Last updated: May 6, 2020. For the most up-to-date information, see the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan and our Government Resources page
For small businesses, some federal and provincial taxes are deferred or reduced for small businesses due the COVID-19 health emergency.
All text and resources on this page are researched and compiled by our project partner, the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation The C19 Response Coalition has edited some passages for clarity.
Click here to find the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation’s printable list of COVID-19 resources for small businesses in BC. Available in English and Traditional Chinese.
Tax deferrals
- Personal income tax
- 2019 personal income tax return is deferred until June 1, 2020. The tax payment is deferred until September 1, 2020.
- Partnership return (T5013) and Statement of amounts paid to non-residents (NR4)
- Information return or form due dates deferred until May 1, 2020.
- Corporate income tax
- Corporate income tax return (that was due between March 1 and May 31, 2020) is deferred until June 1, 2020. Part I tax payments on or after March 18, 2020 deferred until September 1, 2020.
- GST, HST, and customs duties on imports
- Payments are deferred until June 30, 2020 with no interest applied.Please note that GST & HST (GST34) cannot be deferred.
- Various Provincial Taxes
Deferred until September 30, 2020, including:
- PST
- Municipal and regional district tax
- Tobacco tax
- Motor fuel tax
- Carbon tax
- Property taxes - City of Vancouver
- The City has a property tax deferral program to delay all property tax payments for up to 60 days as an immediate relief measure.
Reduced expenses
- Reduced school tax rate
- The province will reduce school tax rates by 50% for commercial properties (Class 4, 5, 6) for the 2020 tax year to allow landlords to immediately pass savings on to their tenants in triple-net leases.
- BC Hydro bill waived
- Small businesses that have been forced to close due to COVID-19 will have their power bills forgiven for three months from April to June 2020.
Learn More
- Summary of all federal relief as of May 1, 2020 from Baker Tilly.
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit FAQ from the Government of Canada.
- COVID-19 Business Resources by Vancouver Economic Commission.
- COVID-19: Support for Small Businesses by the BC Government.
- Additional Support for Canadian Businesses by the Canada Revenue Agency.
- You can call an advisor at Small Business BC at 1-800-667-2272. Services are available in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese.