The government can't set prices at the checkout, but we can give Canadians more money in their pockets. To help them buy the things they need and save for the things they want, the government announced that it will be introducing legislation in Parliament that would provide for a two-month Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) break for groceries and holiday essentials.
The government is proposing that the GST/HST be fully and temporarily relieved on holiday essentials, like groceries, restaurant meals, drinks, snacks, children's clothing, and gifts, from December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025. This tax break will make a meaningful difference for Canadians by making essentially all food GST/HST free, providing real relief at the cash register.
More Money in Canadians' Pockets
Removing the GST from these qualifying goods for two months will provide an estimated $1.6 billion in federal tax relief.
A family spending $2,000 on qualifying goods, such as children's clothing, shoes and toys, diapers, books, snacks for the house, or restaurant meals would realize GST savings of $100 over the two-month period.
In provinces where the HST will also be removed from qualifying goods (Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island), further savings would be realized. In Ontario, the same $2,000 basket of qualifying purchases realize HST savings of $260 over the two-month period.
How it Works
Businesses are expected to remove the GST/HST on qualifying goods at checkout as of December 14, 2024.
The proposed relief would apply to the below listed goods that are delivered to the purchaser, and paid for during the relief period. The GST/HST would also be fully and temporarily relieved on an importation of these same qualifying goods if the goods are imported during the period beginning on December 14, 2024, and ending on February 15, 2025.
Qualifying Goods
The following are descriptions of goods that would qualify for the proposed tax relief.
- Children's clothing: meaning garments (other than garments of a class that are used exclusively in sports or recreational activities, costumes, children's diapers, or children's footwear) that are:
- Designed for babies, including baby bibs, bunting blankets and receiving blankets;
- Children's garments up to girls size 16 or boys size 20, according to the national standard applicable to the garments, and if no national standard applies to the children's garments, girls or boys sizes extra small, small, medium, or large; or,
- Hosiery or stretchy socks, hats, ties, scarves, belts, suspenders, or mittens and gloves in sizes and styles designed for children or babies.
- Children's footwear: meaning footwear (other than stockings, socks or similar footwear or footwear of a class that is used exclusively in sports or recreational activities) that is designed for babies or children and has an insole length of 24.25 centimetres or less.
- Children's diapers: meaning a product designed for babies or children and that is a diaper, a diaper insert or liner, a training pant, or a rubber pant designed for use in conjunction with any of those items.
- Children's car seats: meaning a restraint system or booster seat that conforms to the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213, 213.1, 213.2 or 213.5 under the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Seats Safety Regulations.
