The guide explains the basics of B.C.'s PST and how it applies to goods and services for businesses.

The Small Business Guide to PST is easy to navigate and covers PST registration, refunds to customers, audits and appeals, keeping books and records, and the Taxpayer Fairness and Service Code. For more information, go online for the Small Business Guide to PST: http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents_library/brochures/SmallBusinessGuide.pdf

As committed, the PST was re-implemented on April 1, 2013, with all permanent exemptions. Businesses and consumers can find a general guide to what's taxable and what's not, under Publications at: www.gov.bc.ca/pst

Tools and services available to help businesses prepare for the re-implementation of the PST include:

• The convenient online eTaxBC PST registration tool at: www.gov.bc.ca/eTaxBC/register

• Online webinars covering the general principles of the PST and eTaxBC.

• PST bulletins and notices.

• Videos online:

• Returning to the PST - An Overview for Business

• PST in B.C. Online Registration

• File and Pay PST in B.C.

• Businesses with questions about the PST can call our toll-free general enquiry line - 1 877 388-4440 or email questions to: CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca

Businesses can sign up to have a ministry PST specialist review their accounting and reporting systems to ensure their systems are properly set up to comply with the provincial sales tax laws. This PST education program replaces the one-on-one consultations with a PST specialist.

Businesses with no prior PST experience and small to medium businesses would benefit the most from this service. The ministry will try to reach as many businesses as possible to promote voluntary compliance with the PST.

For more information on the program or to complete the online registration form to request an appointment, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach

If you have any difficulties registering online, call us toll-free at 1 877 388-4440.

Quotes:

Minister of State for Small Business Naomi Yamamoto -

"With the reintroduction of the Provincial Sales Tax on April 1, 2013, government continues to support businesses as they make the transition to the two-tax PST and GST system. The Small Business Guide to PST will help business owners who have questions about what is taxable and what is not, registering, and remittance-essentially everything business owners need to know to ensure a smooth transition to PST.

"More than 85,000 businesses in British Columbia have registered to collect PST and that number is growing. Registered businesses, as well as those preparing to register, will have questions. In addition to informational webinars and a toll-free help line, this guide provides plain-language answers to those questions."

Quick Facts:

• Businesses that sell or lease taxable goods, or sell software or taxable services in B.C. must register to obtain a new PST number, even if they have an old PST number.

• Businesses can register three ways:

• Online - go to: www.gov.bc.ca/etaxbc/register

• In person - go to the nearest Service BC Centre. See locations at: www.servicebc.gov.bc.ca/ - or visit our office at 1802 Douglas St. in Victoria.

• By mail or fax - complete the Application for Registration for Provincial Sales Tax (FIN 418) found at: www.gov.bc.ca/pst (Go to Forms and Publications.)

• A new PST number will be assigned once the business registration application is processed.

Learn More:

Learn more about the services available to businesses to support the transition to PST: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach

All legislation and regulations to re-implement the PST are complete and available on the publications page at www.gov.bc.ca/pst

Contact:

Jamie Edwardson
Communications Director
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821

The PST education program is a general review of a business' accounts and systems to ensure they are set up correctly to collect, report, remit and pay the PST. It is not a records or transactional review; however, a small sample of invoices may be used to help with the system review.

The education program is not an audit, so businesses won't be issued a tax assessment for any errors noted. If the PST hasn't been correctly paid, collected, or remitted, the business will be advised of the corrective actions needed and will have the opportunity to correct the mistakes on their next PST return. If the business doesn't correct the errors noted in the review and undergoes a future audit, the errors would be subject to an assessment, plus any applicable penalties and interest.

Businesses with no prior PST experience and small to medium businesses would benefit most from this service, although it is available to all businesses operating in B.C. Government will try to reach as many businesses as possible to promote voluntary compliance with the PST.

For more information or to complete the online registration form to request an appointment, visit www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach. If you have any difficulties registering online, call us toll-free at 1 877 388-4440.

This outreach program replaces the one-on-one consultations with a PST specialist.

