Businesses need to adapt their systems for the elimination of the harmonized sales tax (HST) and the return the provincial sales tax (PST) on April 1, 2013, Finance Minister Mike de Jong confirmed September 13.
He said that a new e-service called eTaxBC is being developed that will benefit businesses by allowing online PST registration, tax return filing and payment.
Use of e-filing and e-payment is expected to be mandatory for businesses with total Canadian sales or leases over $1.5 million annually – approximately 10% of B.C. businesses.
De Jong's ministry is buying new telephone technology that will support multi-location call centres in both Victoria and Vancouver.
Information and services on the government's website (www.gov.bc.ca) are being redesigned and updated to improve access. The changes are based on consultations with businesses, individuals and tax professionals, de Jong said.
