What the Temporary GST/HST Holiday Tax Break Means for Your Business

On November 21, 2024, the Government of Canada introduced a temporary GST/HST Holiday Tax Break, effective from December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025.

How to Prepare

1. Update Your Systems

  • Adjust your point-of-sale (POS) and accounting systems to apply the GST/HST exemption for eligible items.
  • Test these updates to ensure accuracy before the December 14th start date.

2. Identify Eligible Items

  • Review the government’s list of items included in the tax break. Typically, these are goods and services that align with the holiday season, such as certain clothing, toys, or gift items.
  • Share the list with your staff so they can assist customers and avoid confusion.

3. Train Your Employees

  • Provide clear guidance on how to process GST/HST exemptions.
  • Equip your customer-facing staff with talking points to explain the tax break and how it works.

4. Communicate with Customers

  • Use email, social media, and in-store signage to announce the GST/HST holiday and highlight eligible items.
  • Emphasize the limited time frame (Dec. 14, 2024, to Feb. 15, 2025) to create urgency and encourage purchases.

5. Monitor Compliance

  • Keep detailed records of transactions during the GST/HST holiday period to ensure proper reporting during tax filing.
  • Consult with your tax advisor to confirm you’re meeting all CRA requirements.

BWG Window Decoring Contest!

Vote for Your Favourite Storefront Display!

🎄 Community Award Voting 🎄 Help us celebrate the creativity and uniqueness of local businesses in Bradford West Gwillimbury by voting for your favourite storefront display! The voting period is open from December 14 to 11:59 pm on December 17. Cast your vote online and show your support for your local businesses!

Upcoming Workshops and Networking Events for 2025

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The Bradford Board of Trade (BBT) is committed to enriching the lives of its members and the business community at large, both professionally and personally through community building, education and networking. As a Chamber of Commerce non-profit organization the BBT’s mandate it is to sustain and promote local businesses by:
– Providing services that help local businesses run their organizations more effectively
– Providing networking opportunities that help local businesses increase sales and access service providers
– Taking an advocacy role in representing local business to government
The BBT was incorporated on April 22nd, 2008.

Bradford West Gwillimbury Office of Economic Development
Bradford has been designated as a centre for business development by the Province of Ontario and the existing markets, infrastructure and industrial clusters are certain to grow.
Are you opening a business in BWG? Inform the BWG Office Of Economic Development of your Grand Opening or Special Event.
Easy access to Highway 400 provides Bradford West Gwillimbury with access to and from Highways 401 and 407, which in turn provides the Canadian link to the “NAFTA Super-highway” connecting Ontario with the I-69, I-94, I-75 and numerous other associated corridors that facilitate the movement of goods between Mexico, US and Canada. Bradford West Gwillimbury also has rail lines and is located within a 45 minute drive of Pearson International Airport.
The Bradford Board of Trade works closely with the Bradford West Gwillimbury Office of Economic Development, with the mutual goal of attaining a sustainable economic future for the community.