The Say No to HST in B.C. website is not linked to the official referendum campaign, say petition organizers. (www.saynotohstinbc.ca)

Elections B.C. is investigating an anti-HST website that appears to be collecting online donations but has nothing to do with the official petition campaign to stop the tax.

The website, www.saynotohstinbc.ca, has information about the official campaign to trigger a province-wide vote on the harmonized sales tax of 12 per cent that is to come into effect in B.C. on July 1.

The site includes lists of local campaign organizers, links to the official petition website, www.fighthst.com and until recently a PayPal feature where users could donate money to the cause.

Darryn Beuthin, who owns the Say No to HST in B.C. site, says that organizers of the official campaign knew about his online efforts from the beginning. He said he's not part of any conspiracy to undermine the campaign but is, "just a regular nine-to-five working guy against the HST."

But organizers of the official registered anti-HST campaign, which is led by former premier Bill Vander Zalm, say the website has nothing to do with them and they are concerned it's confusing voters.

"When they do that, it creates the impression they're aligned with [the campaign] … or that their site belongs to us," said Fight HST campaign organizer Chris Delaney.

"When you're confusing people, I don't know how it's of benefit if you're actually against the HST, so that's what makes me suspicious."

Beuthin told CBC News Tuesday that he offered his web services to Vander Zalm and Delaney last August but that they decided to build their own site.

"I started the website before there was any official opposition," Beuthin said. "I had tried to go through the official channels of offering my website to the Fight HST campaign. They, for whatever reason, didn't go with it. I continued with the site as an information resource."

One person even donated $1,000 to the unregistered site before realizing it was not the official campaign, Delaney said.

Beuthin said that money had been returned to the donor, and the PayPal donation feature has been removed from his site.

Elections B.C. is now investigating the website for potential violations of the Initiatives Act, under which only registered organizers and sponsors of the anti-HST campaign are allowed to solicit signatures and donations for the anti-HST petition.

Beuthin said he was not aware of his legal obligations and has been in touch with Elections B.C. to clarify the matter.