Credit card processing and merchant services in St. John's, NL
Tourist establishments in St. John's collect a 4% accommodation tax and pay it to the City four times a year. Clear card statements and quick funding make those due dates easier to meet.
St. John's had 110,525 residents at the 2021 Census, and the census metropolitan area around it had 212,579, up 2.0% from 2016. If you run a hotel or another tourist establishment in the city, one municipal tax sits beside the 15% HST on every guest's bill: the City's accommodation tax, also called the tourism marketing levy, at 4%.
The City says it's collected from anyone who pays a daily charge, fee or remuneration to stay in a room or building in St. John's that falls under the Tourist Establishments Act or is owned by Memorial University. Operators pay it to the City every quarter:
- January to March, due April 15
- April to June, due July 15
- July to September, due October 15
- October to December, due January 15
If guests pay by card, your card deposits are what you'll reconcile against those payments, and two things make that easier. Same-day or next-day funding options get card sales into your account sooner, and interchange-plus pricing lists each fee on its own line, so a quarter's processing cost is easy to total.
Shops have a provincial detail to set up. Newfoundland and Labrador reinstated its point-of-sale HST rebate on qualifying books as of January 1, 2018, so those books carry the 5% GST and nothing more.
Credit card surcharges are allowed within the Visa and Mastercard caps, though never on debit. A free statement review shows what you pay now, and the Newfoundland and Labrador page covers the provincial rules.
Rules that matter in St. John's
Accommodation tax
The City of St. John's charges a 4% accommodation tax, also known as the tourism marketing levy, under the province's Municipal Taxation Act. It's collected from anyone who pays a daily charge, fee or remuneration to stay in a room or building in St. John's that falls under the Tourist Establishments Act or is owned by Memorial University.
Hotels and other tourist establishments pay it to the City quarterly: by April 15, July 15, October 15 and January 15 for the quarter just ended.
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Common questions
When is the St. John's accommodation tax due?
Quarterly. The City of St. John's sets these due dates: April 15 for January to March, July 15 for April to June, October 15 for July to September, and January 15 for October to December. Put the dates in your calendar and reconcile your card deposits before each one.
Who pays the 4% accommodation tax in St. John's?
The guest pays it and the operator collects it. The City says the tax applies to anyone who pays a daily charge, fee or remuneration to stay in a room or building in St. John's that falls under the Tourist Establishments Act or is owned by Memorial University. Show it as its own line on the bill.
Can I take a deposit by card before a guest arrives in St. John's?
Yes. Send a payment link or invoice from a virtual terminal, and the guest enters their own card details online, so nobody on your staff writes a card number down. If you refund a deposit that carried a credit card surcharge, Visa requires you to credit the surcharge back as well.
Is Interac debit cheaper than credit for a St. John's business?
Usually. Interac says Interac Debit costs merchants around 10 cents a transaction, a flat fee whatever the purchase price, while credit card costs grow with the size of the sale. You can't add your own fee to Interac Debit; only your acquirer can apply one, capped at $0.25. Our guide to Interac has more.
Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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