Ministry of Finance
VICTORIA - With only a few days left before the return of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST), retailers that have not yet registered for the PST are being reminded they need to have a new PST account number in order to make retail sales and leases and to purchase inventory tax exempt starting April 1.
A retailer of PST taxable goods or services is required to register under the PST Act. Those wishing to make a taxable sale or lease on April 1, 2013 must be registered to levy and collect the tax on transactions.
Registration is fast and easy online at: www.gov.bc.ca/pst Over 63,000 businesses have already registered.
Businesses will not be able to purchase goods from their supplier tax exempt without providing a PST number or completing a certificate of exemption. These items include:
* Goods purchased solely for resale or lease
* Software or telecommunication services purchased solely for resale
* Goods or software purchased to be incorporated into goods for resale.
Suppliers must show the PST registration number on the invoice or sales document, or maintain a properly completed certificate of exemption, to support their non-collection of the tax. Otherwise, they are required to charge the tax on the sale, and purchasers will have to apply for a refund of the tax after the item is sold at retail.
Learn more about the services available to businesses to support the transition to PST: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach.