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Excise and GST/HST News - No. 99

From: Canada Revenue Agency

Table of Contents

Federal Budget 2016

On March 22, 2016, the Minister of Finance tabled Budget 2016 which proposed to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Excise Act, 2001. Budget 2016 also confirmed the Government’s intention to proceed with certain previously announced measures relating to the GST/HST. See the March 22, 2016, Department of Finance News Release for related information.

Many of the proposed measures have been included in Bill C-15, Budget Implementation Act, 2016 No.1, which received Royal Assent on June 22, 2016, and is now referred to as Statutes of Canada, 2016, c. 7. Bill C-15 also incorporates some previously announced measures.

The measures included in Bill C-15 amend the Excise Tax Act and the Excise Act, 2001 in the following ways:

Excise Tax Act GST/HST measures

Excise Tax Act excise tax measures

Excise Act, 2001 measures

The following proposed GST/HST measures were announced in Budget 2016 but are not included in Bill C-15:

Simplified reporting of certain grandparented housing sales

A builder that sells grandparented housing in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, or Prince Edward Island is required to report certain information if the sale is a “specified housing supply”. Builders are generally required to report the total number of their specified housing supplies for which the GST or federal part of the HST became payable in a reporting period and the total consideration for those supplies (that is, transitional information) on lines 1100 and 1101 of Schedule A, Builders – Transitional Information, of their GST/HST NEFTILE return for the reporting period.

The original definition of “specified housing supply” in section 1 of the Electronic Filing and Provision of Information (GST/HST) Regulations refers to a sale of grandparented housing where the purchaser is not entitled to claim a GST/HST new housing rebate or a GST/HST new residential rental property rebate in respect of the GST or federal part of the HST payable on the sale, regardless of the reason for the purchaser’s ineligibility. Budget 2016 changes the definition of “specified housing supply” such that it now refers only to a sale of grandparented housing to a person where the total consideration for the sale, including consideration for any other taxable supply made to the person of an interest in the grandparented housing, is $450,000 or more. The new definition makes it easier for builders to identify their sales of grandparented housing that meet the definition of a “specified housing supply”, thereby making it simpler for them to report the transitional information in respect of such supplies. The new definition applies beginning with the reporting period of a builder that includes March 23, 2016, and for all future reporting periods.

However, Budget 2016 also proposed a new election that allows a person, such as a builder, that makes specified housing supplies for which the GST or federal part of the HST became payable after June 2010 and before May 2016 to use the new definition of “specified housing supply” to report the transitional information for their previous specified housing supplies. The election is an opportunity for a person to report previously unreported transitional information and/or fix mistakes they may have made when they previously reported transitional information in respect of specified housing supplies without incurring a penalty for not previously reporting, or for misreporting, that transitional information. It should be noted that the penalties for not reporting, or for misreporting, the transitional information may be significant.

The election can be filed by a person, such as a builder, that made specified housing supplies for which the GST or federal part of the HST became payable after June 2010 and before May 2016. The election is available for a short period of time. It has to be filed for a reporting period of the person that ends on or after May 1, 2016 and before January 1, 2017, or if no period ends during this period, the first reporting period that ends after December 31, 2016. The election has to be filed on or before the due date of the GST/HST return for the reporting period for which the election is made.

A person should file the election using new Form RC4617, Election and Schedule to a Return for Simplified Reporting of Specified Housing Supplies.

More information can be found in GST/HST Notice294, Questions and Answers on Simplified Reporting of Specified Housing Supplies or by calling 1-800-959-8287.

GST/HST on charitable donations

The GST/HST is generally imposed on the value of the consideration for a taxable supply of property or a service made in Canada. The GST/HST does not apply to a donation if the donor receives nothing in return. However, if the person receiving the donation makes a supply of property or a service in exchange for a donation, the donation is consideration for the supply of the property or service. Under the existing rules, the entire amount of the donation must then be used to calculate any GST/HST payable in respect of the supply. If the donor receives property or a service having nominal value in exchange for the donation, the donation is not subject to the GST/HST.

