A welcome development for North Vancouver businesses: The B.C. government has announced it will pause the planned expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to professional services, which was scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, 2026.
The pause means the current PST exemption for professional services will remain in place for now. The planned expansion would have added PST to services many North Vancouver businesses rely on, including:
- Accounting and bookkeeping
- Architectural services
- Engineering and geoscience services
- Non-residential real estate services
- Security and private investigation services
Read the Province of B.C.’s announcement
The Province estimates the pause will save people, businesses and local governments approximately $260 million in 2026-27.
The decision follows sustained advocacy from Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, and business organizations across B.C.
The North Vancouver Chamber has been hearing from members about the potential impact of added costs, particularly as businesses navigate ongoing trade disruptions and economic uncertainty.
What happens next?
The pause is being implemented through a temporary regulation, so it is not a permanent decision. Through the BC Chamber network, the North Vancouver Chamber will continue to support efforts to have the planned expansion eliminated and advance a move toward a made-in-B.C. value-added tax.
We’ll continue to monitor developments and keep members informed as more information becomes available.
