Businesses that want to learn more about the Provincial Sales Tax can join interactive webinars offered by the provincial government in October, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business Naomi Yamamoto announced today.

Space is limited, so businesses that want to participate in the next webinar on Oct. 9, 2013, must sign up online by Monday, Oct. 7, 2013.

The interactive webinars provide information on transitioning to the PST. The topics include general PST application, registration and the new online services option, eTaxBC. Registration and information is available at: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach

Webinars are scheduled for:

• Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Government is reaching out to businesses throughout B.C. to ensure they have the support they need to make a smooth transition back to the PST, which came into effect on April 1, 2013. Additional PST tools and services available to help businesses include:

• PST specialists: If you operate a business in B.C., you can sign up for a ministry PST specialist to review your accounting and reporting systems to ensure your systems are properly set up to comply with the provincial sales tax laws: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach
• PST bulletins and notices - including the recent publications: What's Taxable under the PST and What's Not and the Small Business Guide to PST.
• A new one-click verification service, Verify a PST number service, allows sellers and suppliers to use a free PST number to confirm that a business is registered for PST when they request a PST exemption: https://www.etax.gov.bc.ca/btp/eservicesReg/_/#1
• Videos online: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach
• Return to PST Overview
• PST Online Registration
• File and Pay PST
• eTaxBC for Third Party Tax Preparers
• Businesses with questions about the PST can call our toll-free help-line at 1 877 388-4440 or email questions to: CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca

Government outreach efforts have spanned the province, engaging with British Columbians and ensuring they have the information they need. To date:

• Over 100,000 businesses have applied for registration.
• More than 93 publications that provide guidance on the application of PST and related exemptions have been released, plus PST forms, exemption certificates, and regulations and legislation.
• More than 163,160 questions from businesses have already been answered by phone and email.
• 51 webinars have been attended by 2,030 people, and more are scheduled.
• 381 businesses have signed up for a ministry PST specialist to review their accounting and reporting systems and 265 reviews have been completed.
• 108 seminars with chambers of commerce and business associations and other presentations have been held for 3,687 attendees.
• 2,449 requests for one-on-one consultations with a ministry tax specialist were received and 2,446 consultations have been completed.
• 116,515 businesses have been contacted directly.

Quotes:

Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business Naomi Yamamoto -

"The return to PST has been a challenge for many small businesses, and this is an opportunity for small-business owners and operators to ask questions and get the information they need. Government is committed to cutting red tape for small businesses, and we welcome feedback and active dialogue about how we can make it easier to do business in B.C."

Quick Facts:

• Businesses that sell or lease taxable goods, or sell software or taxable services in B.C. must register to obtain a new PST number, even if they have an old PST number.
• Businesses can register three ways:
• Online - go to: www.gov.bc.ca/etaxbc/register
• In person - go to the nearest Service BC Centre. See locations at: www.servicebc.gov.bc.ca/ - or visit our office at 1802 Douglas St. in Victoria.
• By mail or fax - complete the Application for Registration for Provincial Sales Tax (FIN 418) found at: www.gov.bc.ca/pst (Go to Forms).
• A new PST number will be assigned once the business registration application is processed.

Learn More:

Register for future webinars by completing the online registration form: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach

View the presentation from previous webinar sessions: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach

Learn more about the services available to businesses to support the transition to PST: www.gov.bc.ca/pstoutreach

Media Contact:

Janet Stewart
Communications Manager
Ministry of Finance
250 356-9872