Bill C-15, Budget Implementation Act, 2016 No.1 contains an amendment intended to bring the GST/HST treatment of charitable donations into line with their treatment under the split-receipting rules in the Income Tax Act. This amendment is a relieving change to provide that when a charity or public institution makes a taxable supply of property or a service in exchange for a donation and when an income tax receipt may be issued for a portion of the donation, only the value of the property or services supplied will be subject to the GST/HST.

The amendment applies in the following circumstances:

Where the amendment applies, the value of the consideration for the supply of the property or service made by the charity or public institution is deemed to be the fair market value of the property or service. It does not apply to exempt supplies made by a charity or public institution, such as certain supplies of admissions to a fund-raising event.

The amendment applies to any supply made after March 22, 2016. In addition, where a charity or public institution did not collect the GST/HST on the full value of a donation made in exchange for a taxable (other than zero-rated) supply of property or a service made after December 20, 2002 (when the income tax split-receipting rules came into effect) and on or before March 22, 2016, transitional rules apply.

For a supply made after December 20, 2002 and on or before March 22, 2016, there are three possibilities:

For supplies made on or after March 23, 2016, a charity or public institution that is a GST/HST registrant has to collect the GST/HST in accordance with the amendment regardless of the fair market value of the property or service supplied.

Example 1

On May 1, 2016, a charity that is a GST/HST registrant makes a taxable supply of a T-shirt with a fair market value of $20 in return for a $50 donation. The supply of the T-shirt is made in Alberta. The charity may issue an official donation receipt for income tax purposes. The amendment applies to deem the value of the consideration for the supply of the T-shirt to be its fair market value, $20. Therefore, the charity must collect and remit $1.00 GST on the supply of the T-shirt ($20 × 5%). The charity may charge the $1.00 GST in addition to the $50 donation, or it may treat the $50 donation as GST/HST inclusive. If the charity treats the $50 donation as GST/HST exclusive, it may issue a $30 official donation receipt for income tax purposes.  If the charity treats the $50 donation as GST/HST inclusive, the amount of the GST/HST payable reduces the eligible amount of the gift for income tax purposes. In that case, the charity may issue a $29 official donation receipt for income tax purposes.

Example 2

A ballet company that is a charity that is a GST/HST registrant makes supplies of admissions to ballet performances throughout the year. On January 1, 2016, an individual contributed $1,000 to the charity and in return received an admission with a fair market value of $200. The charity issued an $800 official donation receipt for income tax purposes. The supply of the admission made by the charity to the individual is taxable as no exempting provision applies. The charity did not collect any GST/HST in respect of the supply. The supply of the admission was made in Ontario. As the supply of the admission was made after December 20, 2002 and on or before March 22, 2016, and the fair market value of the admission is less than $500, the transitional rules apply to deem the supply to have been made for no consideration. Therefore, the charity is not required to collect or remit the GST/HST in respect of the supply of the admission. If the charity makes similar supplies on or after March 23, 2016, it has to collect and remit $26.00 HST on the supply of the admission ($200 × 13%).

Example 3

A public institution makes a supply of an admission to a fund-raising ball for $150. The public institution may issue a $100 official donation receipt for income tax purposes in respect of part of the admission price. This supply is exempt, as a supply made by a charity or public institution of an admission to a fund-raising dinner, ball, concert, show or like fund-raising events is exempt where part of the consideration for the supply qualifies for a charitable donation receipt for income tax purposes. Therefore, the amendment has no impact on this transaction. The entire $150 ticket price is exempt from the GST/HST.

Example 4

An individual donates $100 to a charity and in return receives a pen valued at $2. The charity may issue an official donation receipt for income tax purposes for the full $100, because the value of the pen is considered too minimal to affect the amount of the gift. The donation is not subject to the GST/HST.

