NO Tax on Free Items

[maliha44]

I was browsing online and I found the Ontario website which say you cannot charge tax on free items. I have gone to many stores like Nofrills where they have ignored this and have charged tax. I will print this out and take it to the store. If you have gotten charged tax on free items, maybe you should do the same. The link is below.

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/guides/rst/511.html

[Scottishgal]

Thanks for posting

[annedougherty]

Yeah, it seems stores are slowly catching on to this. I think some stores have been "told." lol Just stand your ground and remember it also applies to the item you get free with a B1G1.

[thaichips]

i wonder if this applies to other juridictions...

[delynn]

Thank you I to get charged tax on free items all the time and everywhere. I just printed this out and put it in my coupon book. just in case I need it, thanks. thank you so much this will save me $$$$$$..(the tax)

[Chantel]

Would this apply if I were to stack and get an item free? I don't think it would, but it never hurts to ask!

[darlenegrigg]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[nightgarden]

interesting read....thanks!

[anisa]

the info is actually outdated since the hst came into effect.

i believe tho that the info states that we don't pay RST on free items, but it can't read where it addresses GST on free items.
with the implementation of the HST in ontario is the free item now exempt of HST?
i'm confuzzled :/

[annedougherty]

the info is actually outdated since the hst came into effect.

i believe tho that the info states that we don't pay RST on free items, but it can't read where it addresses GST on free items.
with the implementation of the HST in ontario is the free item now exempt of HST?
i'm confuzzled :/

There is no HST on FPCs. Previously no tax was to be paid on FPC's but stores were not following this. Also, while it applied to FPC's it did not apply to B1G1F's. I found an article on the CBC website about coupons and HST, and a government official is quoted as saying that when the HST is introduced, consumers will no longer pay HST on the free product when they are using a B1G1F.

I was recently informed by cashiers and supervisors both at Zehrs and Fortino's that the tax had to be deducted when I redeemed a few FPC's. At Zehr's the cashiers had been provided with a binder containing a chart which showed them the HST on each individual price so that they could deduct it.

[Scottishgal]

Yeah, it seems stores are slowly catching on to this. I think some stores have been "told." lol Just stand your ground and remember it also applies to the item you get free with a B1G1.

Thanks Anne. Never thought about that one. You gals are so smart.
Love it.

[anisa]

There is no HST on FPCs. Previously no tax was to be paid on FPC's but stores were not following this. Also, while it applied to FPC's it did not apply to B1G1F's. I found an article on the CBC website about coupons and HST, and a government official is quoted as saying that when the HST is introduced, consumers will no longer pay HST on the free product when they are using a B1G1F.

I was recently informed by cashiers and supervisors both at Zehrs and Fortino's that the tax had to be deducted when I redeemed a few FPC's. At Zehr's the cashiers had been provided with a binder containing a chart which showed them the HST on each individual price so that they could deduct it.

thank you for clarifying with specific points
i couldn't find the info when i googled

[barbs]

Would this apply if I were to stack and get an item free? I don't think it would, but it never hurts to ask!

this is only applicable for Ontario, not BC.

[BrutallyHonest]

I was browsing online and I found the Ontario website which say you cannot charge tax on free items. I have gone to many stores like Nofrills where they have ignored this and have charged tax. I will print this out and take it to the store. If you have gotten charged tax on free items, maybe you should do the same. The link is below.

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/guides/rst/511.html

There is no HST on FPCs. Previously no tax was to be paid on FPC's but stores were not following this. Also, while it applied to FPC's it did not apply to B1G1F's. I found an article on the CBC website about coupons and HST, and a government official is quoted as saying that when the HST is introduced, consumers will no longer pay HST on the free product when they are using a B1G1F.

I was recently informed by cashiers and supervisors both at Zehrs and Fortino's that the tax had to be deducted when I redeemed a few FPC's. At Zehr's the cashiers had been provided with a binder containing a chart which showed them the HST on each individual price so that they could deduct it.

annedougherty is correct. There is no HST on Free Product Coupons (FPC) but that is not the same as a coupon with a cash value equal or greater than the product being purchased.

Example:
Dove deodorant is on sale for $1.99

Coupon #1: "Choose any Dove deodorant free" - you pay nothing.

Coupon #2: "Save $2.00 off any Dove deodorant" - this is not a FPC, it is a specific value coupon, you must pay the HST, even though the deodorant works out to being free, so the correct total is .25 cents.

[crazycoupongirl]

i just bought dog food the other day and paid the tax Im pissed i should go back