Archived - Government of Canada Exempts Acupuncturists’ and Naturopathic Doctors’ Professional Services from GST/HST
March 28, 2014 – Markham, Ontario – Department of Finance
The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance, today highlighted the Harper Government’s support for families through new health-related tax relief.
Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes a number of measures to reduce the tax burden on Canadians, including health-related tax relief such as an exemption from the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) on acupuncturists’ and naturopathic doctors’ professional services. Changes to the tax treatment of these services and other GST/HST health-related measures announced in Economic Action Plan 2014 became effective on February 12, 2014.
This tax relief builds on the Harper Government’s record of keeping taxes low for Canadians and their families.
Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes measures that will expand health-related tax relief by:
- Exempting acupuncturists’ and naturopathic doctors’ professional services from the GST/HST.
- Expanding the list of eligible expenses under the Medical Expense Tax Credit to include costs associated with service animals specially trained to assist individuals with severe diabetes, such as diabetes alert dogs.
- Providing further tax recognition for costs associated with eligible specially designed medical therapies and training by:
- Expanding the current GST/HST exemption for training that is specially designed to help individuals cope with a disorder or disability to also exempt services of designing such training, such as developing a training plan.
- Including amounts paid for the design of an individualized therapy plan as an eligible expense for income tax purposes under the Medical Expense Tax Credit.
- Adding eyewear specially designed to electronically enhance the vision of individuals with vision impairment that is supplied on the order of a physician or other specified health professional to the list of GST/HST-free (zero-rated) medical and assistive devices.
Melissa Lantsman
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861
Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080