Harmonized sales tax (HST) rate increases

New Brunswick HST increase

On February 2, 2016, the Minister of Finance for New Brunswick tabled the Provincial Budget 2016‑2017. Among other proposed measures, the Budget announced an increase to the provincial part of the HST by 2%. Effective July 1, 2016, the HST rate in New Brunswick would be 15%, of which 5% would represent the federal part and 10% the provincial part.

On March 30, 2016, the Department of Finance, New Brunswick, announced proposed transitional rules for the HST rate increase effective July 1, 2016. Transitional rules are used to determine which tax rate – the existing HST rate of 13% or the new HST rate of 15% – would apply in respect of transactions that straddle the July 1, 2016 effective date. These transitional rules have been enacted in the Regulations Amending Various GST/HST Regulations, No. 8 (SOR 2016/119).

Newfoundland and Labrador HST increase

On April 14, 2016, the Minister of Finance for Newfoundland and Labrador, tabled the Provincial Budget 2016. Among other proposed measures, the Budget announced an increase to the provincial part of the HST by 2%. Effective July 1, 2016, the HST rate in Newfoundland and Labrador would be 15% of which 5% would represent the federal part and 10% the provincial part.

On May 3, 2016, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced proposed transitional rules the HST rate increase effective July 1, 2016. Transitional rules are required to set out which tax rate – the existing HST rate of 13% or the new rate of 15% – would apply in respect of certain transactions that straddle the July 1, 2016 effective date. These transitional rules have been enacted in the Regulations Amending Various GST/HST Regulations, No. 8 (SOR 2016/119).

Prince Edward Island HST increase

On April 19, 2016, the Minister of Finance for Prince Edward Island tabled the Provincial Budget 2016. Among other proposed measures, the Budget announced an increase to the provincial part of the HST by 1%. Effective October 1, 2016, the HST rate in Prince Edward Island would be 15%, of which 5% would represent the federal part and 10% the provincial part. Transitional rules were announced on June 16, 2016.

Stand-alone courses and definition of vocational school

Section 8 of Part III of Schedule V to the Excise Tax Act (the Act) generally provides that governments, vocational schools, school authorities, universities or public colleges may supply services of instructing individuals in courses exempt of GST/HST where the courses lead to certificates, diplomas, licences or similar documents that attest to the competence of individuals to practise or perform a trade or vocation.

To be exempt under section 8, courses supplied by a vocational school, as well as other institutions previously noted, must be supplied to individuals and must be part of a program leading to certificates, diplomas, licences or similar documents that attest to the competence of the individuals to practise or perform a trade or vocation. Therefore, stand-alone courses that do not lead to documents that attest to the competence of individuals to practise or perform a trade or vocation would not be exempt under section 8 even if such courses may be beneficial to the individuals and in some cases part of their job requirement. Similarly, courses offered by an organization and that occur only during a brief, concentrated period of time, such as a day or several consecutive days, would not be exempt under section 8 as the courses would not offer a progression and depth of learning that would lead to a diploma or certification of competence to practise or perform a specific trade or vocation.

For an organization to be considered a vocational school, and thus be treated in a manner similar to a public college or similar institution for certain GST/HST exempting provisions, including section 8 of Part III of Schedule V to the Act, it must be established and operated primarily to provide students with correspondence courses, or instruction in courses, that develop or enhance students’ occupational skills.

Generally, vocational schools have all or some of the following characteristics:

In instances where a supplier fails to establish that it is in fact operating a vocational school, it cannot provide services of instruction that would be exempt under section 8 of Part III of Schedule V to the Act. In addition, being a vocational school is not sufficient for courses to be exempt. It is a question of fact whether a supplier, in addition to being a vocational school, is also supplying courses that satisfy the remaining requirements of section 8 of Part III of Schedule V to the Act.

Example 1

Health and safety legislation such as that administered by a provincial worker’s compensation authority requires certain occupations to maintain first aid certification. Business A sets itself up to provide basic first aid training. Business A markets its classes as helping workplaces comply with both federal and provincial/territorial occupational health and safety legislation. The first aid courses offered by Business A generally take place over a one or two day period.

Business A would not meet the definition of a vocational school as it is not established and operated primarily to provide courses that develop or enhance an individual’s occupational skills; rather it was established to provide “one-off” courses that satisfy health and safety legislation. This is supported by the fact that the courses offered do not lead to certificates or diplomas or other documents that attest to the competence of an individual to practise or perform a trade or vocation.  Therefore, section 8 of Part III of Schedule V to the Act will not apply.

Example 2

Business B sets itself up to provide first aid training and other courses as part of its Health Care Assistant Program leading to a certification of competence to practise as a Health Care Assistant. Business B is registered provincially as a vocational school and markets itself as providing the individual with the specialized training needed to work as an intermediate or extended caregiver. The program takes about 30 weeks to complete.

Business B would meet the definition of a vocational school as it is established and operated primarily to provide a program of courses that develop or enhance an individual’s occupational skills. In addition Business B is registered provincially as a vocational school and markets itself as a school that provides career training.  In this instance, section 8 of Part III of Schedule V to the Act will apply to all of the courses provided by Business B under the Health Care Assistant Program as the courses lead to a diploma that attests to the competence of the individual to practise or perform a trade or vocation.

Involvement of investment dealers or brokers in the distribution of private placements

An investment dealer or broker may facilitate the distribution of private placements by assisting the issuer of the private placement to locate investors, and by performing functions such as ensuring documents are complete, payments are processed and share certificates are issued.

Where an investment broker provides a number of services or property and services, it must first be determined whether the investment broker is providing a single supply or multiple supplies. GST/HST Policy Statement P-077R2, Single and Multiple Supplies provides additional information on this matter.

If it is determined that a single supply is being provided, the predominant element of that supply must be established to determine the nature of the supply. This determination will generally be based on written agreements between the investment broker providing the service and the investment broker’s client, detailing the actions, responsibilities and obligations of the investment broker in connection with the supply. Additional information relevant for making such a determination is provided in GST/HST Technical Information Bulletin, B-105, Changes to the Definition of Financial Service.

To determine if an investment broker facilitating the distribution of private placements is “arranging for” a financial service under paragraph (l) of the definition of “financial service” in subsection 123(1) of the Excise Tax Act, some of the factors to examine are the effort and time expended by the investment broker and the extent to which these steps result in a supply consisting of the transfer of ownership of a financial instrument from the issuer to the investor, in which the investment broker is directly involved and relied upon. There is no single factor that is determinative. For example, a service provided by an investment broker is not “arranging for” only because the investment broker is the only point of contact between the issuer and the investor.

If the investment broker is providing a service that is preparatory to the provision of a service that results in the transfer of ownership of a financial instrument, the investment broker’s service would fall within paragraph (r.4) of the definition and, therefore, would not be a financial service.

Assignment of conditional sales contracts and commission fees

Purchasers frequently enter into conditional sales contracts with automobile dealers for the purchase of automobiles. These dealers earn commission fees when they subsequently assign these contracts to financial institutions.

The CRA considers a conditional sales contract to be a “debt security” and a “financial instrument” as it represents a right to be paid money. When the conditional sales contract is assigned to a third party, such as a financial institution, the third-party is acquiring the right to receive the stream of payments from the purchaser. The assignment of these rights is a financial service and is exempt from the GST/HST.

Any fee or commission received by the automobile dealer as the assignor from the third party i.e., the assignee, would generally form part of the consideration received for the assignment of the conditional sales contract, and therefore would not be subject to the GST/HST as the assignment of the conditional sales contract is an exempt financial service.

