Government warns against avoiding taxes online or cross border shopping - it's illega

[bluecheck15]

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/11/19/border-shopping.html

With the spur of a strong Canadian dollar and the pressure on retailers to drop their prices, the Canadian government is warning its citizens not to forget about Provincial and Federal taxes. Whether you shop across the border, or buy online from a store located in another province, you must declare items for tax. They are reminding consumers that Big Brother is aware that people are making online purchases from stores located in provinces that do not charge Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to out of province purchases. Should you not declare all your items come tax time, you can be caught and charged. And as one Economist told me, "Everytime you purchase outside of Canada, you hurt our economy. Don't do it."

Big Bro is watching: "...are required to notify the taxation department of out-of-province purchases, and if they don't the department will likely find out."

[honest thief]

How would they find out that I bought something from Alberta and brought it back to BC?

[dhamilton]

They are following you around with a camera watching your every move...

[Evil Baby]

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/11/19/border-shopping.html

And as one Economist told me, "Everytime you purchase outside of Canada, you hurt our economy. Don't do it."



Well if Canadian stores just charged a fair rate we wouldn't have to go out of country or even province for that matter. Toronto has twice the population of Buffalo and its surrounding area yet prices aren't even close.

Even within Canada prices are too far apart for me to do computer shopping in Ontario. DirectCanada and NCIX are both cheaper then most stores in T.O. and certainly cheaper than the local stores in Niagara. Sure if I were to shop enough stores in T.O. I can usually find prices similar but I have to hit multiple stores whereas I can just order everything from one site at DC or NCIX.

So if Canada wants to keep my business, it needs to be more competetive. If Ontario wants to keep my business it needs to be more competitive. If Niagara wants to keep my business it needs to be more comeptative.

[gman]

How would they find out that I bought something from Alberta and brought it back to BC?

If you ship it, there is a record.

[chrome_boy]

"Everytime you purchase outside of Canada, you hurt our economy. Don't do it.""

So everytime Walmart and Canadian Tire import something from China/Japan/USA, they're hurting our economy?

[jcoltage]

So everytime Walmart and Canadian Tire import something from China/Japan/USA, they're hurting our economy?

Good one.

[krowten_hsid]

Government Can Go Fornicate Themselves With A Wooden Telephone Pole. These are the same f--king politicians that give themselves huge pay raises whenever they feel like.

http://canadaonline.about.com/library/weekly/aa060701a.htm

Greedy MF's

[bluecheck15]

So everytime Walmart and Canadian Tire import something from China/Japan/USA, they're hurting our economy?

Nah, I'm pretty sure he meant when you cross the border and spend money without declaring, Canada doesn't get it's fair share of it's money.

Yes, I agree that Canada needs to be alot more competitive. But it's been that way for as long as I can remember. The government protects businesses from external competition, which in turn allows businesses to charge very high prices. I wish it weren't so

That same economist I talked to commented that Canadians are scrouges in comparison to their counterparts in the USA. Canadians tend to really hold onto their money, which results in less going into the economy, which results in less money for programs like roads, housing, schools, hospitals, etc..., which results in the government having to hike tax programs to get that money out of Canadians. I told him if businesses lower their prices and become competitive, maybe people would send their money!

He commented back that maybe Canadians should be more patriotic.

[ghostryder]

So everytime Walmart and Canadian Tire import something from China/Japan/USA, they're hurting our economy?

Assuming that the product is available from a Canadian manufacturer, then yes it would have an impact.

[sanborn]

He commented back that maybe Canadians should be more patriotic.

Geez, where did this "economist" get his economics degree, under a rock? He seems to have no concept of market forces. You can't expect the masses to spend irrationally just in the name of patriotism.

[cwb27]

Now, I'm no tax expert here... but does PEI have some kind of PST tax laws different than the rest of Canada? If I'm outside of Canada for 7 days, I get my 750 bucks GST/PST and duty free... What is this guy talking about? Am I missing something? I have to be mis reading something.. Or is it just a poorly written article?

[gman]

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/11/19/border-shopping.html

With the spur of a strong Canadian dollar and the pressure on retailers to drop their prices, the Canadian government is warning its citizens not to forget about Provincial and Federal taxes. Whether you shop across the border, or buy online from a store located in another province, you must declare items for tax. They are reminding consumers that Big Brother is aware that people are making online purchases from stores located in provinces that do not charge Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to out of province purchases. Should you not declare all your items come tax time, you can be caught and charged. And as one Economist told me, "Everytime you purchase outside of Canada, you hurt our economy. Don't do it."

Big Bro is watching: "...are required to notify the taxation department of out-of-province purchases, and if they don't the department will likely find out."

It appears it is about PEI only. The title of this thread is misleading.

The P.E.I. government has launched an ad campaign to remind Islanders that if they cross a border to shop or order products from out of province online, they still have to pay provincial sales tax.

Different province has different PST rule.

[Kris81]

Shrek the 3rd = $15.66 on amazon.com & 25.57 on amazon.ca

Grey's Anatomy S3 was $33.97 when i bought it on .com & $53.77 on .ca



f the government. When the prices are the same i'll stay loyal to canadian sites/stores

[Crimson]

Shrek the 3rd = $15.66 on amazon.com & 25.57 on amazon.ca

Grey's Anatomy S3 was $33.97 when i bought it on .com & $53.77 on .ca



f the government. When the prices are the same i'll stay loyal to canadian sites/stores

+1