How to Register for a GST/HST Number
A GST/HST number is your Business Number plus the RT0001 account. Here is when you must register, what to have ready and how to apply online in one sitting.
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How do I get a GST/HST number?
To get a GST/HST number, register with the Canada Revenue Agency online through Business Registration Online, by phone, or by mailing Form RC1. You need your SIN, business name and address, a description of your activity, and estimated sales. Registration is free, and the CRA usually issues the number right away online.
How to register for a GST number: the short version
To register for a GST number, you apply to the CRA for a GST/HST program account. If you do not yet have a nine-digit Business Number, the CRA creates one in the same application. Your GST/HST number is that Business Number followed by RT0001, and online applicants usually receive it on screen at the end.
The process is the same for sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes if you have your details ready. Businesses in Quebec register for the GST and QST with Revenu Québec instead of the CRA.
When do you have to register for GST/HST?
You must register once your worldwide taxable sales pass $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive calendar quarters. Below that, you are a small supplier and registration is optional. Our small supplier threshold guide explains exactly how the quarters are counted and the deadline to register once you cross the line.
- Taxi and ride-sharing drivers must register from their first fare, whatever their income.
- Voluntary registration is open to anyone making taxable sales in Canada. It lets you claim back the GST/HST you pay on business costs, but you must then charge tax to your customers.
- Public service bodies and charities have different thresholds, so check the CRA rules for your organization.
What you need before you apply
Gather these details first. The online form times out if you leave it idle, so having everything in one place saves restarting.
| Information | Why the CRA asks for it |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number of each owner | Links the account to you for sole proprietors and partners |
| Legal and operating name | Appears on the account and on your invoices |
| Business and mailing address | Determines your province and where letters go |
| Description of your main activity | Sets your industry code |
| Date you want registration to start | Usually the date you crossed the threshold or began charging tax |
| Estimated annual worldwide taxable sales | Sets your default filing frequency |
| Fiscal year end | Sets your return due dates; December 31 for most sole proprietors |
| Incorporation details, if a corporation | Confirms the legal entity |
GST/HST on every expense
- Record GST/HST as you log each purchase
- Mark recurring bills once
- Export tax-ready PDF or Excel reports
Three ways to register for GST/HST
- Online through Business Registration Online (BRO). Best for new businesses without a Business Number. You get the BN and GST/HST account together.
- Online through My Business Account. Best if you already have a Business Number, for example for payroll, and only need to add the RT program account.
- By phone or mail. Call the CRA business enquiries line, or send Form RC1, Request for a Business Number and Certain Program Accounts. Mail is the slowest option.
Registering is free. Be wary of websites that charge a fee to register you. They submit the same free CRA form on your behalf.
Once registered, you can check any supplier's number with the CRA's GST/HST registry, which is useful before you claim tax back on their invoices.
What happens after you register?
Registration changes how you invoice and how you keep records. You start charging GST or HST from your effective date, file returns on a set schedule and claim input tax credits for the tax you pay on business purchases.
| Annual taxable sales | Default filing period |
|---|---|
| $1.5 million or less | Annual |
| More than $1.5 million up to $6 million | Quarterly |
| More than $6 million | Monthly |
Sole proprietors who file annually with a December year end have until 15 June to file the GST/HST return, but must pay any amount owing by 30 April. Our tax filing deadline guide lists every date in one place.
Small businesses with taxable sales of $400,000 or less can look at the Quick Method, which simplifies the calculation. Compare it with the regular method before electing.
Keeping GST/HST records without the headache
The CRA expects you to show the tax charged on every sale and the tax paid on every claimed purchase. Your invoices must show your GST/HST number once you are registered.
EMOH Pay's GST/HST tracking records the tax portion of each expense, and its receipts feature keeps a photo with the transaction, so claiming input tax credits at filing time takes minutes. The GST/HST expense tracker page shows how it works, and our GST/HST calculator works out the tax on any amount by province. If you are unsure which tax applies where you sell, read GST vs HST.
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Get started free➜How to Register for a GST/HST Number: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a GST number?
Online through Business Registration Online, the number is usually issued at the end of the session. Registration by mail can take several weeks.
Is a GST number the same as a Business Number?
Not quite. The Business Number is the nine-digit identifier for your business. The GST/HST number adds the program identifier RT and a reference number, usually RT0001, to that BN.
Can I register for GST voluntarily as a small supplier?
Yes. Voluntary registration lets you claim input tax credits on business purchases, but you must charge GST or HST on your sales and file returns, and you generally have to stay registered for at least a year.
Do I need a GST number to be a freelancer?
Only once your taxable sales pass $30,000 in a quarter or over four consecutive quarters, unless you drive a taxi or for a ride-sharing platform. Many freelancers register early so they can recover tax on equipment.
Does it cost anything to register for GST/HST?
No. Registration with the CRA or Revenu Québec is free. Paid services only submit the same application for you.
Sources and further reading
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