More than 6.5 million Ontarians will begin receiving payments on Thursday, June 10 to help the transition to the new Ontario harmonized sales tax (HST) which is scheduled to come in on July 1. The Ontario HST will blend the 8 percent provincial sales tax with the 5 percent federal goods and services tax (GST) to create a single 13 percent sales tax.
Three payments will be made to Ontarians to help defray the extra costs of the new tax. The first is in June 2010, the second will be in December 2010, and the third in June 2011. Families with income up to $160,000 can expect rebates totalling $1000. Single people making less than $80,000 can expect a total of $300. The rebates are being processed by the federal Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of the Ontario government and are being paid out of the $4.3 billion the federal government gave the province to move to the HST. Those who receive federal government payments by direct deposit will have the money deposited directly into their bank accounts. To qualify for the rebate, you have to file a 2009 income tax return.
Although British Columbia is also scheduled to switch to the HST on July 1 this year, there won't be rebates there. Instead, the British Columbia government is using the $1.6 billion it received from the federal government to bring the HST in at a rate of 12 percent rather than 13 percent like Ontario.
Comments
I’m firmly against this tax. We are overtaxed and many citizens are struggling to put food on their tables and pay for the roofs over their heads. This is ‘blood’ money and the rebate can’t compensate for the taxes that will be levied. I’m on a fixed income but have decided to give this money to my local food bank. Please sign any petitions against the HST if they come your way.
Why wasn’t there a referendum to ask if citizens agree with the HST? Don’t we live in a democracy anymore?
We are highly overtaxed and the quality of our representatives in government has drastically declined over the years. The government no longer listens to the people and politicians apparently are more interested in their own wellbeing than that of the people in this country.
The Members object to being audited, which is a perfectly reasonable and proper demand to make of elected Members. On might assume that the only reason you wouldn’t want to be audited is because you are breaking the law? We receive a Notice of Assessment on our income tax and the government will have no mercy if a taxpayer hasn’t reported properly.
I searched for a group to oppose the HST and couldn’t find one. In the west there is a lot of passion to stop the HST. Why don’t we do that here? It truly is not that difficult to stop the government if you have membership and passion for the cause. Are we apathetic and is it too late now?
IT DOES NOT SEEM FAIR THAT A PERSON NOT MAKING ENOUGH TO PAY TAXES SHOULD NOT GET A REBATE. THEY ARE IN THE LOWEST OF WAGE EARNERS AND NEED IT MOST.
Patricia,
We haven’t lived in a democracy for years. Canadian government is an elected dictatorship. And even at that only about 25% of the country decides since no one votes anymore. We are known world wide for our complancency. Government officials rely on it. They know they can do whatever they want and we as Canadians will sit back and take it.
Why does a single person only receive $300 if their income is less than $80,000 while a married couple, who can split their incomes and can live cheaper than a single person, get $1,000 if their combined income is less than $160,000 ?
I agree with Margaret, but in this household we surely don’t make over $160,000.00 or matter of fact 80,000.00 and either one of us have yet seen a refund of any kind. Not sure when the cut off point was for this first payment?
I would like to comment on the hst taxes that are going to affect some people and maybe not some people .Before you read any further this is not meant as a racist comment this is stickly my opinion and others might feel the same. So thank you for letting me voice my opinion as iam a canadaian citizen and that is my right. I decided to voice my opinion after watching my local new on June 16th 2010. In my opinion I think if i have to pay the HST in the city I live in I feel ALL the people that live in the same city should pay all taxes like everyone else does. Since in my opinion we are ALL canadian citizens EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL I belive.What bothered me to voice my opinion after watching my local news is that certain people believe they should be excempt from paying taxes on things because of land claims which i clearly do not understand. As in my opinion I was born on this planet called earth. I was not asked to be born I was born like everyone else. If certain people would like to bring up topics about remote cities struggling to survive or cities with poor economy or poor people in general please put me in that category to as iam poor and struggle every day and if certain people would like to say that the goverment owes them for land that they apparently owned. If so I was woundering if the goverment has helped certain people more then others. Should we not be treated as EQUAL PEOPLE. As there are people that say certain people are racist well in my opinion the GOVERMENT is showing that in a way by telling certain people to pay taxes on things and certain people NOT. I would also like to add I was just born in this generation like EVERYONE else. Iam sorry what other GENERATIONS or ANCESTORS have done. But in a way I think I have paid my price for that. As I think I had nothing to do with that. So once again I would like to say this is MY opinion as a CANADIAN CITIZEN. Maybe some of my fellow canadian citizens or people that live in the same city as i do might feel the same way. Once again THANK YOU for allowing me to voice my opinion as a canadian citizen.
If your income tax was processed by revenue canada after May 9 then you will be on second wave of printing currently targeted for June 25 – I contacted revenue canada directly on June 16th when I still had not received my hst credit.
So BC has taken the intelligent approach which is most fair to everyone.
Why the differential treatment of a family and a single person? Why do two married people receive $1000 and yet a single person receives only $300? Does a single person not operate a household too? Two married people with no children (called a “household”) receive 66% more than if they were two single people living alone ($600) — why?
Isn’t the reasoning here upside down?
I just wrote to my MPP and asked him to explain this.
July 1st. Filed 2009 return. No cheque or deposit.
we are on disability did our 2009 taxes and still have not seen a hst cheque. The gov’t think of themselves and what they can get not for the Canadian people. I question the finances of just what they’re doing and not tell the people of Canada. They work for us not the other way around. I feel we have sat back far to long and now it’s time our voices be heard. Start petitions going hope everybody will sign them then let’s see how the gov’t reacts to hearing our voices loud and clear. what happened to our country democracy what?
I have not received the HST rebate. My wife and I are Ontario resident, and our income is less than stipulated and we should be eligible to receive rebate.
How should we do?
The first transition payments went out on June 10 to eligible Ontario taxpayers – up to $100 for single people, and up to $330 for couples. Your 2009 tax return had to have been assessed by May 10 to get the early distribution. If your 2009 income tax return was assessed after May 10, the first payment should come within four to eight weeks after your return was assessed.
There are more details here:
http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/credit/sttb/index.html
If you still have questions, you can call the Canada Revenue Agency at:
1 877 627-6645
Susan
Thanks Susan, that should clear up a lot of worries for many posters here. Considering Revenue Canada processes in excess of 15 million tax returns each year, it’s not surprising a few cheques take a little longer than expected.
Your clear and concise information should be able to direct people with concerns to the right place now, instead of ranting here with pointless comments.
I have been of age to vote for 15 yrs. After the 1st 5 years I decided screw this. I haven’t voted in 10 yrs. The reason is You say one thing and do another. There are to many taxes out there. What I have always wanted to see is a NST. Native sales tax. Everyone should pay some type of tax, no matter who they are. Your all just over paid criminals. You called it HARMONY sales tax. You try to make it sound like tax is a good thing.
My cheque received last week for the $300 HST rebate is missing, and I want to know how to go about advising how to put a stop payment on it, such that a replacement cheque can be issued. I’ve tried to find this info out on-line at gov sites to no avail. I tried a gov 1-877-627-6645, but all I ever get is a busy signal. Can you help as to how I should proceed, and fast??
Thank you.
Marogt Baker
416-488-2642
You could try calling one of the other CRA information numbers and see if they can help. Tell them you can’t get through on the line for the Ontario Sales Tax Transition Benefit.
GST/HST credit for Individuals (not the same thing as the Ontario Sales Tax Transition Benefit)
1-800-959-1953
or
Individual income tax enquiries (general CRA enquiry number)
1-800-959-8281
Susan
ITS TIME FOR A NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT. IF THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY THINGS WILL NEVER CHANGE. WE LIVE IN A GLOBALIZED ECONOMY WHERE THIS FORM OF GOVERMENT DOES NOT SERVE US WELL AT ALL. THEY CONTINUE TO WASTE TAX PAYERS MONEY AND MAKE US PAY FOR IT. IN A AGE WHERE THE PENSION OR SAFETY NET FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON IS DISAPERING THE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT POSITIONS GET A GOLDEN PARACHUTE FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF SERVICE TIME THEY PUT IN. ITS TIME FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE. WAKE UP PEOPLE THE REASON WHY WE ARE OVERTAXED IS BECAUSE OF OUR INADEQUATE GOVERMENT SYSTEM.
Um, how do you expect to change the way government works if you can’t be bothered to vote?
I vote and I still have no say.
My family is of the middle class, we make enough to get nothing. We get no child tax credit, we get no GST/HST rebates quarterly, we don’t even qualify for some of the energy grants being given. I pay $700+/month for daycare. We pay and pay and pay and get nothing in return. I would do better making half my wages and being a single parent of my 2 kids. At $20,000/year I would get a boat load in tax free top ups – $735.99/month in Child Tax Credit alone, (this one is taxable but $200/month for UCCB) and single parents making $20,000/year are eligible for subsidized daycare (bye bye $700/month bill) I would qualify for the the Working Income Tax Benefit for an annual payment totalling $855.00; GST quarterly payments of $190.50 and Ontario Sales Tax Credits quarterly payments of $195.00; one time energy credit of $200; this years $1000 HST rebate; I wouldn’t have to pay the health care premium on my income tax and all my tax paid out would be refunded back to me (or a good portion of it) and I get to claim that I’m a single parent on a low income, all the while raking in more than a single parent making a ‘decent’ wage. But we are not, we make just enough to get nothing.
Thanks government, good thing I voted.
I am a single mom with one dependant son who is in highschool. I pay my taxes and have yet to see a re-bate. Some people are getting a second cheque and I have not received June’s payment. How do I get access to receiving this cheque???? Jeanne
Why are some people being issued checks& others are not?
My family received the HST rebates just now, but the letter stated that this is the 2nd HST rebate and a third one is coming in June 2011. We never receive the 1st HST rebate, who is cheating?
If you didn’t get a June cheque and feel you are eligible, call the Canada Revenue Agency at
1-877-627-6645
and explain your situation.
They send the cheques out in waves, so if you haven’t received your December cheque, then wait til early in January before calling.
The service is available Monday to Friday (not holidays) from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
Susan
is there a tax rebate in feb. we already got the cheques in aug & nov.
I am a widow, and my husband passed away six years ago. I am struggling to survive on a greatly reduced OAP and CPP, and to add insult to injury, you now class me as Single. I am not Single, I am “half of a married couple”. It hurts, that I am classed below that of my married neighbours and friends, who still have their spouse. They cannot understand your reasoning either, that they should receive a total of $1,000.00 in HST rebates, and widows and widowers, a total of $300.00. Meaning no disrespect, but even common-law couples receive a total of $1,000.00. Should they not be classed as two Single people? I live in my own home, and shoulder all the same expenses as they do, on a much lower income. I wrote and mailed a letter to Premier McGuinty’s office before the first cheques were ever mailed out. I was not even given the courtesy of an explanation, but merely sent a xeroxed form letter, listing the criteria governing the distribution of HST rebates. To be treated so shabbily, tells us that you just do not care, and indicates just how many people, must have asked that very same question, with no one receiving an answer. One cannot help but feel, that the day they decided to talk about the rules governing the HST rebates, that they didn’t even sit down at the conference table. The meeting opened – a rough draft of ideas was read – they all agreed – meeting closed – off to lunch. The Liberal Party of Ontario, is going to experience its greatest defeat, if letters from their constituents, asking intelligent questions, are not answered. They still have time to rectify this, and to gain back some of their respect. Please take note of what the Conservative Governments Julian Fantino, states, “One senior living in poverty, is one senior too many”. I wonder, will anyone answer this? Thanks for listening.
JS
I have to say that I really don’t think that anyone who doesn’t make enoug to pay taxes should get a credit on taxes that they don’t pay! If they were given a credit on this the taxes for those of us who do make enough to pay taxes would go up and with some of us lucky to make $20,000 (if) a year we can’t afford to pay any extra. Do I believe in the new sales tax I do not, however if you find that you don’t make enough money to pay tax and you want to pay it so you get the refund, Tim Hortons is always hirering and I know I have worked there you make enough to pay taxes and get the credit.
I am a widow who now is trying to figure out how to pay the rent next month.
Because I could not affored to pay my taxes last year I will not receive GST or HST. My income is 12K a year. Where is the justice. Living on a widow’s pension and a small annuity doesn’t cut it anymore. Any thoughts???
Emily,
Your comment is so wrong its not even funny…
This is an HST Rebate credit…NOT AN INCOME TAX REBATE CREDIT like you are ranting off as.
HST is paid on EVERYTHING…. Income taxes have nothing to do with HST.
Doesn’t matter what income level your living at, your still going to be paying HST EVERYDAY and every purchase!!
And to add, the last time I talked to an employee of Tim Hortons they only worked part time hours as thats all Tim Hortons will give people these days!!!
I am against the HST, 13% tax, good God, aren’t we taxed enoughg. I live on a fixed income and am just scraping by now, what about low ioncome people with children.
Ontario, my birthplace, has gone to the dogs, it is a shame, these legislatures don’t care a hoot about the common man, while you collect a huge pension, we humble Ontarions, foot the bill.
Where is this democratic society that we suposedly live in, someday you will all be held accountable for these mistakes…..
well my husband and i are live in sault ate marie ON. we are currently living in an apartment leased by ontario housing , we are seniors ,,my husband gets a small comp cheque ,and he is also on odsp because of his health , but housing pays 500.00 of our rent and we have to pay out 300.00 on it,, but ODSP takes off 5oo,oo off my husbands cheque every month ,, my question is ,, where are we gaining here ,,, this seems like so unfair to us ,, we just can’t make sense of it ..