Quotes:

Minister of State for Small Business Naomi Yamamoto:

"This new program will help businesses-especially those with no prior PST experience-that are registered for the PST, but aren't quite sure if their systems and accounts are set up correctly. This program provides a valuable, penalty-free opportunity to make sure their accounts and systems comply with the new provincial sales tax laws.

"I urge any businesses not yet registered for the PST to do so right way. With the first return for most businesses due on May 31, 2013, businesses will need to resolve any of their transitional issues before a remittance is due. You can register 24/7 with our convenient online registration service, or call our toll-free line if you have questions."

Quick Facts:

• Businesses that sell or lease taxable goods, or sell software or taxable services in B.C. must register to obtain a new PST number, even if they have an old PST number.
• Businesses can register for the PST three ways:
• Online, anywhere at any time - go to: www.gov.bc.ca/etaxbc/register.
• In person - go to the nearest Service BC Centre. See locations at www.servicebc.gov.bc.ca/ or visit our office at 1802 Douglas St. in Victoria.
• By mail or fax - complete the Application for Registration for Provincial Sales Tax (FIN 418) found at www.gov.bc.ca/pst (Go to Forms and Publications).
• Other tools and services available to help businesses prepare for the re-implementation of the PST include:
• Online webinars covering the general principles of the PST and eTaxBC.
• PST bulletins and notices, as well as legislation and regulations, are available at www.gov.bc.ca/pst.
• Videos online:
• Return to PST Overview
• PST Online Registration
• File and Pay PST
• Businesses with questions about the PST or our outreach programs can call our toll-free general enquiry line - 1 877 388-4440 - or email questions to: CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca.

Learn More:

Learn more about the services available to businesses to support the transition to PST: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach.

All legislation and regulations to re-implement the PST are complete and available on the publications page at www.gov.bc.ca/pst.

Consumers and businesses can find a guide to what's taxable and what's not, including exemptions at: www.gov.bc.bc/pst.

Contact:

Jamie Edwardson
Communications Director
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821

The announcement comes shortly after Moody's reaffirmed its rating of Aaa and Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS) reaffirmed its rating of AA-High.

These ratings follow the introduction of Budget 2013 and reflect the success of continued adherence to the government's well-structured fiscal plan and support for the goal of balanced budgets.

In affirming the AAA rating, Standard and Poor's cited "strong budgetary flexibility", "a fiscal plan designed to bring the province's operating budget back to balance" and tax rates that are "low compared to those of most other Canadian provinces."

Currently, B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only provinces rated AAA/stable by S&P. B.C. and Alberta are the only provinces rated triple-A with Moody's.

Observations from S&P include:

• "The ratings reflect our view of the province's wealthy economy, strong budgetary flexibility and adequate liquidity. The stable outlook reflects our expectation that B.C.'s economy will continue expanding modestly through 2015."

• "We expect (GDP per capita) to hold fairly steady during our two-year outlook horizon, with B.C.'s shifting trade mix towards Asia offering diversification against potentially weak economic activity in North America."

• "We could revise the outlook to negative or lower the ratings if we came to expect the province's after-capital deficits to continue for an extended period and its tax-supported debt as a share of operating revenues to continue to rise."

Since November 2004 B.C. earned seven successive credit rating upgrades and has committed to balance the budget in 2013-14.

Quotes:

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

"Three top level credit ratings coming so soon after Budget 2013 are proof-positive that our goal of balancing the budget has been well received and that our fiscal plan is on course."

"An ongoing commitment to balancing the budget by not spending more than taxpayers send us will help us preserve our triple-A status. This is essential to protect future generations from the high costs of government debt."

"B.C.'s triple-A credit rating saves taxpayers millions of dollars a year in the government's cost of borrowing. Every dollar we don't pay in interest is one we can invest in public services or reduce our borrowing."

