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March 12, 2019
Solved

When to use Sales Tax "E" Exempt vs "Z" Zero Rated Tax

  • March 12, 2019
  • 7 replies
  • 63 views

There are several transactions I'm unclear which Sales Tax Code should be used.  1) Preparing customer invoice with no sales tax - grant funding.

2) Meals - breaking out the meal - food portion with 13% tax and tip with not tax.

3) Banking Fees, not tax

4) Cash Payment on honorariums

Please help.

Best answer by Atlanticrock1

You need to understand that there is a difference between Zero Rated and Exempt.

Zero Rated are goods and services that basically are taxable, but the legislator decided to rate it at a "0" rate (for now). Whenever the government feels the need to collect more money, they can rate the zero rated goods or services at the rate they want.

Exempt means that goods or services are not taxable.

A grant is an exempt item.

The tip on the restaurant bill is an exempt item.

Bank fees are exempt items.

Cash payment on honorariums, is not exempt nor zero rated. Honorariums basically are taxable, and the entity or person who collects the honorariums must issue an invoice. It will include HST if the entity is HST registered. The payment method is irrelevant of the tax. If you pay cash, by cheque or credit card is not related to the tax.

Hope this helps.

7 replies

New Member
March 12, 2019

You need to understand that there is a difference between Zero Rated and Exempt.

Zero Rated are goods and services that basically are taxable, but the legislator decided to rate it at a "0" rate (for now). Whenever the government feels the need to collect more money, they can rate the zero rated goods or services at the rate they want.

Exempt means that goods or services are not taxable.

A grant is an exempt item.

The tip on the restaurant bill is an exempt item.

Bank fees are exempt items.

Cash payment on honorariums, is not exempt nor zero rated. Honorariums basically are taxable, and the entity or person who collects the honorariums must issue an invoice. It will include HST if the entity is HST registered. The payment method is irrelevant of the tax. If you pay cash, by cheque or credit card is not related to the tax.

Hope this helps.

June 19, 2019

Hey I was wondering what is your source to say tips are exempt? I've been looking to find a source that says so but can't find anything, could you provide this?

February 27, 2020

If tips are mandatory and charged on a bill (such as for large groups and gratuities) they are GST/HST taxable. In the case of either being added to the customer bill or invoice but marked as being voluntary or at the client's discretion and only suggested they do not attract GST/HST. It is best to get a ruling from CRA to support how your business is going to handle this.