Comments on: No Tax On Sub-$1000 Bikes (in Ontario) http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ryan http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-108409 Ryan Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:48:11 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-108409 With Ontario harmonizing the taxes, does this mean the PST is back on? With Ontario harmonizing the taxes, does this mean the PST is back on?

]]> By: Don http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-98811 Don Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:49:24 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-98811 Under $100 eh? Impressive! My experience has been to break cheap/light stuff; I have crashed hard because of this. But then I am a world class track racer as well. It's too bad we can't buy enclosed, aerodynamic human-powered family transportation at a local dealer, as can be done with cars. I live in BC where all bikes and parts are PST free. My favourite way to transport the kids, aged 3 and 5, is with a three-seat tandem (triplet). That rig set me back 5 figures, so I saved a ton on tax but am also saving the atmosphere from tonnes of carbon! Since getting it, the car goes two months between fillups. Under $100 eh? Impressive! My experience has been to break cheap/light stuff; I have crashed hard because of this. But then I am a world class track racer as well. It’s too bad we can’t buy enclosed, aerodynamic human-powered family transportation at a local dealer, as can be done with cars.

I live in BC where all bikes and parts are PST free. My favourite way to transport the kids, aged 3 and 5, is with a three-seat tandem (triplet). That rig set me back 5 figures, so I saved a ton on tax but am also saving the atmosphere from tonnes of carbon! Since getting it, the car goes two months between fillups.

]]> By: JoelGuelph http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-98807 JoelGuelph Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:55:58 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-98807 Don, while I appreciate where you are coming from, especially since Ontario has some pretty snowy winters, but I think Premier McGuinty intended to encourage fitness, with commuting being a side benefit. Having a well built makes winter commuting much easier but I also find that attention to maintenance is critical to keeping a bike running through the winter. <a href="http://commutebybike.com/2008/07/01/happy-canada-day/" rel="nofollow">My bike</a> cost me hardly anything and I've been summer and winter commuting on it for about 8 years now. I've taken a simplistic approach, with <a href="http://bluecollarmtb.com/2008/01/16/how-to-ensure-consistent-shifting-all-winter-long/" rel="nofollow">friction shifting</a> and homemade fenders. Not counting hand me down parts, I've put less than $100 dollars into this bike that was given to me because it was worthless as a trade in at the bike shop. My wife rides a $700 <a href="http://commutebybike.com/commuter-bikes/view-product.php?id=238" rel="nofollow">Devinci Toronto</a> for three seasons a year and it requires little to no maintenance with its Nexus hub. We just need to convince Mr. McGuinty that he should remove the tax on consumable maintenance parts, like chains, cables, lube, etc. Don, while I appreciate where you are coming from, especially since Ontario has some pretty snowy winters, but I think Premier McGuinty intended to encourage fitness, with commuting being a side benefit. Having a well built makes winter commuting much easier but I also find that attention to maintenance is critical to keeping a bike running through the winter.

My bike cost me hardly anything and I’ve been summer and winter commuting on it for about 8 years now. I’ve taken a simplistic approach, with friction shifting and homemade fenders. Not counting hand me down parts, I’ve put less than $100 dollars into this bike that was given to me because it was worthless as a trade in at the bike shop. My wife rides a $700 Devinci Toronto for three seasons a year and it requires little to no maintenance with its Nexus hub.

We just need to convince Mr. McGuinty that he should remove the tax on consumable maintenance parts, like chains, cables, lube, etc.

]]> By: Don http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-98782 Don Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:08:55 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-98782 I had a custom frame built just for commuting 16 years ago. I'm hardcore, doing it in all weather, even the deepest snow. The total cost of the bike is probably close to $2000 - it takes a quality machine and components to take the all-weather, daily abuse. The bike is heavy and strong, so not suitable for racing, but still expensive. I had a custom frame built just for commuting 16 years ago. I’m hardcore, doing it in all weather, even the deepest snow. The total cost of the bike is probably close to $2000 – it takes a quality machine and components to take the all-weather, daily abuse. The bike is heavy and strong, so not suitable for racing, but still expensive.

