Canadian Invoice Template: GST/HST Requirements & Free Generator
A Canadian invoice with the wrong tax rate or no registration number costs you time, and costs your clients their input tax credits. It should show your business details, the customer, a unique number and date, the items, the right GST, HST, PST or QST and the total. Create one free below with no signup, in CAD, and download the PDF.
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What a Canada invoice must include
| Must include | Detail |
|---|---|
| Your business | Name and address |
| The customer | Who you’re billing |
| Invoice number & date | A unique number and the date issued |
| Line items | A description, quantity and price for each |
| GST/HST number | Required if you’re registered (needed for the client’s input tax credits) |
| Tax | GST or HST at the correct provincial rate |
| Total | The total amount payable |
GST/HST by province
Canada has a federal GST of 5%. Some provinces combine it with provincial tax into HST: for example Ontario at 13% and New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador and PEI at 15%, and Nova Scotia at 14% since April 2025. Quebec adds QST on top of GST. Charge the rate for the province where the supply is made, and show your registration number so business clients can claim input tax credits.
How to calculate GST/HST on a Canadian invoice
Multiply the pre-tax amount by your province’s rate. In a GST-only province it’s 5%; in an HST province use the combined rate (for example C$100 × 13% HST in Ontario = C$13, so the invoice total is C$113). Quebec adds QST, and BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan add PST on top of the 5% GST. Use the calculator below to work out the tax and total on any amount.
Enter an amount and pick the province. This works out the GST, HST, PST or QST and the invoice total.
PST (BC, MB, SK) and QST (QC) are charged in addition to the 5% GST. Nova Scotia HST is 14% since April 2025.
The “small supplier” threshold
You must register for GST/HST once your revenue exceeds C$30,000 over four consecutive quarters. Below that you’re a “small supplier” and don’t have to register or charge GST/HST, though you can register voluntarily.
Create your Canada invoice free
Our free invoice generator runs in your browser: set the currency to CAD ($), add your details and items, and download a clean PDF. No signup, no watermark. Prefer a file? Grab a free invoice template, or see an invoice example.
Invoicing in another country?
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm the current requirements with CRA.
Last updated October 2026. General information, not tax or legal advice. Rates and thresholds change, so confirm the current rules with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
What does the CRA require on an invoice, by sale amount?
The CRA sets minimum information so your business clients can claim input tax credits. The amount of the sale decides how much you must show.
| Sale amount | Minimum information to show |
|---|---|
| Less than $30 | No specific information needed for the buyer to claim input tax credits, but keep a record of the sale |
| $30 to under $100 | Your business name or trade name, the invoice date, the total, the tax charged or the rate, and your GST/HST registration number |
| $100 or more | All of the above, plus the buyer’s name, the payment terms and a description of each item that identifies it |
How is a GST/HST number written on an invoice?
A GST/HST registration number has nine digits followed by RT and four more digits, for example 123456789 RT0001. Print it near your business name so a client’s accounts team can find it quickly. Only charge GST/HST and show a number once you are registered.
What changes for invoices in Quebec?
Quebec has its own sales tax, QST, charged in addition to the 5% GST. A business registered for both shows both registration numbers, and shows GST and QST as separate lines. Many Quebec businesses also issue invoices in French, so check the language rules that apply to you.
Do you charge GST/HST to clients outside Canada?
Many exports of services and goods are zero-rated. That means you charge 0% GST/HST but still record the sale and, if you are registered, report it. The exact rule depends on what you sell and where the client is, so confirm it with the CRA or an accountant. If you ship goods into Canada, customs needs a commercial invoice, or the Canada Border Services Agency’s Canada Customs Invoice, form CI1.
A Canadian freelancer’s invoice example
The business, client and registration number are made up for illustration.
| Detail | Example |
|---|---|
| From | Maple Lane Web Studio, Toronto, Ontario |
| GST/HST number | 123456789 RT0001 |
| Bill to | Riverside Dental Group, Ottawa, Ontario |
| Invoice number and date | INV-2026-008, 1 October 2026 |
| Payment terms | Net 30, due 31 October 2026 |
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website design and build (hours) | 20 | C$75.00 | C$1,500.00 |
| HST (13%) | C$195.00 | ||
| Total due | C$1,695.00 |
Which Canadian invoice mistakes cost money?
- Charging the wrong provincial rate for where the supply is made.
- Forgetting QST in Quebec or PST in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
- Showing no registration number, which stops a client from claiming input tax credits.
- Charging GST/HST before you are registered.
- Mixing CAD and USD amounts without saying which is which.
- Leaving out a due date or payment terms. See what Net 30 means.
For the full calculation, see how to calculate GST/HST on a Canadian invoice. New to invoicing? Read how to write an invoice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a GST/HST number to invoice in Canada?
Only once your revenue passes C$30,000 over four consecutive quarters. Below that you’re a small supplier and don’t have to register or charge tax.
What tax rate do I put on the invoice?
5% GST, or the HST rate for your province (for example 13% in Ontario, 15% in the Atlantic provinces). Quebec also has QST.
Why show my GST/HST number?
Business customers need it to claim input tax credits, and it’s required on invoices once you’re registered.
What is a small supplier?
A business with revenue of C$30,000 or less over four consecutive quarters. Small suppliers aren’t required to register for or charge GST/HST.
What must be on a Canadian invoice?
Your business name and address, the customer details, a unique invoice number and date, a description of each item, the tax charged and the total. If you are registered for GST/HST, add your registration number. For sales of $100 or more, also show the buyer’s name and the payment terms.
How do I write my GST/HST number on an invoice?
Use the format nine digits, then RT, then four digits, such as 123456789 RT0001. Place it near your business name.
Do I charge GST/HST to clients outside Canada?
Many exports are zero-rated, so you charge 0% but still record the sale. The rule depends on what you sell and where the client is, so confirm it with the CRA or an accountant.
Do Quebec invoices need QST?
If you are registered for QST, yes. Show GST and QST as separate lines, along with both registration numbers.
Written by the FreeBillKit team. Last reviewed July 2026.