

When will the cost of scandals go down? We keep funding the waste and government keeps getting away with increasing taxes. If we have such a shortfall of cash then why does Canada forgive so many Foreign Aid Loans? Get the billionaires of society to fund Foreign Aid and then if it is forgiven as a debt, then it won't affect me.

Homeless people on the street, impoverished families, lack of nourishment, and such are all domestic problems that need a cure. We cannot cure them if we keep funding off-shore waste where the victims never see one cent.

This new venture of government to rid the world of poverty and devastation for women is admirable, but I have one big issue. How many of the Administration staff of this will earn $400,000.00 plus, $300K, $200K, $100K, and so on as they did in the waste of eHealth. And will eHealth staff be able to apply, or Sponsorship Scandal staff, or favoured ones of parliament, relatives, lawyers, and who will head the Department, a Mulroney type.

And I want weekly Progress reports and not the garbage generated from eHealth where the only ones to benefit were on staff.

Yeah, the HST in needed indeed because government has yet to reveal the real cost of our next scandal but they need to fund it first.

[ANSWER TO 1984 IS 1776]

It costs more to send a package from Burlington to Toronto with Canada Post (Approximately $9.50 CAD) then it would cost someone in Texas to send the same package to Toronto with USPS/Canada Post ($4.75 USD).

Why are our MPPs, elders of the young generations, not motioning to roll-back the socialism here? The HST is now a done deal sad to say, but where's the emotional cries from "the opposition" regarding other intrusions of the state into our affairs and the free market???

It's beginning to look like socialism is here to stay. Too bad I can't immigrate to the U.S. unless I'm a doctor, engineer, pop-star, or terrorist. If I could I'd be out of this mess and go to a state which WILL eventually stand up and reclaim it's liberty. It's called the 10th Amendment... The right for states to end their union in the USA and kick Washington and Wall Street out of their lives. It's happened before and it WILL happen again. This nation has always been a refuge for corrupt British Crown government types... That's what brought our blood to this land, our ancestors dreamed of escaping tyranny in a new life. Taxation without representation will never be opposed in this land of push-overs and puppets.

[Paul]

People have very short memories and the huge government unions will make sure the liberals keep getting elected. The time to do something about this has long passed. You lost 8 years ago when Dalton was first elected you just didn't know it.

[Sinder]

I agree with everyone HST who does this benefit anyways the government of course, As we all see in every city poverty & homelessness and this tax is going to make it worst why can't they fix a problem before starting a new one or increase the problems that are there already,this HST makes me laugh,i'm a single mother work 2 jobs and still can't make ends meet. now this is great welfare participants will increase & food banks will not have enough food for all watch much needed places close down more job loss thanks to the government and their stupid HST tax, i hope they enjoy their long trips, increase pays and nice homes, food and children when people here in hamilton will suffer and lose alot even their children,homes and some will lose their lives as the pressure is to much,crime will increase they just don't get it and they just don't care we as canadians should be backing each other because this is our country to.

[Chris]

Been emailing my MPP so he can give definite dollars as to how this tax is going to affect the average person...he keeps pointing me to RBC survey etc.

Also he tells me how great it is to live in Ontario...we have good health care, education, clean water....what BS.

However if I am an MPP making $150,000 plus plus plus ...I wouldn't care what any constituent says

All our politicians are the same...what's in it for me...screw everyone else.

Time for a change...next election lets vote in "NONE OF THE ABOVE" we need to send a message ..

[Kathy Hagan]

They should re name this tax "Heist". It is the barefaced robbery of tax payers. McG, doesn't care he can well afford it.

[GIVE ME LIBERTY]

I feel for you Dave. I wish we could become tax-refugees and move to a low tax american state. It would be similar to how our government accepts american gangster refugees because they'll be killed in prison.

[Steve Sheen]

How will the hst for buissnes eventually pay off for consumers as the column states,So what will be the next tax if any.

[Peter Michael]

"As for the HST, well what do Hamiltonians expect? When you vote for socialists you get socialism, whether NDP or Liberal."

