What is Taxable Under HST? On July 1 2010, the Harmonized Sales Tax came into force in Ontario and British Columbia, as both provinces piggyback their provincial sales taxes on the federal governments Goods and Services Tax (GST). From many perspectives, this is a good move in economic policy terms. But not from an income distribution perspective: there is a significant and uncompensated transfer of wealth from lower to higher income earners implied. Here is the skinny on this policy.