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FAQs Questions about returning to PST

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What Has More Tax? Items with More Tax Under the HST

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FAQs

Residential Energy Credit

Residental Energy Credit

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Residental Energy Credit

Does the HST affect the price of home heating?

No.

B.C. provides a provincially administered credit for energy – including electricity, natural gas, heating fuel, heat, steam, propane, kerosene, firewood and pellets – purchased for residential use.

The credit is equal to the provincial portion of the HST paid or payable on the energy, excluding service and administration charges.

Does home energy cost more under the HST?

No.

The credit ensures that harmonization does not increase the cost of residential energy for British Columbians.

How do people get the credit?

For most residential consumers the credit is provided directly on their utility bills by energy suppliers, similar to the old PST exemption.

Does everybody get the credit?

Residential consumers who purchase energy for both residential and non–residential use (e.g. split use) that is not separately metered, or energy not delivered by the supplier directly to the residence, will not receive the credit on their utility bills but may apply to the B.C. government for the credit.

What do you mean by residential use?

Residential use generally includes personal use or consumption at a residence by the owner, tenant or other occupant of the residence. Residential use is not limited to energy used for heating a residence; it also includes energy for lighting, cooking and similar residential uses.

Residential use generally does not include a business, commercial or industrial use, or a use on which a person may claim an input tax credit or a public service body rebate.

Residences generally includes single family dwellings, apartment buildings, residential condominium complexes, residential care facilities and portions of multi–use buildings used for single family dwellings.

Additional information - Links to more information

B.C. Hydro – HST and your hydro bill

View a sample B.C. Hydro bill

BC Residential Energy Credit Bulletin – Notice for Energy Suppliers

Residential Energy Credit and Rebate Program – Notice for Consumers

If you have any questions, please contact the Province at 604 660-4524 (Vancouver area) or 1-877-388-4440 (elsewhere in BC) or email CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca

Residental Energy Credit

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