It is important to note that the above position specifically relates to commission fees for assignments of conditional sales contracts. It remains the CRA’s position that in situations where a vendor receives a referral fee for assisting a customer in obtaining a loan from a third party under a financing contract, it is necessary to determine whether the vendor is “arranging for” a service referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (i) and not referred to in any of paragraphs (n) to (t) of the definition of “financial service” in subsection 123(1) of the Act and, if so, whether that financial service is the predominant element of the supply.

For example, where a vendor provides the purchaser with a loan application, helps the purchaser complete the application, verifies the information entered on the application, and forwards the application to a financial institution, the services provided by the vendor are preparatory to the provision of a financial service and are therefore taxable. In such cases, the vendor would be required to charge the GST/HST in respect of any referral fees paid to the vendor by the financial institution. Additional examples of the GST/HST implications of such referral fees may be found in GST/HST Technical Information Bulletin B-105, Changes to the Definition of Financial Service.

Public service bodies’ rebate calculation for charities and qualifying non-profit organizations (NPOs)

The CRA has recently published a series of 16 GST/HST Info Sheets specifically for charities and qualifying NPOs that are not selected public service bodies to aid with the calculation of their public service body rebates (PSB rebates) using the “regular method”.

The series of  GST/HST info sheets GI-172 through to GI-187 includes specific info sheets for charities and qualifying NPOs resident in each participating province, info sheets for charities and qualifying NPOs resident only in non-participating provinces, and info sheets for charities and qualifying NPOs resident in two or more provinces (one of which is a participating province).

Application of the GST/HST to Métis and non-status Indians

On April 14, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Daniels v. Canada (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), 2016 SCC 12, declared that Métis and non-status Indians are “Indians” for the purpose of the federal Parliament’s law-making jurisdiction under subsection 91(24) of the Constitution Act, 1867.

The Daniels decision does not grant the Métis or non-status Indians any specific rights or status as “Indians” under the Indian Act. As a result, the Daniels decision does not impact the entitlement to tax relief under section 87 of the Indian Act.

The tax relief described in GST/HST Technical Information Bulletin B-039, GST/HST Administrative Policy - Application of the GST/HST to Indians, does not extend to the Métis, Inuit or non-status Indians, or their governing bodies, and the CRA will continue to apply and administer the Indian Act tax exemption in the same way it did prior to the Daniels decision, and as described in GST/HST Technical Information Bulletin B-039.

Tla’amin Final Agreement

Tla’amin Nation has ratified the Tla’amin Final Agreement and became self-governing effective April 5, 2016.

The Sliammon Indian band ceased to exist as an Indian band under the Indian Act. Tax relief provided to the former band under Technical Information Bulletin B-039, GST/HST Administrative Policy – Application of the GST/HST to Indians no longer applies as of April 5, 2016.

The Tla’amin Nation that replaces the Sliammon Indian band is not a “band” under the Indian Act and is therefore not eligible for tax relief under section 87 of the Indian Act.

Under the Tla’amin Final Agreement, section 87 of the Indian Act tax relief will cease to apply to Tla’amin citizens. However, the Tla’amin Final Agreement provides for a transitional period during which Indian citizens of the Tla’amin Nation will still be entitled to tax relief under section 87 of the Indian Act. Where the conditions of B-039 are met, tax relief of the GST/HST continues to be available up to and including April 30, 2024 for the Indian citizens of the Tla’amin Nation.

GST self-government refund

The Tla’amin Tax Treatment Agreement (TTA) came into effect on April 5, 2016. The TTA provides for a 100% refund of that portion of the GST or federal part of the HST paid on goods and services acquired by the Tla’amin Nation and their eligible entities provided that input tax credits are not available and the other eligibility conditions are met.

For more information please see GST/HST Notice293, Tla'amin Nation - Ratification of Final Agreement.

