Call it a “five finger discount.”
The Vancouver Police Department owes an HST refund to anyone who paid for fingerprint checks or police record checks since the harmonized sales tax was introduced on July 1, according to VPD spokeswoman Const. Jana McGuinness.
Due to what she deemed a clerical error, McGuinness said the department was accidentally charging HST on the police background checks that they routinely perform for prospective employers or volunteer organizations requiring proof of an applicant’s background.
The VPD estimates that 2,514 people were incorrectly charged the HST.
Anyone who went in for an employment-related check was charged $75 instead of the proper tax-free $67, McGuinness said.
They are entitled to an $8 refund.
Anyone who had a volunteer-related check is eligible for a refund of $3.
The police are asking all those who believe they were charged HST on their police check to mail a request for reimbursement to the VPD’s Main Street detachment, including their full name, address, phone number and record check receipt or the date of their visit to the police station.
Please address the letter “Attention: Manager, Information Management Section.”
tcoyne@vancouversun.com
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