Learn more:

Factsheet - April 4, 2013: Moody's reconfirms B.C.'s Aaa rating: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/finance/factsheets/factsheet-moodys-reconfirms-bcs-aaa-rating.html

Media Contact:

Jamie Edwardson
Director of Communications
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821

Each four-year agreement includes zero per cent wage increases for the first two years, consistent with the 2010 Net Zero Mandate, and four staged increases of one per cent each over the third and fourth years, funded from savings found within existing budgets, as required under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

Almost three-quarters of the people working in B.C.'s public sector now have tentative or ratified agreements settled under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate. This represents over one-third of all agreements.

Following local ratification by union members and college and institute boards, the PSEA board provided the final sign-off on the two support staff agreements, the first between BCGEU Local 703 at the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and the second with the BCGEU Local 712 at Northwest Community College. These agreements cover about 465 staff working in a variety of positions ranging from information technology, administration and lab support workers, as well as library technicians, facilities and other services that support students and the institutions.

The PSEA reached a template compensation agreement in December for support staff on behalf of 12 participating colleges, institutes, and teaching universities and their respective unions, including the BCGEU, CUPE and COPE, which organized as a bargaining association for the purposes of these negotiations.

The B.C. government has been clear that there is no new money to fund wage increases and there is no desire to download these costs onto families or future generations. The 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate provides public-sector employers with the ability to negotiate modest wage increases funded from savings within existing budgets, not adding costs to taxpayers and ratepayers and not sacrificing services.

Settlements under the 2012 mandate are expected to be unique between sectors and between employers in some sectors.

Quotes:

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

"Almost three-quarters of unionized employees in B.C.'s public sector are now covered under negotiated settlements, despite the tough fiscal environment. These agreements show significant progress is being made under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate."

"This mandate gives employers and unions the opportunity to find creative solutions, and this means no two settlements are going to be alike. We are going to see unique settlements in every sector and with each employer."

Quick Facts:

• The 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate applies to all public-sector employers whose collective agreements expire on or after Dec. 31, 2011.

• About 300,000 unionized workers are employed in the public service, at Crown corporations and agencies, and in the kindergarten to Grade 12, post-secondary, health and community social services sectors.

Learn More:

Updated bargaining information is available at: http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/psec/

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Finance
250 356-9872

The two-year agreements provide for modest wage increases, which are being funded from savings found within existing budgets, as required under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate.

Almost three-quarters of the people working in B.C.'s public sector now have tentative or ratified agreements settled under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate. This represents more than one-third of all agreements.

Following local ratification by union members, college and university boards, the PSEA board provided the final sign-off on the agreements between Northern Lights College and BCGEU Local 710, Northwest Community College and BCGEU Local 712, Okanagan College and BCGEU Local 707, and at Vancouver Island University with the BCGEU Local 702. These agreements cover about 1,100 faculty members working at the four institutions.

In December, the PSEA reached a common agreement. The agreement covers BCGEU faculty members, most of which are vocational, at a number of institutions in the sector. Signatories include Camosun College, Northern Lights College, Northwest Community College, Okanagan College and Selkirk College. VIU later adopted the general framework of the common agreement in its negotiations.

The B.C. government has been clear that there is no new money to fund wage increases and there is no desire to download these costs onto families or future generations. The 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate provides public-sector employers with the ability to negotiate modest wage increases funded from savings within existing budgets while not adding costs to taxpayers and ratepayers and not sacrificing services.

Settlements under the 2012 mandate are expected to be unique between sectors and between employers in some sectors.

Quotes:

Minister of Finance Michael de Jong -

"Almost three-quarters of unionized employees in B.C.'s public sector are now covered under negotiated settlements, despite the tough fiscal environment. These agreements show significant progress is being made under the 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate."

"I encourage employers and unions across the public sector to continue negotiating because agreements can be reached."

Quick Facts:

• The 2012 Cooperative Gains Mandate applies to all public-sector employers whose collective agreements expire on or after Dec. 31, 2011.

• About 300,000 unionized workers are employed in the public service, at Crown corporations and agencies, and in the kindergarten-to-Grade 12, post-secondary, health and community social services sectors.

