Quebec removes sales tax from single-serve desserts and prepared foods Wednesday
Starting July 15, ice cream cones, doughnuts, prepared fruit trays and other items lose QST. One-time move expected to save families $50 yearly.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Quebec is cutting the Quebec Sales Tax on a range of single-serve desserts and prepared foods, effective Wednesday, July 15. The move is permanent, unlike the federal GST break that came and went a couple of winters back.
The province estimates a family of four will save roughly $50 a year. Premier Christine Fréchette's government made the announcement in May, partly to eliminate a quirk where the same product might be taxed on its own but untaxed in a six-pack.
Starting Wednesday, QST no longer applies to: ice cream, ice milk, sorbet, frozen yogurt and frozen custard in single servings under 500 g or 500 ml; doughnuts, cookies, glazed or filled croissants, cakes, muffins, pastries, tarts and tartlets sold individually or in packs of fewer than six under 230 g; custards, flavoured jellies, mousses and flavoured whipped desserts in single servings under 425 g; prepared fruit salads and fruit platters; prepared veggie platters; salted or seasoned nuts and seeds (unless sugar is the main seasoning); and trail mix and similar blends built mostly from oats, cereal, seeds, nuts or dried fruit.
Tax-free items already included meat, cereal, fruit, vegetables, eggs, bread, fish, and plain dairy like milk, cheese and yogurt. The tax break does not apply at restaurants, vending machines, or catering orders.
