Greta Hodgkinson and Ryan Boorne in the National Ballet's 2006 production of 'The Sleeping Beauty.' (Image courtesy National Ballet of Canada/Cylla von Tiedemann)

It's a sure sign a new tax is coming — companies offering consumers a way to get around it.

The hot new marketing slogan in Ontario is 'Beat the HST.'

The HST — which stands for harmonized sales tax — is a plan by the province to blend the provincial sales tax with the federal goods and services tax. It comes into effect July 1.

What has angered many people is that the new HST could mean cost increases on some goods and services.

One of the sectors trying to encourage people to buy in advance is the funeral industry.

"We have a notice on our website that is informing people that the HST is coming and that there's a way to avoid the tax if they do the pre-planning now," said Michaele-Sue Goldblatt, a funeral consultant.

There are many other businesses in Ontario using the looming HST as a marketing opportunity to push products and services that don't charge the provincial sales tax right now, but will start to in a few months.

"Your lawyer fees, your moving costs, home inspection those will all be charged at 13 per cent tax versus the five per cent that we've been seeing up until now," said real estate agent Joanna Kalbarczyk.

Even the National Ballet of Canada is on the 'Beat the HST' bandwagon.

Tickets bought by May 1, will be exempt from the HST — even if the show isn't until next year.

"We have over 1,000 people who've already renewed so we're really thrilled that people are picking up on this and wanting to take advantage of it," said executive director Kevin Garland. "After May 1, we will have to add eight per cent to the ticket price."