GST Rebate: Everything You Need to Know

The realm of GST rebates is a somewhat confusing one. If you’re new to navigating the ins and outs of this process, or just need a refresher, this article can help you understand what this aspect of Canada’s tax program is all about and how you can make the most of it.

What Is the GST and How Does it Work?

GST stands for Goods and Services Tax, which is a value-added tax added to the majority of domestic goods and services. It is paid by the consumer when purchasing an item or buying a service from a business, then paid to the government by that business. 

The GST is considered an indirect federal sales tax, which is directly applied to the cost of goods. Different countries choose to place this tax on specific items, which then increases the sale price of those products. This additional cost is then used like any other taxes by the federal government.

Groceries often fall into the GST category. Take milk, for instance. The actual sale price for a liter might be $3.50. If the GST adds 5% to the cost of this consumable good, then the consumer pays $3.68 provided no additional state taxes levied.

Several countries implement a GST, with the first being France in 1954. Over 160 countries have now adopted this system, usually with their own tweaks to the system. A few countries that implement this form of taxation include:

The majority of these countries use what is called a unified GST system. That means there is a single tax rate applied throughout the country. It also means they merge central taxes like excise duty and sales with state-level taxes such as entertainment or luxury, collecting them as one form of taxation instead of individual ones.

These unified taxes are collected by the central or federal government, then distributed to state-level governments. Unified GST rates also eliminate tax classes, remove internal tax frontiers, eliminate taxes at multiple levels.

There are also dual GST structures, like in Canada. The dual GST is applied in on top of state sales taxes at a rate of five percent. The individual state tax, known as the provincial state tax (PST), in Canada varies from seven to ten percent.

Going back to the $3.50 liter of milk, the consumer’s price would still rise to $3.68 with the GST but could incur another $0.35 increase. That would make the same liter of milk cost a total of $3.85 after both the GST and PST.

The New Way: HST

HST stands for Harmonized Sales Tax, which is a combination of both GST and PST. This concept is relatively new, first starting on Prince Edward Island in 2013. Other provinces in Canada from New Brunswick to Ontario quickly followed suit.

Ontario, for instance, had a federal GST of five percent and a PST of six and a half percent. Now, the HST has stood at thirteen percent since 2010, which eliminates the very real possibility of the cost of goods rising due to multiple taxations.

Canada often refers to this as the GST/HST to include all of its providences and how they choose to handle the tax. As part of the countries progressive tax system, you may qualify for a GST/HST rebate or tax credit.

Rebate vs. Credit

The GST/HST tax credit is for individuals and families. It reimburses a portion of the federal part of the sales tax to low-income households. To qualify, you must be at least 19 years old, married or living with a common-law partner, or have at least one child that lives with you. Residents can apply for this quarterly aid through their tax return, even if they have no income to report or do not owe any taxes.

The GST rebate runs on a different system entirely. There are 37 different types of rebates your business may qualify for, allowing you to claim the GST/HST and QST you have paid on certain goods and services. Reasons for a rebate can include:

Each of these instances come with a reason code, and any business can only claim one reason code per rebate application. If you are eligible for more than one, then you must fill out separate applications for each. The real question is, do you qualify?

Do I Qualify for the GST Rebate?

First, there are some reasons a business cannot qualify for a GST rebate. Knowing these off the bat can save you plenty of time. They include:

Now that you know what could cause an application for a GST rebate to fall through, here’s what you need to know about qualifying for one. You can head over to Canada’s Revenue Agency site via this link for a full list of GST/HST and QST rebates. The following are ways to determine if your business is eligible.

Other Reason Codes

There are a few other common reason codes
to know, which include:

How to Claim Your GST Rebate

While understanding eligibility for the GST rebate can be confusing at times, claiming one is a simple process. Individuals use Form GST189, the general application, and Form GST288 if there is not enough room on the initial form to apply.

Only one reason code can be cited on a rebate application, which means you must fill out multiple for each reason you think you apply for. The forms are then sent in for review, and your rebate is either approved or denied based on whether you meet the qualifications for each reason code.

Keep in mind that you must have receipts to back up your purchase claims. You also have two years from any purchase date to fill out the form and apply.

Conclusion

Claiming GST rebates is essential for businesses both large and small, allowing them to reclaim the amount paid out during reporting periods through their Input Tax Credits. It’s a boost from Canada’s tax system that encourages growth and allows your prices to remain competitive yet appealing to consumers at large.