Phasing Out of the Penny
GST/HST Info Sheet GI-131
December 2012
This info sheet illustrates the rounding that will take place for cash transactions as a result of the phasing out of the penny.
As part of the Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government announced that it will phase out the penny from Canada's coinage system.
While the cent will remain Canada's smallest unit for pricing goods and services, the Royal Canadian Mint will no longer distribute pennies as of February 4, 2013.
As pennies are gradually withdrawn from circulation, price rounding on cash transactions will be required. This will have no impact on cheque payments or electronic payments, such as credit and debit cards, only cash transactions will be affected.
What does this mean?
Where pennies are not available, cash transactions will need to be rounded to the nearest five-cent increment in a fair and transparent manner.
The Government of Canada will be adopting the following rounding guideline for its cash transactions with the Canadian public. It is expected that businesses will apply this rounding guideline in a fair and transparent manner. This rounding guideline has been used successfully by other countries that have eliminated low denomination coins.
Rounding on cash transactions should only be used on the final amount payable after the calculation of any applicable duties or taxes such as the goods and services tax (GST)/harmonized sales tax (HST).
GST/HST will be calculated on the value of the consideration in the normal manner.
The phasing out of the penny has no impact on the calculation or reporting of the GST/HST.
Information for consumers
Note: In the following examples, all purchases are subject to GST/HST as illustrated.
Payment made by credit/debit card or cheque/bank draft – no impact
Example 1
Mr. Brown purchases supplies at the local hardware store. The place of supply is in Ontario.
Example 2 (tax included in the price)
Ms. Smith pays for parking over the weekend at the airport in Toronto, Ontario.
HST paid on this transaction is: 13/113 × $48.00 = $5.52
Example 3
Mr. Séguin lives in Alberta and receives an invoice for natural gas for heating purposes. He writes a cheque to pay the invoice.
Payment made by cash (pennies available) – no impact
Example 4
Mr. Brown purchases supplies at the local hardware store. The place of supply is in Ontario:
Example 5 (tax included in the price)
Adrian purchases 52 centerpiece holders for $2.39 each tax included. The place of supply is in Alberta.
GST paid on this transaction is: 5/105 × $124.28 = $5.92
Example 6
Mr. Séguin receives an invoice for natural gas for heating purposes. On his way into the city, he stops off at the utility company and pays the invoice in cash.
The place of supply is in Alberta.
Payment made by cash (no pennies available) – rounding will be required but no impact for GST/HST
The rounding guideline for cash transactions with no pennies available is the following:
| Round Down | Round Up | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.01 or $1.02 | $1.00 | $1.03 or $1.04 | $1.05 |
| $1.06 or $1.07 | $1.05 | $1.08 or $1.09 | $1.10 |
Example 7
Mr. Brown purchases supplies at the local hardware store. The place of supply is in Ontario.
In this case, the total amount paid is rounded down to the nearest five-cent increment after the calculation of the HST.
Example 8 (tax included in the price)
Adrian purchases 52 centerpiece holders from a retailer in Alberta for $2.39 each, tax included.
GST paid on this transaction is: 5/105 × $124.28* = $5.92
In this case, the total amount paid is rounded up to the nearest five-cent increment after the calculation of the GST.
* Note that the GST is calculated on the total payable before rounding.
Example 9
Mr. Séguin receives an invoice for natural gas for heating purposes. On his way into the city, he stops off at the utility company and pays the invoice in cash. The place of supply is in Alberta.
In this case, the total amount paid is rounded up to the nearest five-cent increment after the calculation of the GST.
Payment made using a gift card – no impact
Example 10
Sarah uses a store gift card received on her birthday to pay for her purchase. The place of supply is in Nova Scotia.
Partial payment made using a gift card
Example 11
Mr. Brown purchases supplies at the local hardware store in Ontario. He has a gift card with a balance that he would like to clear.
Example 12
Mr. Brown purchases supplies at the local hardware store in Ontario. He has a gift card with a balance that he would like to clear.
In this case, the total amount paid is rounded up to the nearest five-cent increment after the calculation of the HST.
Example 13
Mr. Brown purchases supplies at the local hardware store in Ontario. He has a gift card with a balance that he would like to clear.
Additional information for businesses and persons claiming GST/HST rebates
Note: All suppliers in these examples are GST/HST registrants. For ITC purposes, all purchasers in these examples are GST/HST registrants.
