Tracie107

I was in Zellers the other day & whilst queuing the lady in front of me spent $220 on christmas goodies ie. snow globes, pj's, toothpaste, slippers..... when she gave the cashier her credit card she told her "no tax". The lady showed her some sort of photo id and therefore didn't pay the tax.

Why didn't she have to pay & what was the id

Ozzidoc

Diplomat or Consular person or family?

jancal

Possibly American. When we go to Seattle shopping many of the shops will not charge us the tax - we have to show Alberta ID - apparently it does not count if you are from BC. At least the last time we were there that was the case.

Simon Legree

She may well have been an aboriginal person.

comet555

Probably an aboriginal person. I think it might be called a certificate of indian status card.

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/taxtips/rst/02.html

There might be other reasons, but this is the first one that comes to mind. I was once presented with on while working at my family store, so I know that it can be done for that reason.

DaveLovesDee

Why shouldn't an aboriginal person not pay tax, the rest of us do.

I got asked the other day if I would support the right of First Nations members to be allowed to live their traditional way of life without interference from politicians. I said that I would if they remembered that that traditional way of life included not getting money from the government or casino's.

Either we treat everyone the same or it's reverse discrimination in favour to the aboriginals.

dbd33

In order to avoid paying the sales tax you have to be both aboriginal and resident on a reserve. Does that seem like a deal to you?

DaveLovesDee

I think I'd rather stay in Scarborough!

GavinR

The reserves out this way are pretty damned decent with big houses, new hospitals and schools. Where do I sign up?

R I C H

Having farm status on your property confers some tax saving perks too. I don't pay PST on farm related purchases.

iaink

First Nations (Native indians) pay no tax.

iaink

It was part of the deal cut as compensation for us living on (what was) their land.

Its complicated and lots of politics etc is involved. Many groups exist as entities somewhat outside of straight canadian or US law.

hwp

Good grief...

Yes they do.

First Nations people often pay up just as everyone else does. To be tax exempt they have to use the goods on a reserve (in BC the goods have to be purchased on or delivered to a reserve for the person to get a tax exemption - or suppose to be) and the person has to be 'Status Indians' ... many First Nations/aborignal people are not 'Status Indians' and neither are Metis people or Inuit peoples.

That idea that First Nations peoples pay no taxes is a myth... I can't believe that people actually still believe it.

howard1966

We need to remember that the first nation people have their own government and as a nation have a number of agreements with both the Canadian and US government which respect that difference. The borders of their nation crosses both the US and Canada.

Mindful of these differences and the history of these agreements it is easy to understand that they are quite fair and not discrimination.

GavinR

Howard1966, is this who I think it is?