Tax changes delayed due to COVID-19 will go into effect in B.C. April 1, raising the price for things such as Netflix, sweetened soft drinks, and gas.
The B.C. government says the planned changes include the elimination of provincial sales tax (PST) exemptions for carbonated beverages containing sugar, natural sweeteners or artificial sweeteners.
There is also a new PST registration and collection requirements for e-commerce businesses located outside B.C.
Starting Thursday, PST will be charged on sweetened carbonated drinks dispensed through soda fountains, soda guns or similar equipment, along with all beverages dispensed through vending machines.
The province says it is a move supported by health professionals due to health costs and the impacts of sweetened drinks.
The tax changes mean all digital software and telecommunications services, including streaming services, will be required to collect PST on sales to B.C. customers if they have provincial revenues of more than $10,000.
Also starting April 1, all Canadian sellers of vapour products will be required to register to collect PST on all online or mail-order sales to B.C. customers.
The cost to heat your home and drive to work is also going up, as the province is raising the carbon tax from $40 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (tCO2e) to $45/tCO2e.
The increases will affect the price of gasoline, diesel and natural gas.
The increase was also delayed a year and will go to $50/tCO2e on Apr. 1, 2022.
The province says “the carbon tax applies to the purchase and use of fossil fuels and covers approximately 70% of provincial greenhouse gas emissions.”
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