Taxes

Sales Taxes

Most goods and services including hotel rooms in British Columbia are subject to a 7% Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) with the exception of liquor (10%).

In Vancouver and most major cities in BC, there is an additional 2% hotel room tax on top of the 7% PST and 5% GST. Some hotels also collect a Destination Marketing Fee (DMF) of 1.5% for the purposes of destination marketing and promotion. Total taxes and DMF for Vancouver hotel rooms are 15.74% of the room rate.

Go to http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/nwsrm/fctshts/2013/m03/fs130327b-eng.html or www.vandha.ca  for more information.

Goods and Services (GST) Tax Rebates for Foreign Conventions

Recognizing the importance of meetings and conventions, the Canadian government has made available a rebate program on a range of goods and services purchased by the non-resident "convention" sponsor or organizer.

A "foreign" convention, comprised of 75% non-Canadian attendees is eligible for rebates on the following:

• Foreign conventions can claim 100% of the GST back on almost all your meeting related expenses. Room rentals, staffing, audio visual, décor, printing, signage, transportation, security, etc.
• Foreign conventions can claim 50% of the GST back on group catered food and beverage services
• If clients are charging an additional registration fee for CEU courses, the costs for these separate events are not rebatable. These courses are considered as separate meetings from the convention as they involve an exam, instruction and certification.