HST (PST component) Exemptions â€“ Ontario

This information will help consumers and retailers understand what goods will be eligible for the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) point-of-sale rebate.

Consumers will not be required to pay the Ontario component of the HST (8 per cent) on goods that qualify for the point-of-sale rebates.

The qualifying goods are:

Print newspapers

that contain news, editorials, feature stories or other information of interest to the general public, and
that are published at regular intervals (typically on a daily, weekly or monthly basis),
but not flyers, inserts, magazines, periodicals and shoppers.

Qualifying prepared food and beverages

that are ready for immediate consumption and are sold for a total price (for all qualifying items purchased, excluding HST), of not more than $4.00.

Books, including:

a printed book or an update of a printed book,
an audio book (i.e., all or substantially all of which is a spoken reading of a printed book),
a bound or unbound printed version of a scripture of any religion,
a printed book and a read-only medium (e.g., CDROM) whose content is related and integrated with the book’s content and when sold together as a single package,
a printed book and a read-only medium and/or a right to access a website when sold together as a single package, and if specifically designed for students enrolled in a qualifying course, such as educational courses of elementary or secondary schools.

Children’s clothing

designed for babies, girls and boys up to and including girls’ Canada Standard Size 16 and boys’ Canada Standard Size 20 including baby bibs, bunting blankets and receiving blankets
designated for girls and boys in sizes small, medium or large if the clothing does not have a designated Canada Standard Size
children’s hosiery or stretchy socks, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens in sizes and styles designated for children
excluding costumes, adult sized garments even if acquired for a child, garments and accessories designed to prevent bodily injury, like sports protective equipment.

Children’s footwear

designed for babies and girls and boys up to and including girls’ size 6 and boys’ size 6
without a numerical size that is designated for girls or boys in size small, medium or large
excluding skates, rollerblades, ski-boots, footwear that has cleats, or similar footwear, adult-sized footwear even if acquired for a child, and footwear designed to prevent bodily injury.

Children’s car seats and car booster seats

that are restraint systems or booster cushions that conform with Transport Canada’s safety requirements for Standards 213, 213.1, 213.2 and 213.5 as described under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act excluding children’s car seats and car booster seats
that do not meet Transport Canada safety standards and travel systems that are a combination stroller carrier and car seat sold in a single package

Diapers, including:

Incontinence products will be zero-rated under HST, in accordance with current GST rules.

Feminine hygiene products, including:

sanitary napkins,
tampons,
sanitary belts,
other products marked exclusively for purposes similar to the purposes for which sanitary napkins, tampons and sanitary belts are marketed,
excluding deodorants, douches, sprays, syringes and
feminine wipes.

PDF version of the document provided by Canada Revenue Agency is available here:

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