]]> By: Ben http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-84116 Ben Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:20:22 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-84116 the new tax exemption is great but i do think it should cover all bike related gear. and as for the limit i think there should be no limit on the price yes you don't need a 1500 dollar bike to get to work but i also like to bike for pleasure and some of the stuff i want to do you can't do on bikes that cost less than a thousand dollars but it is a step in the right direction. but also motorists need to gain respect for riders as a resident of a small town i have nearly been hit almost every day for the past month and i ride acorrding to the rules of the road. the motorists are dangerous and i have been tempted not to avopid them and get a new bike out of the deal the new tax exemption is great but i do think it should cover all bike related gear. and as for the limit i think there should be no limit on the price yes you don’t need a 1500 dollar bike to get to work but i also like to bike for pleasure and some of the stuff i want to do you can’t do on bikes that cost less than a thousand dollars but it is a step in the right direction.
but also motorists need to gain respect for riders as a resident of a small town i have nearly been hit almost every day for the past month and i ride acorrding to the rules of the road. the motorists are dangerous and i have been tempted not to avopid them and get a new bike out of the deal

]]> By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-80858 Fritz Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:21:09 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-80858 How many other Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle fans got the "gripping hand" reference around here? :-) How many other Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle fans got the “gripping hand” reference around here? :-)

]]> By: nat http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-80847 nat Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:33:09 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-80847 I'm of two minds about this: They ought to offset at least as much tax as they do for other vehicles. So if it's a $1000 rebate, it ought to be the same for a bike. Or at least no sales tax on that first $1000, if that's what you really meant to write. OTOH, somewhere not much above $1000 (maybe around $2000?), you're mostly looking at not-utilty-practical racing machines. Well, except for recumbents. But, anyway, my point is that i suspect part of the motivation is that they don't want to be giving a discount for someone who's buying a bike just for racing, and won't be decreasing their car usage any due to the bike. On the gripping hand, bikes are, in general, a lot cheaper than cars, so less of an economic burden regardless. But back on the first hand, good luck getting cheap financing to buy a multi-thousand-dollar bike, while walking into a car dealership with no money and walking out with a car is easy (at least in the US). And, back on the other hand, that doesn't seem to stop the gov't, at least in the US (dunno about the details in Canada), from giving rebates for highly-impractical and/or recreational motor vehicles. So, would it really be such an abuse of gov't finances to reward people for buying that racing bike and getting a little better in shape, even if it didn't cut down on motor-vehicle commuter traffic? I’m of two minds about this:

They ought to offset at least as much tax as they do for other vehicles. So if it’s a $1000 rebate, it ought to be the same for a bike. Or at least no sales tax on that first $1000, if that’s what you really meant to write.

OTOH, somewhere not much above $1000 (maybe around $2000?), you’re mostly looking at not-utilty-practical racing machines. Well, except for recumbents. But, anyway, my point is that i suspect part of the motivation is that they don’t want to be giving a discount for someone who’s buying a bike just for racing, and won’t be decreasing their car usage any due to the bike.

On the gripping hand, bikes are, in general, a lot cheaper than cars, so less of an economic burden regardless.

But back on the first hand, good luck getting cheap financing to buy a multi-thousand-dollar bike, while walking into a car dealership with no money and walking out with a car is easy (at least in the US).

And, back on the other hand, that doesn’t seem to stop the gov’t, at least in the US (dunno about the details in Canada), from giving rebates for highly-impractical and/or recreational motor vehicles. So, would it really be such an abuse of gov’t finances to reward people for buying that racing bike and getting a little better in shape, even if it didn’t cut down on motor-vehicle commuter traffic?

]]> By: Varroa http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-80315 Varroa Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:57:23 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-80315 I use to live in BC 5 years ago and even back then there was no PST on bikes or bike related stuff. I use to live in BC 5 years ago and even back then there was no PST on bikes or bike related stuff.

]]> By: JoelGuelph http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-80277 JoelGuelph Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:19:16 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-80277 I poked around a bit and it seems you are correct Fritz, BC doesn't charge PST (provincial) on bicycle, accessories, or service. GST (federal) still applies. I poked around a bit and it seems you are correct Fritz, BC doesn’t charge PST (provincial) on bicycle, accessories, or service. GST (federal) still applies.

]]> By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/comment-page-1/#comment-80255 Fritz Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:31:48 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/04/no-tax-on-sub-1000-bikes-in-ontario/#comment-80255 I've been told that British Columbia has no sales tax on any bicycle, accessories, or service. I’ve been told that British Columbia has no sales tax on any bicycle, accessories, or service.

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