Exactly Ian. The people united and they've been defeated by their own socialist system.

[Dave]

How would any sane Person welcome this tax, but then again all the psychiatric places are now closed, This I hope will bring down the this Liberal Goverment, Mcguinty makes Harris look likr a choir boy when it comes to taxation, at least Harris was getting us back into being fiscally responsible, The Hst is this goverments way of raising more hard earned tax dollars to squander on special interest agendas and loony programs,Can't wait for retirement to move as I can't afford to live here in Ontario anymore,

[Marguerite H]

Blame the Liberals if you like. But it seems funny for conservatives to blame te liberals when the federal conservatives are the biggest reason we're getting the hst. Will our conservative bloggers vote ndp next time, since they're the only ones who would pull the tax?

[Michelle Hruschka]

Ian: Actually I do not know families who have been welfare for generations, personally.

You have your own views and nothing will change that.

All I do know is that if you lost your job and were struggling that my voice would be saying, you should not lose everything, you have worked so hard for. Fault me if you wish.

Paul S: I am very sorry that you are losing your home.

All I know is that people need to start joining together, to become ONE LOUD VOICE, it is not about politics or parties, it is about standing up for the people. It should be about justice, equality, fairness and dignity.

A PEOPLE UNITED, CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED.

[Michelle Hruschka]

Craig Duvall: Yes I know nothing is easy these days. I do not agree with the HST, period. Those who are on the edge, will now have to make choices about what they buy, this will be hard for those on any type of fixed income, like seniors, pensioners, those on ODSP, welfare, well, you cannot afford anything.

If you have RRSPs, insurance, money in the bank, equipment, more then one vehicle, they will strip you of your assets before you can get any money.

But I am telling you, you will not like welfare. there are many things that they do not tell you. They can force you into a job, where you may not get paid for weeks because you have accepted a welfare cheque, sa they deem ths as training. And it does not matter what skill levels you have. These workfare policies make it very difficult to jump the welfare wall. They will penalize any earnings that you make by 50% and some of the workers are not so nice and try to use their position of authority to intimidate.

T8: If you have one child, you get less than $1000.00 from welfare and then they will clawback the Ontario Child Benefit, as well. If you have two children,I am estimating it would be around 1100 per month from welfare.

So if you have two kids, well the biggest cost would be shelter, and then whatever is left, is what you live on. The amount of the cheques is not based on reality, it is based on a political agenda.

You can stand in the food bank lines for a few hours , just to get food for a couple of days and that food is mostly porcessed food, high in sugar, salt and fat, very rarely do you get fresh vegetables, but groups like the CAWDB, have been pushing.

Try to see if you get invovled in a community garden, it will help a little with food costs.

They can cut you off, if you violate one of the over 800 stupid rules, if you get behind in bills like heat or hydro, they will call in CAS.

What gets me is the people think it is the poor that cause all these tax grabs, which is ridicilous. Better to look at the top of pyramid and what they do. Think of all the fancy lunches and dinners our leaders charge on the people backs, they are chauffered around, give themselves raises and who know what else is hidden behind the scenes.

Think ehealth and all the money that has been spent and still no system in place, things like this are not the fault of the poor. As Michael Prue stated the other day at our rally, ehealth is only one file.

[Jamie]

I wonder where all this new tax will go? Will this be spent on health care, education, and the numerous other services that seem to be cut on a ongoing basis? Not bloody likely! I am sure in a year we will hear of another billion dollar scam/screw up by someone in government which will end up costing millions for an inquiry, more cuts to services..the same old story. Why even give these “transition” cheques??? Why not use that money you plan on giving out instead of raising our taxes? I guess it's to be expected. Bend Over!

[PaulS]

I was being sarcastic, I know what welfare life is like, I know lots of people on welfare. I have no small children and I'm a step away from loosing my house, now that is "reality".

[Ian]

Michelle,
No one NEEDS to experience the "reality" of welfare, because most Canadians are hard working people who would rather provide for themselves than rely on a handout. Of course there are people who need it to get back on their feet for a few months, but you and I both know of families who have relied on it for generations, and it certainly isn't their only income. I would like to see welfare payments increase but capped at 6 months, after that, it becomes workfare.

