Canada Eliminates Tax for Foreigners

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 4/30/2007

Canadian officials have scrapped a plan to eliminate tax rebates for foreign tradeshow exhibitors and attendees.

The plan to eliminate the rebates and force show managers to collect a federal goods and services tax from foreign tradeshow exhibitors and attendees came last Sept. 25. However, industry pressure prompted a revision to the new program, one that retains goods and services tax (GST) rebates for attendees and exhibitors.

Although the government is still refining the new program, Canadian Assn. of Exposition Management Executive Director Serge Micheli said non-Canadians attending tradeshows and conventions in Canada after March 31 will be exempt from the taxes.

Previously, the government charged GST to non-Canadian residents for use of convention facilities, related convention supplies and food and beverage.