Washington state’s generous offer of giving British Columbians a tax break on cross-border shopping has been stopped in its tracks. The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County have asked a judge to place a ban on excluding BC residents from the state sales tax due to the imposition of the HST.

The city and county expect to lose almost $3 million in tax dollars collected from shoppers and have asked the courts to remove the break for those north of the border. This loss in revenue has the potential to significantly impact smaller retailers and communities.

The case will be heard in court on July 9^th, when the judge makes the decision on lifting the ban or leaving it in place.

Source: News1130

Canadian coins and American dollar bills

With the HST implementation date of July 1^st approaching, Washington State has decided to give visiting British Columbians a reprieve by providing tax free shopping.

The tax free shopping is limited to purchases that will be returning to British Columbia, which doesn’t include dining and hotel stays. British Columbians will also need to provide proof that they live in the province in order to qualify. The discount is only available at the time of purchase and cannot be claimed on items bought before July or after leaving Washington.

Other provinces eligible for this include Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec and the Yukon. Ontario will also join the list along with BC this July.

Check out the Cross Border shopping tips article before making the journey stateside.

Source: News1130