When the announcement about the GST/HST break was first made, I didn’t realize just how good it would feel not to be charged tax. I guess it’s just one of those things you have to experience to know how it will feel. The two-month-long tax holiday kicked in this weekend — I went out to eat and was actually excited to see my bill at the end of the meal.
In addition to no GST/HST being charged at restaurants, there is a long list of other items that qualify. The types of items that qualify include food, beverage (including beer, wine and coolers), catering, children’s clothing and footwear, children’s diapers, car seats, toys, puzzles, video game consoles and controllers, physical video games, books and printed newspapers. That being said, there are restrictions within each category and full details can be found on the Government of Canada website.
The break applies to qualifying items paid for in full or made available until Feb. 15, 2025. To receive the tax break, shoppers are not required to do anything on their end, it should be automatic. However, if there is a case in which a buyer believes they have been charged GST/HST on a product that qualifies for the relief, they can request a refund from the supplier or retailer.