The Province of BC has announced plans in Budget 2026 to expand the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to several professional services, effective October 1, 2026.   This represents a $500+ million tax on businesses and consumers who use the impacted services, which will imbed itself as increased prices for all sorts of goods and services.  As such, the Langley Chamber opposes this expansion and is urging the provincial government to reconsider its implementation plans. 

Below is a fact-based summary of what is changing and what affected businesses should expect.

What Is Changing

Effective October 1, 2026, PST at the rate of 7% will apply to the following professional services:

• Accounting services, including bookkeeping and assurance services

• Security services, including private investigation services

• Non-residential real estate services, including:

  • trading services

  • rental property management

  • strata management

• Architectural services

• Engineering and geoscience services

For architectural, engineering, and geoscience services, PST will apply to 30% of the purchase price of those services (not the full amount).


​Registration Requirements

Businesses providing newly taxable services will have new compliance obligations.

• If you sell any of the above services on or after October 1, 2026, you will be required to charge and collect PST, unless a specific exemption applies.
• ​Businesses not already registered to collect PST must register online.

​Registration timing

• Registration can occur up to six months in advance.

• The province has indicated additional regulatory details and exemption guidance will be released once regulations are finalized.

• Earliest registration date: April 1, 2026

Example: A business whose services will be taxable on October 1, 2026 may register beginning April 1, 2026.
 

Affected firms should begin preparing for:

• PST registration (if not already registered)

• Updates to billing systems and invoices

• Staff training on PST collection and remittance

• Client communications regarding the new tax treatment