As for the HST, well what do Hamiltonians expect? When you vote for socialists you get socialism, whether NDP or Liberal. Now I will be doing most of my shopping in the states, stores in Ontario will close, more workers on EI, taxes increased, repeat and rinse. When is this government going to stop the spending?

[bob]

Maybe Ontario can become its own country. This country is destroying itself by diversity anyways..Then at least we could get rid of those politians that do nothing or are more concerned with how much pension they get rather then the interests of the people that put them in power

[bob]

What do you expect, it will always be higher taxes for those who least can afford it. Hamilton is no better, highest taxes in the country and the worse services anywhere. Our roads rip your car apart ( resent 2 thousand front end bill ) A pork factory on the mountain NO WAY, But put two SWARU stacks back in the east end OK but remember also the PCBs and pollution out put that is OK. Build the Red Hill with no ideal of the pollution for the east end OK. Rip the last set of trees that help clean the air in the east end out of the ground, OK. Close as many parks and pools in the east end as possible OK. Flood the east end so that the new big houses can be built on the mountain with no rain control OK. This can go on and on so this shows that no matter what they do they can get away with it as long as it is on the backs of those that work hard for a living not have excess money or political associations. First thing that has to be done is find the honest politician but that wont happen the old boy club would stop it. Hey anyone want to buy a nice home, double lot, good neighbors, you only have to sit here and watch your investment of the last 25 years go down the tubes so those on the mountain and surrounding area are not inconvenienced. Isn't this city great NOT.

[t8]

Hey Michelle how much do you get if you have a couple of kids.

[craig duvall]

Michelle;I am not saying life on welfare is easy,but agreeing with PaulS,being selfemployed is not easy these days either, with all the government grabs and now the HST,which is making people not being able to pay for my service as well.

[Michelle Hruschka]

Craig Duvall: If you are single, you would get $585.00 per month on welfare. You think that life on welfare is easy, think again.

But then again, maybe you do need to experience the reality.

[PaulS]

I now earn less than half of what I earned 2 years ago being self employed (former auto segment worker). No benefits, now this crap tax. Makes me wonder why I ever started trying to get a business going. Welfares looking rather good right now!

[Bernie Goakery]

It's going to get worse before it gets better.

God save us........

[craig duvall]

This just ends it all.I know of at least 2 close friends who have been in business for at least past 16 yrs, gonna close their doors because of this new tax hit.It was hard enough trying to survive because of all the other government gouging and take all.I really don't know how they figure this is going to creat jobs, couldn't they figure a better excuse for this rippof.It just makes me want to give up working for a living,pay the government more than half my wage, and collect welfare and go crooked.Seems an honest living doesn't cut it anymore.

[Jamie]

"rediculus" SMH

[Chris]

I guess this will help pay there admins 55 grand a year and there cra customer service reps over 65 for reading of a computer screen

[Nate Borges]

it will be buisness as normal for all of us. We will put up with what ever is handed to us.
For once I would like to see someone do somthing about the rediculus waste and inflated cost of goverment programs. Then maybe we wouldn't be taxed to death.

[Old Fart]

What is the procedure & penalty for refusing to pay the HST ? You used to have to fill out a form with the retailer which was forwarded to the gov't for further action.

[Peter Michael]

The biggest reason McGuinty and the Liberals are finished in Ontario and Canada.

But like the 20% gas price increase over the past year, and the ridiculously high spike before then, all our whining will soon end and we'll carry on business as usual.

[Sue-Ellen M.]

Kevv's secret police comment prompted me to think "life on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall before it came down."

[Skip]

No big change here. Nothing to spend before hst and nothing to spend after hst comes in.

[kevv]

this one of the biggest ripoffs any governent has done to date. the libs are gouging us . mckinky has hit the ussr. regime ,just waitig for the secret police to knock on my door next .

[Dave]

Beat the tax.... quick everyone to mexico....