Canada's Tax break on consoles

[CupMonkey ジョージ]

Hi all, you might have heard that Canadians are getting a tax break including for video game consoles. Is the Steamdeck a video game console? if so, there should be no tax on the purchase of it starting Dec 14 2024 for 2 months. Thoughts?

[kingjames488]

ofc not, steam isn't a canadian company... they'll just charge the tax and pocket the difference.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by CupMonkey ジョージ:

Canada's Tax break on consoles

Hi all, you might have heard that Canadians are getting a tax break including for video game consoles. Is the Steamdeck a video game console? if so, there should be no tax on the purchase of it starting Dec 14 2024 for 2 months. Thoughts?

Nope.

[Malfunctioning Robot]

Originally posted by CupMonkey ジョージ:

Hi all, you might have heard that Canadians are getting a tax break including for video game consoles. Is the Steamdeck a video game console? if so, there should be no tax on the purchase of it starting Dec 14 2024 for 2 months. Thoughts?

It should yes, it applies to purchased and imported consoles.

How it Works
Businesses are expected to remove the GST/HST on qualifying goods at checkout as of December 14, 2024.

The proposed relief would apply to the below listed goods that are delivered to the purchaser, and paid for during the relief period. The GST/HST would also be fully and temporarily relieved on an importation of these same qualifying goods if the goods are imported during the period beginning on December 14, 2024, and ending on February 15, 2025.

"If" they do collect it during that period your avenue for relief would be to add it to a deduction in your 2024 taxes, so keep your receipt. This applies to any purchase. It's always possible for mistakes to happen.

[kingjames488]

it's a tax break on government sales tax for canadians... so therefore an american company collecting sales tax doesn't apply.

simple as that.

[Malfunctioning Robot]

Originally posted by kingjames488:

it's a tax break on government sales tax for canadians... so therefore an american company collecting sales tax doesn't apply.

simple as that.

Wrong, but thats par for the course from you. Valve collects GST and HST and passes it on the the government and is thus legally obligated to follow the tax laws of Canada, which it does. As witnessed by the fact your province of origin affects your tax on steam purchases. Just because you are ignorant of tax law doesn't mean Valve's lawyers are.

[kingjames488]

Originally posted by Malfunctioning Robot:

Originally posted by kingjames488:

it's a tax break on government sales tax for canadians... so therefore an american company collecting sales tax doesn't apply.

simple as that.

Wrong, but thats par for the course from you. Valve collects GST and HST and passes it on the the government and is thus legally obligated to follow the tax laws of Canada, which it does. As witnessed by the fact your province of origin affects your tax on steam purchases. Just because you are ignorant of tax law doesn't mean Valve's lawyers are.

that's PST, not GST... the cut is on GST...

or at least the portion of the HST that used to be GST... it's kinda confusing since they combined them to confuse you...

[Malfunctioning Robot]

Originally posted by kingjames488:

Originally posted by Malfunctioning Robot:

Wrong, but thats par for the course from you. Valve collects GST and HST and passes it on the the government and is thus legally obligated to follow the tax laws of Canada, which it does. As witnessed by the fact your province of origin affects your tax on steam purchases. Just because you are ignorant of tax law doesn't mean Valve's lawyers are.

that's PST, not GST... the cut is on GST...

or at least the portion of the HST that used to be GST... it's kinda confusing since they combined them to confuse you...

Wrong again. Valve collects GST as well. As someone who lives in Alberta there IS no pst, but I still have to pay the GST. The federal government has been charging GST on online video game purchases for almost a year now. Maybe try and keep up. And they were always charging it on purchases like the steam deck.

[kingjames488]

Originally posted by Malfunctioning Robot:

Originally posted by kingjames488:

that's PST, not GST... the cut is on GST...

or at least the portion of the HST that used to be GST... it's kinda confusing since they combined them to confuse you...

Wrong again. Valve collects GST as well. As someone who lives in Alberta there IS no pst, but I still have to pay the GST. The federal government has been charging GST on online video game purchases for almost a year now. Maybe try and keep up. And they were always charging it on purchases like the steam deck.

I mean... that is a typical alberta opinion...

wonder how well you'll do as an independent landlocked nation XD

[Malfunctioning Robot]

Ah yes, knowing tax law and being able to CLEARLY see the "gst" on my steam receipts is an "Alberta opinion".

Oh and understanding that companies that collect tax even if they operate internationally will comply with changes to tax law is apparently a "hot take".

I'd give you a jester but you aren't worth the points.

[Exceleron]

Originally posted by kingjames488:

ofc not, steam isn't a canadian company... they'll just charge the tax and pocket the difference.

LOL What a stupid reply... of course any company regardless or their origin that operates in Canada and charges/collects tax has to abide by Canadian tax laws and regulations...

[kingjames488]

Originally posted by Exceleron:

Originally posted by kingjames488:

ofc not, steam isn't a canadian company... they'll just charge the tax and pocket the difference.

LOL What a stupid reply... of course any company regardless or their origin that operates in Canada and charges/collects tax has to abide by Canadian tax laws and regulations...

lol... only since the government started cracking down on it like 5-6 years ago.

used to be a massive loophole where like 99% of anything you bought online from outside of canada just wasn't taxed.

weird how you bump this thread now tho, you lookin to catch a glimpse of me or something?

[carnageman99]

They ARE Charging HST on my purchases on STEAM. NB does not have a GST but a HST. We should be saving 15% and other provinces should save 7%.

[Chompman]

Originally posted by carnageman99:

They ARE Charging HST on my purchases on STEAM. NB does not have a GST but a HST. We should be saving 15% and other provinces should save 7%.

The tax break does not apply to digital games as it's only for physical game imports.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/taxes/child-and-family-benefits/gst-hst-holiday-tax-break.html

[Komarimaru]

Steamdeck I believe isn't considered a console, since setup to play PC games.

As mentioned above, games are also not covered since digital.

These items qualify as video game consoles, controllers, and games:

Game consoles designed primarily for playing video games
Controllers designed primarily for playing video games on a qualifying video game console
Physical video games, in a tangible format designed for the read-only storage of information in digital format, that contains a video game designed for use with a qualifying video game console (for example, game cartridges)

These items do not qualify:

Downloadable or online-only games
Other gaming accessories, such as chairs and headsets

[imaginecatchynamehere]

I'm assuming he already has his answer at this point, but if anyone else was curious, it is tax exempt. Minus those PST provinces of course.