Payment made by credit/debit card or cheque/bank draft – no impact
Example 14
A contractor purchases supplies in New Brunswick.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation: $23.27
HST for the purchaser's input tax credit (ITC) calculation: $23.27
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $23.27
Example 15 (tax included in the price)
A contractor purchases two sheets of drywall in New Brunswick.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation: 13/113 × $48.00 = $5.52
HST for the purchaser's ITC calculation: 13/113 × $48.00 = $5.52
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $5.52
Example 16
A contractor purchases two sheets of drywall in New Brunswick.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation: $5.49
HST for the purchaser's ITC calculation: $5.49
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $5.49
Payment made by cash (pennies available) – no impact
Example 17
A retailer purchases coffee mugs for its inventory. The place of supply is in Newfoundland and Labrador.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation: $15.54
HST for the purchaser's ITC calculation: $15.54
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $15.54
Example 18 (tax included in the price)
Company ABC Inc. is invoiced management fees for the building maintenance. The place of supply is in Newfoundland and Labrador.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation: 13/113 × $789.97 = $90.88
HST for the purchaser's ITC calculation: 13/113 × $789.97 = $90.88
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $90.88
Example 19
Company XYZ Inc. is invoiced for plumbing repairs. The place of supply is in Ontario.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation: $89.69
HST for the purchaser's ITC calculation: $89.69
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $89.69
Payment made by cash (no pennies available) – rounding will be required but no impact for GST/HST
The rounding guideline for cash transactions with no pennies available is the following:
| Round Down | Round Up | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.01 or $1.02 | $1.00 | $1.03 or $1.04 | $1.05 |
| $1.06 or $1.07 | $1.05 | $1.08 or $1.09 | $1.10 |
Example 20
A retailer purchases coffee mugs for its inventory. The place of supply is in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In this case, the total amount paid is rounded up to the nearest five-cent increment after the calculation of the HST.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation: $15.54
HST for the purchaser's ITC calculation: $15.54
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $15.54
Example 21 (tax included in the price)
Company ABC Inc. is invoiced management fees for the building maintenance. The place of supply is in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In this case, the total amount paid is rounded down to the nearest five-cent increment after the calculation of the HST.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation 13/113 × $789.97* = $90.88
HST for the purchaser's ITC calculation 13/113 × $789.97 = $90.88
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $90.88
* Note that the HST is calculated on the total payable before rounding.
Example 22
Company XYZ Inc. is invoiced for plumbing repairs. The place of supply is in Ontario.
In this case, the total amount paid is rounded down to the nearest five-cent increment after the calculation of the HST.
HST collected for the supplier's net tax calculation: $89.69
HST for the purchaser's ITC calculation: $89.69
HST for the purpose of any GST/HST rebate calculation, such as the public service body rebate: $89.69
This info sheet does not replace the law found in the Excise Tax Act (the Act) and its regulations. It is provided for your reference. As it may not completely address your particular operation, you may wish to refer to the Act or appropriate regulation, or contact any CRA GST/HST rulings office for additional information. A ruling should be requested for certainty in respect of any particular GST/HST matter. Pamphlet RC4405, GST/HST Rulings – Experts in GST/HST Legislation explains how to obtain a ruling and lists the GST/HST rulings offices. If you wish to make a technical enquiry on the GST/HST by telephone, please call 1-800-959-8287.
Reference in this publication is made to supplies that are subject to the GST or the HST. The HST applies in the participating provinces at the following rates: 13% in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, 15% in Nova Scotia, and 12% in British Columbia. The GST applies in the rest of Canada at the rate of 5%. If you are uncertain as to whether a supply is made in a participating province, you may refer to GST/HST Technical Information Bulletin B-103, Harmonized Sales Tax – Place of Supply Rules for Determining Whether a Supply is Made in a Province.
Effective April 1, 2013, the 12% HST in British Columbia will be replaced by the 5% GST and a provincial sales tax. It is also proposed that, effective April 1, 2013, the provincial sales tax and the 5% GST currently in effect in Prince Edward Island will be replaced by a 14% HST.
If you are located in Quebec and wish to make a technical enquiry or request a ruling related to the GST/HST, please contact Revenu Québec at 1-800-567-4692. You may also visit the Revenu Québec Web site to obtain general information.
All technical publications related to GST/HST are available on the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/gsthsttech.
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