Ontario HST rebate cheques are on their way, just in time for the Holidays! The second wave of Ontario HST cheques, promised by the Ontario government, will begin going out today, HST Ontario has learned.

From today through December 17th qualifying Ontario residents will begin receiving their 2nd HST rebate in the mail or by direct deposit.

It’s been 79 days since harmonized sales tax was implemented in Ontario Canada and the conversation seems to have died.

Happy Canada Day Everyone. Today you’re getting a gift from your government – harmonized sales tax. For some HST is considered a special gift but for many more Ontario residents HST is a gift they would rather return.

The Ontario HST tax reform is around the corner. HST launches on July 1st. Many goods & services will see no tax change, a few will actually see HST lower sales tax and some will see an HST tax increase.

HST Ontario has put together a list of all the major upcoming tax changes in Ontario. Here is: A Detailed Guide to HST Changes in Ontario

• Domestic Airfare – Any domestic air travel that originates from Ontario will see a tax increase. Airfare in Ontario is presently taxed GST only, after July 1 all flights leaving Ontario will be subject to HST.
• Domestic Rail – Traveling along the rails will cost you more sales tax. Rail fare originating from Ontario will increase to thirteen percent when harmonized sales tax starts in July.

When HST begins you will pay more sales tax on many goods and services in Ontario. That is a fact.

Here is another fact: Some purchases will see a tax decrease when HST launches in Ontario. Surprised? So were we.

Like it or not HST is going to increase the sales tax on many goods and services in Ontario. While the ongoing HST debate is often centered on the addition of taxes, the increase is just part of the HST landscape.

The Ontario Ministry of Revenue has claimed that 83% of consumer purchases will not receive an increase in sales tax. That means there will not be a tax increase on most purchases made in Ontario.

Our techo friends at the Ontario government recently released a new video that debunks what they call HST myths. The video, in the most basic way, addresses some of the many negative talking points Ontarian’s are being exposed to.

HST Ontario thinks its a good thing to see the government embracing the technology we use – even if it is to support a new sales tax.

Check out the HST video after the jump.

On July 1st 2010 the Ontario government will launch their new harmonized sales tax. HST will be replacing Ontario’s provincial sales tax and the goods & services tax with a single “value added” tax. When the new tax reform launches there will be noticeable changes to how we buy and sell in Ontario.

HST will be extended to many purchases that were once exempt from PST or GST and as a result we will see a tax increase on these goods and services.

While the list of items subject to HST and services subject to HST might be longer than everyone would like, there is some comfort in knowing that many purchases will remain HST exempt!

In Canada Harmonized Sales Tax can be defined as a sales tax that has merged (or harmonized) two or more existing taxes. The result of harmonizing is a single sales taxed called HST. In the summer of 2010 the Province of Ontario will be merging their two sales taxes, GST & PST into HST.

By combining the Provincial Sales Tax and the Goods and Services Tax, PST & GST will become a single value added tax, instead of two distinct taxes that don’t always work the same.

HST in Ontario will not change the price of  many items, however some items that were once exempt from one sales tax may see a tax increase.