Tax Exemption On Bicycles And Helmets To Take Effect Dec 01(Ontario)

[Worldy]

PST free for your next bicycle purchase!

"This Notice explains the announced point-of-sale Retail Sales Tax (RST) exemption for bicycles and related safety equipment which will be effective from December 1, 2007 to November 30, 2008."


http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/notices/rst/pdf/61.pdf

[Laserheart]

You might want to mention that this is ONTARIO ONLY.

[DKPH]

You might want to mention that this is ONTARIO ONLY.

No need to mention it really... the web address says it all.

[Laserheart]

No need to mention it really... the web address says it all.

As long as someone actually pays attention to that, and deciphers it sure... Everybody knows the website address to the Government of Ontario! LOL

I'm one of those people that clicks and thinks about it later... 2 minutes later, in this case... LOL

[Rx-87]

FINALLY.... too bad it doesn't include bicycle parts =(


*drum roll*

POST 500 Finally!!

Oh well.. at least now the prices of high-end the Giro helmets at the spring bike show might even be more preposterous.. in a good way =D

[Bafflebrain]

Its been like that for years here in BC.

Then again there is no Provincial tax for most everything in Alberta.

[bigred123]

Ski/snowboard helmets, snowmobile helmets, etc. Why just bikes?

[notnormal]

Ski/snowboard helmets, snowmobile helmets, etc. Why just bikes?

Did you not read the link from the OP?

[GeeCee]

No need to mention it really... the web address says it all.

It needs to go in the title so that people not in the center of the universe don't come in and waste their time reading it.

[Kingmoo]

It needs to go in the title so that people not in the center of the universe don't come in and waste their time reading it.

+1

I'm starting to think there should be seperate forums for ontario and non-ontario.

[quanta]

The tax exemption counts for all safety equipment, such as lights and bells.

Add the 1% reduction in GST in Jan 1, and you're looking at a 9% discount for a bike and bike stuffs just by waiting another month.

[cpoole]

+1

I'm starting to think there should be seperate forums for ontario and non-ontario.

+1

LOL

[bigred123]

Did you not read the link from the OP?

Yep...it's bikes and bike related safety equipment.

[voided]

greatest thing ever if you are running a bike shop. My shop is going to sell so many more bikes because of this!!!

[GT!!]

What a half-assed stupid exemption. This makes no sense unless they are planning similar exemptions for other products and services that encourage Ontarians to stay healthy.

-GT

[Faeton]

What a half-assed stupid exemption. This makes no sense unless they are planning similar exemptions for other products and services that encourage Ontarians to stay healthy.

-GT

Do I smell sour grapes?

It's not just a healthy activity, it's also better for the environment, since it can take cars off the road. Perhaps this is a start of something bigger, so no need to bash it yet.

[recordman]

Or hockey protective equipment. I would snowboard without a helmet, but I wouldn't dare to play hockey without a helmet.

Ski/snowboard helmets, snowmobile helmets, etc. Why just bikes?

[AzN_RiverdaleCI]

will this apply to ebikes too?

[notnormal]

Ski/snowboard helmets, snowmobile helmets, etc. Why just bikes?

Yep...it's bikes and bike related safety equipment.

From OP's link.
This exemption is intended to encourage Ontarians to stay healthy and be active in their daily lives.

Add to the fact that bikes may be used as an alternate form of transportation, unlike the other sports listed.

[Whitewind]

Does that mean if its over 1000 you get nothing?

[007craft]

man I just bought a $1200 bike in september. where was this damn tax exemption then? This might actually encourage me to buy a helmet if I can find a good deal on one somewhere and one that does not look stupid. Sometimes I get scared when I hit high speeds on my bike knowing that if I hit like a rock or pothole im dead without a helmet.

for people who dont bike, you should really try it. If Im going to the store I never take the car. Even last night (yes in the -12 weather) I took my bike around running errands. I only take the car when I need to get somewhere that I dont want to be sweating at when I arrive (like going out with friends/ to work). Otherwise always take the bike. Unfortunetly It just snowed a whole lot and im gonna need to wait a few days for it to melt/get cleared better from the roads before I can go back out without the car.

Edit: Just read, only on bikes $1000 or less so I guess I would not of got the excemption regardless. Thats kind of dumb. Im serious about riding and want to buy a good bike so tough luck but the non serious casual rider who buys a crappy canadian tire bike gets to save? bah.

[warpdrive]

Edit: Just read, only on bikes $1000 or less so I guess I would not of got the excemption regardless. Thats kind of dumb. Im serious about riding and want to buy a good bike so tough luck but the non serious casual rider who buys a crappy canadian tire bike gets to save? bah.

I know what you mean, but it sorta makes sense

Anything over $1000 would be considered a more serious bike, chances are if you are buying one of those, you would already be in decent shape. This exemption might help convince somebody who doesn't already have a bike to buy one, whereas the person buying a $1500 one is probably already sure they are going to ride it.

[GT!!]

Do I smell sour grapes?

It's not just a healthy activity, it's also better for the environment, since it can take cars off the road. Perhaps this is a start of something bigger, so no need to bash it yet.

No sour grapes ... what do I care, I'm in another province ... you guys can do whatever you like with your provincial tax dollars and it makes no difference to me. Heck, if I wanted to, I could drive 30 minutes to get into Ontario to take advantage.

I don't question the merits of cycling or of offering tax breaks to encourage health & the environment, but if all they can come up with is a break for cycling it just looks like something a school-kid would come up with.

-GT

[notnormal]

No sour grapes ... what do I care, I'm in another province ... you guys can do whatever you like with your provincial tax dollars and it makes no difference to me. Heck, if I wanted to, I could drive 30 minutes to get into Ontario to take advantage.

I don't question the merits of cycling or of offering tax breaks to encourage health & the environment, but if all they can come up with is a break for cycling it just looks like something a school-kid would come up with.

-GT

Sour grapes make bitter whine ;).

[jmalias]

sour grapes...bitter whine....nice

If you plan to purchase a bike over $1000, get the bike shop to be creative,
say $999 for the bike and second bill for $201 for upgraded brakes = $1200 bike.

$80 will buy a nice helmet!!

[budfrogs]

Does this give me an excuse to buy a new bike.....I just got on in the spring it would have have fallen just under the $1K mark!!

The nice thing about biking is that it increases the self powered distant/terrain substanially. I like rollerblading but it is limited in distance and surfaces I can ride on.

Just remember all new bike riders...rubber side down!

[VivienM]

No sour grapes ... what do I care, I'm in another province ... you guys can do whatever you like with your provincial tax dollars and it makes no difference to me. Heck, if I wanted to, I could drive 30 minutes to get into Ontario to take advantage.

It's not what "we" like to do with our tax dollars: it's what a small minority of anti-car ideologues are doing with our tax dollars.