British Columbians are paying among the highest prices in the country for school supplies due to the 7% provincial sales tax.Meanwhile in Alberta, the absence of a PST has continued to save parents money on classroom necessities. According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, families in BC will pay around $50 in PST alone on back to school shopping, bringing the province around $15 million in revenue.Certain school supplies are PST-exempt, however the regulations are not straightforward, and parents "must go through a complicated process to avoid the tax." Backpacks, briefcases, knapsacks, and tote bags, for example, are taxed, but "bags specifically designed to carry 'schoolbooks'" are not. Only certain paper products and pens are exempt, while highlighters, scissors, and pencil sharpeners are not. Even used items are taxable."If you're shopping at a thrift shop as a family," Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta Director Kris Sims said, "you're almost always still paying the PST. It's really unfair."One province over, meanwhile, the rules are far easier to understand: everything is PST-exempt."Alberta parents are feeling the pinch because everything costs too much, but they're saving about $50 per family for back-to-school shopping because we don’t have PST here," Sims added. "Federal carbon tax and inflation are driving up prices, but it's more affordable in Alberta because we don't pay a provincial sales tax."She noted that while it may not seem like much, "the provincial sales tax we don’t pay on school tech is really noticeable, since we are saving about $25 on a laptop.""The next time politicians and academics start clamouring for a PST in Alberta," she added, "parents should remember how these savings add up."Elsewhere in Canada, families are seeing the impact of provincial sales taxes as well. In Ontario, for example, the PST is currently 8%, accounting for an average of $60 of back to school shopping costs. In Saskatchewan, where very few items are tax-exempt, families can expect the 6% PST to cost them around $40.