Late-filed new housing rebate applications

Under paragraph 256(3)(b) of the Excise Tax Act, the Minister may allow a late-filed new housing rebate application for owner-built housing (that is, Form GST191) when extraordinary circumstances beyond an individual’s control have prevented the individual from filing the rebate application on or before the due date. Such extraordinary circumstances may include:

The provision to allow a late-filed new housing rebate application only applies to Form GST191, GST/HST New Housing Rebate Application for Owner-Built Houses. The provision does not apply to Form GST190, GST/HST New Housing Rebate Application for Houses Purchased from a Builder, or to Form GST524, GST/HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate Application. For more information on late-filed new housing rebate applications, see Guide RC4028, GST/HST New Housing Rebate.

Changes to line 101 on the GST34-3, Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) electronic return

As part of its ongoing effort to better serve businesses and simplify its electronic services, starting May 16, 2016, the CRA changed the way registrants can report sales and other types of revenues on line 101 of the GST34-3, Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Electronic Filing Information for TELEFILE and NETFILE clients.

If a registrant has sales that include zero-rated supplies made in Canada, exempt supplies and zero-rated exports, the registrant can now report these amounts separately on its electronic GST/HST return. Before May 16, 2016, a registrant reported all these amounts on line 101. This change will let the CRA determine a registrant’s filing frequency and mandatory electronic filing requirements (when applicable).

In the past, if a registrant was required to file electronically or report more frequently due to the inclusion of sales and revenues from non-taxable or zero-rated exports reported on line 101, the registrant would have had to contact the CRA to get its filing frequency corrected. The introduction of lines 90, 91 and 102 will help prevent these types of situations moving forward.

What changed for businesses that report zero-rated supplies made in Canada, exempt supplies and zero-rated exports

Three new lines are available:

A registrant or its authorized representative must select a box on the first page of the GST/HST NETFILE screen to confirm that the registrant wants to report these types of sales and revenue.

“Help text” will be available by selecting the corresponding blue “?” button for each new line. The help text will provide a description of what is to be reported on each particular line.

Online mail

Stuck in the paper clutter? Register for online mail and receive your CRA mail electronically in My Business Account. When you sign up for this service, the CRA will send an email notification when new mail is available to view in your secure digital space. New this year, you as a business owner, or your authorized representative can sign up for this service by entering an email address when filing a GST/HST NETFILE return.

Be sure to be registered for My Business Account. Not only will you be able to view your notices, statements, and letters from the CRA online, you will also be able to view account balances, adjust prior returns, and much more! If you are an authorized representative, register or log in to Represent a Client to access My Business Account.

Online filing for Canadian businesses dealing with excise duty, excise tax, and the air travellers security charge

Businesses dealing with excise duty, excise tax, and the air travellers security charge can streamline filing returns and refund/rebate applications by submitting the following forms online through My Business Account:

Excise duty:

Excise tax:

Air travellers security charge:

For information about online filing, go to www.cra.gc.ca/mybusinessaccount and select “What can I do on My Business Account?”.

Canadian businesses dealing with excise duty, excise tax, and the air travellers security charge can also use online mail to manage their correspondence. When you sign up for online mail, the CRA will send you an email when eligible notices, letters, and statements are available to view in My Business Account instead of mailing the documents to you.

For information about online mail, go to www.cra.gc.ca/businessonline and, under “Request,” select the Online mail option.

Prescribed rates of interest

The prescribed annual rate of interest in effect from July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016, on overdue amounts payable to the Minister is 5%. The prescribed annual rate of interest on amounts owed by the Minister (i.e., rebates or refunds) is 1% for corporate taxpayers and 3% for non-corporate taxpayers. These rates are applicable to income tax, excise tax, the softwood lumber products export charge, GST/HST, the air travellers security charge (ATSC) and excise duty on wine, spirits and tobacco.

The prescribed annual rate of interest respecting excise duty on beer, on overdue amounts payable for the indicated period, is set at 3%. Refund interest rates are not applicable for amounts owed by the Minister (i.e., rebates or refunds) for excise duty that is in relation to beer.

