Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:46:03 -0500
Reply-To: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: Canadian taxes
In-Reply-To: <9AAEA6B6-A0EC-11DB-BBC3-000393DA1582@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
You don't have to do your rebate through a private company. When you leave
Canada, go into the Canadian customs and immigration office at the border.
You may have to look hard to find them - if you're not at a major border
point, they will be off on the left hand side of the road as you're going
out, where people going into Canada could easily stop but people going out
can't. Bring the receipts for any eligible items, and bring the items
themselves. They have to see the items you bought and see that you are
really taking them out of the country. They will stamp your receipts and
give you the government forms to fill out. Then you fill out the forms and
send in your stamped original receipts. And eventually they send you some
money.
You get back federal tax on items you bought and on lodging. BUT - each
receipt must be for a minimum amount, $CA 50 I think. That means if you
stayed one night in each of many campgrounds, none of your lodging is likely
to qualify. If you stayed several nights in the same campground it will,
because it will be over $50.
You can't get refunds on provincial tax. You can't get refunds on taxes on
transportation (e.g. gasoline, ferries). I'm pretty sure you can't get
refunds on food. Only lodging and items.
I don't know how long it takes to get reimbursed. I sent in my paperwork a
month ago, roughly - haven't gotten a refund yet. What I'm worried about is
what to do with a check in Canadian dollars! And how much my bank will
charge me to deposit it.
Maybe I'll get the check in time for Bus Fusion and I can ask some Canadian
friend to cash it for me. Greg? Gord? Frank? Wanna help?
Joy
:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
:::Of misemefein
:::Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 3:53 PM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Canadian taxes
:::
:::The Canadian federal government shops out GST tax rebates to a private
:::company called Premier Tax Free. Any foreigners visiting Canada with
:::the intention of reclaiming their eligible tax should visit the web
:::site before leaving:
:::
::: http://www.premiertaxfree.ca/
:::
:::The mail service is very slow. We filed for rebates for a trip to
:::Quebec on August 24; the check arrived just before Christmas. Out of a
:::retail amount of about $750, we got $20 back. Premier Tax Free takes a
:::healthy 18% service charge off every claim, besides whatever they're
:::making off their contract with the government.
:::
:::Some of you may decide it's not worth it. . . .
:::
:::Perhaps you can do better if you cash in your receipts at the border.
:::Be sure you use a border crossing that is prepared to handle such
:::things!
:::
:::Good luck with the trip. It sounds fabulous.
:::
:::Ellen