Learn More:

Updated bargaining information is available at: http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/psec/

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Finance
250 356-9872

The general business PST enquiry lines will be open during the Easter weekend: Friday, March 29, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, March 30 through Monday, April 1 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The convenient online eTaxBC PST registration tool at - www.gov.bc.ca/eTaxBC/register - lets businesses register online from anywhere at any time.

Tools and services available to help businesses prepare for the re-implementation of the PST include:

• Online webinars covering the general principles of the PST and eTaxBC.
• PST bulletins and notices.
• Videos online:
• Returning to the PST - An Overview for Business
• PST in B.C. Online Registration
• Businesses with questions about the PST can call our toll-free general enquiry line - 1 877 388-4440 or email questions to: CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca
• Final regulations and legislation to re-implement the PST on April 1, 2013 are now available.

A new outreach program is being developed that will allow a business to have a ministry PST specialist do a general review of their accounts and systems to ensure they are set up properly to collect, report, remit and pay the PST. This program replaces the one-on-one tax specialist consultation program that helped businesses leading up to the transition. It will be of particular interest to those with no prior PST experience and small to medium businesses. This program is not an audit and the goal is to promote voluntary compliance with the PST, so businesses will have a chance to correct any errors without penalty initially. More information on this new program will be available soon at: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach

As committed, the PST is being re-implemented with all permanent exemptions. Consumers will again not pay PST on purchases like food, restaurant meals, bicycles, gym memberships, movie tickets, and others, nor for personal services like haircuts.

Consumers and businesses can find a general guide to what's taxable and what's not at: www.gov.bc.ca/pst

Consumers who feel they have been charged the PST in error should see the retailer or service provider for a refund of the tax, or if the value is more than $10.00, complete the refund form at: www.gov.bc.ca/pst

Quotes:

Minister of State for Small Business Naomi Yamamoto -

"As promised, the PST is returning April 1, with some common-sense improvements to make administration of the sales tax easier for businesses - including access to online registration and payment, moving the due date for remittance and returns to the last day of the month to match the GST, and allowing retailers to refund tax to customers in a broader range of circumstances."

"The re-implementation of the PST will present challenges for some small businesses and there may be some confusion during the initial period, so I ask consumers to please be patient with businesses during the transition period."

"If you're a B.C. business owner and have not yet registered for the PST, please take advantage of the tools and services available to you, and make it a priority to be ready for Monday."

Quick Facts:

• As of Thursday, more than 74,000 businesses have applied for registration.
• More than 68,000 questions from businesses have been answered by phone and email.

Outreach activities:

• Direct phone calls about registration - 116,515 businesses contacted so far.
• To date, 28 publications that provide plain-language guidance on the application of PST and related exemptions have been released, plus PST regulations and legislation.
• 35 news releases and information bulletins issued to raise awareness of seminars, webinars, bulletins and notices.
• 36 webinars held so far, attended by 1,745 people, and two per week are scheduled until the end of April.
• So far 2,429 requests for one-on-one consultations with a ministry tax specialist have been received and 1,859 consultations have been completed.
• To date, 105 seminars with chambers of commerce and business associations and other presentations have been held, for 3,578 attendees.
• Print and online advertising underway.
• Two mass mailings to businesses (September and December 2012).

Learn More:

Businesses that sell or lease taxable goods, or sell software or taxable services in B.C. must register to obtain a new PST number, even if they have an old PST number.

Businesses can register three ways:

Online - go to: www.gov.bc.ca/etaxbc/register

In person - go to the nearest Service BC Centre. See locations at - www.servicebc.gov.bc.ca/ - or visit our office at 1802 Douglas St. in Victoria.

By mail or fax - complete the Application for Registration for Provincial Sales Tax (FIN 418) found at - www.gov.bc.ca/pst - (Go to Forms and Publications.)

Learn more about the services available to businesses to support the transition to PST: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach

Consumers and businesses can find a guide to what's taxable and what's not, including exemptions at: www.gov.bc.bc/pst

The Canada Revenue Agency Business Enquiries line at 1 800 959-5525 will be open on Monday, April 1, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to assist with questions on the return of the federal GST in B.C.

Media contact:

Jamie Edwardson
Communications Director
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821