Prescribed rate of interest
  GST/HST, Excise Tax, Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge, Excise Duty (wine, spirits, tobacco), ATSC, Income Tax Excise Duty
(beer)
Period Refund Interest Corporate Taxpayers Refund Interest Non-Corporate Taxpayers Arrears and Instalment Interest Arrears
Interest
July 1 to September 30, 2016 1% 3% 5% 3%
April 1 to June 30, 2016 1% 3% 5% 3%
January 1 to March 31, 2016 1% 3% 5% 3%
October 1 to December 31, 2015 1% 3% 5% 3%

Prescribed interest rates for previous years are available on the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/interestrates.

What’s new in publications

The following is a list of new or revised excise and GST/HST forms and publications.

GST/HST forms

GST/HST guides

GST/HST info sheets

GST/HST memoranda

GST/HST notices

Excise forms

Excise duty notices

Excise taxes and special levies notices

Air travellers security charge forms

All GST/HST, excise duty and excise taxes and special levies publications can be found on the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/gsthsttech, at www.cra.gc.ca/etsl and at www.cra.gc.ca/exciseduty.

To receive email notification as soon as a document is published on the CRA website, go to the electronic mailing lists page at www.cra.gc.ca/lists and subscribe to the RSS feed for all new CRA publications and forms, or subscribe to any number of mailing lists for different types of publications.

Contact us

More information
Forms and publications

  • All GST/HST technical publications and GST/HST related forms are available on the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/gsthstpub.
  • To access all other forms and publications on the CRA website go to www.cra.gc.ca/forms and select by topic, document type or publication number.
  • To order forms and publications by telephone, call 1-800-959-5525.

To make a GST/HST enquiry by telephone:

  • for GST/HST general enquiries, call Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525;
  • for GST/HST technical enquiries, call GST/HST Rulings at 1-800-959-8287.

If you are located in Quebec, call Revenu Québec at 1-800-567-4692 or visit their website at www.revenuquebec.ca.

If you are a selected listed financial institution (whether or not you are located in Quebec) and require information on the GST/HST or the QST, go to www.cra.gc.ca/slfi or

  • for general GST/HST or QST enquiries, call Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525;
  • for technical GST/HST or QST enquiries, call GST/HST Rulings SLFI at 1-855-666-5166.

Account enquiries

For general information and to make enquiries regarding your account (except for softwood lumber products export charge accounts), you can:

  • view answers to common enquiries, or submit an enquiry using the online “Enquiries service” on “My Business Account”;
  • view account information online at www.cra.gc.ca/businessonline; or
  • call Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525.

For online access to your GST/HST, air travellers security charge, excise tax and duty accounts (such as viewing up-to-date account balances and transactions, transferring payments and more), go to:

For enquiries regarding your softwood lumber products export charge account, you can call 1-866-330-3304.

For enquiries regarding the status of specific GST/HST domestic rebate claims, call Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525.

Help

For technical support using our online services:

  • business accounts, call 1-800-959-5525
  • teletypewriter users, call 1-800-665-0354
  • calls outside of Canada and the United States, call collect at 1-613-940-8528

Please have the screen number (bottom right) and, if applicable, the error number and message received on hand when calling.

The Excise and GST/HST News is published quarterly and highlights recent developments in the administration of the GST/HST, First Nations goods and services tax (FNGST) and First Nations tax (FNT), softwood lumber products export charge, air travellers security charge (ATSC) as well as excise taxes and duties. If you would like to receive a link to each new edition of the Excise and GST/HST News as it is published, subscribe to the electronic mailing list.

This publication is provided for information purposes only and does not replace the law, either enacted or proposed. Please note that any commentary in this newsletter regarding proposed measures should not be taken as a statement by the CRA that such measures will in fact be enacted into law in their current form. Comments or suggestions about the newsletter should be sent to the Editor, Excise and GST/HST News, Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch, CRA, Ottawa, ON K1A 0L5.

 

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