Canada Announces GST and HST Tax Holiday

The Department of Finance Canada has announced a Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) tax holiday that will run from December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025, and that will apply to a wide range of goods.

Businesses should remove the GST/HST on qualifying goods at checkout from December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025. The tax holiday will apply to qualified goods that are delivered to the purchaser and paid for during the tax holiday period. The GST/HST will also be fully and temporarily relieved on an importation of qualified goods if the goods are imported during the period beginning on December 14, 2024, and ending on February 15, 2025.

The following goods will qualify for tax relief during the GST/HST tax holiday:

• Children’s clothing meeting certain requirements
• Children’s footwear meeting certain requirements
• Children’s diapers
• Children’s car seats
• Print newspapers
• Printed books
• Christmas trees or similar decorative trees
• Food and beverages
• Children’s toys meeting certain requirements
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Video-game consoles, controllers or physical game media

For additional information and more details on goods that qualify for the tax holiday, visit the Department of Finance Canada webpage. (More money in your pocket: A tax break for all Canadians webpage, Department of Finance Canada website, last updated November 21, 2024)