Tools for PST transition may be overwhelmed: CFIB
Posted October 15, 2012 3:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – If you’re a business owner confused about returning to the PST, you’re certainly not alone, and the province has launched some tools to help you out. Some are worried, however, that systems put in place will be overwhelmed.
Business owners can opt for one-on-one consultations with tax specialists. They can also call a hotline or send an e-mail with their questions.
“I think there’s a lot of concern out there right now that there may not be enough time or enough staff in government to pick up the demand that will come from people who are really confused and really uncertain,” says Shachi Kurl with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
“We always would have said earlier is better, but here we are, it’s October 15th and we’re just starting to see the first parts of this transition and the information around it coming out.”
“Business owners are now starting to turn their minds to what’s a really big time of year for them: Christmas,” she points out. “They’re starting to look at and deal with how they’re going to get through the end of the year. They are not necessarily going to be putting PST transition at the top of mind.”
“But at the same time, and I will say this, there is a responsibility on the part of those business owners to start looking at this now,” Kurl adds. “You don’t want to be caught at the end of next spring not knowing what you have to do.”
Kurl says it’s great to see help for business owners finally in place, although she notes it’s a long time coming, now that it’s well over a year since the Harmonized Sales Tax was voted out.
INFORMATION
Hotline: 1.877.388.4440
Email: CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca
