Attached you'll find an invoice from a TRREB member as well as a summary of the plan sent by OREA to the members early in this fiasco.
OREA/your local board is now charging you HST in ADDITION to the $659.88. After telling us it was $659.88 INCLUDING taxes... "for less than $2/day".
This speaks to how ill prepared OREA was to roll this program out as fast as they did. Just more deception on their part.
This is just the beginning. Remember when Crigger said that they'd spoken to their accountant (not CRA) and figured out the cost of the ORWP would be a tax write-off, as dues? Raise your hand if you think the CRA will turn their back as 96000 members claim $660 of their income as tax free. I don't see it. That would mean the federal government would turn a blind eye on losing approximately $22 million dollars in revenue.
When questioned about this (not so minor) discrepancy, this was the response:
"Please note that the May 31 FAQ document was published based on the best information available at that time.
Regarding HST on OREA Dues, we have been advised by our tax advisors that HST is applicable on the full 2024 OREA Dues. They have recommended this approach to ensure that OREA and its Members comply with legislative regulations related to HST.
... Please note that the OREA Dues are comprised of two components (which are (1) annual dues and (2) Ontario REALTOR® Wellness Program premiums) and are looked at as a single supply because they are not distinct and independent of each other. Full payment of OREA Dues is required as a condition of membership and there is no option to pay only one component of the OREA Dues and not the other. Therefore, OREA does not have an option to apply HST to only one component of OREA Dues."
There are over 17000 people who've signed this petition. There are many more who are against the ORWP... The survey numbers highlighted that. So please share the link on every email, every Facebook page. Make sure every realtor in Ontario puts their name on the petition if they're opposed to this #overreach by OREA.
Tina Forte tinamforte@hotmail.com