Invoice generator (Canada)
Canadian sales tax is layered: a federal GST, a harmonised HST in some provinces, and separate provincial taxes in others. Which applies depends on where your customer is, not where you are.
This generator produces invoices in Canadian dollars with the flexibility that arrangement requires.
GST, HST, PST and QST
Four things you may encounter:
- GST — the federal goods and services tax, applying across the country.
- HST — a harmonised tax combining federal and provincial components, used in several provinces.
- PST — a separate provincial sales tax in provinces that did not harmonise.
- QST — Quebec's provincial tax, administered separately.
Which applies is generally determined by the place of supply — broadly, where the customer is. A supplier in one province billing a customer in another usually charges the customer's provincial rate.
What a Canadian invoice should show
- Your business name and contact details.
- Your business number (GST/HST registration number) — required for your customer to claim an input tax credit.
- Invoice date and a unique invoice number.
- The customer's name.
- A description of goods or services.
- The total amount, and the tax charged shown separately by type.
- Where several tax types apply, each shown with its rate.
Registration and the small supplier threshold
Businesses below the CRA's small supplier threshold are not required to register for GST/HST, and while unregistered must not charge it.
Voluntary registration is sometimes worthwhile even below the threshold, because it allows you to claim input tax credits on your own purchases. Whether that is favourable depends on your cost base — worth a conversation with an accountant rather than a default assumption.
Bilingual invoicing
Where you do business in Quebec, invoices may need to be issued in French. Even where not strictly required, a bilingual invoice is often better received by Quebec customers.
The practical approach is to keep the field labels bilingual and the item descriptions in the customer's language.
Frequently asked questions
What sales tax do I charge on a Canadian invoice?
It depends on the place of supply — broadly where the customer is. That may be GST, HST, or GST plus a provincial tax such as PST or QST, each shown separately with its rate.
Do I need a business number on my invoice?
If you are registered for GST/HST, yes — your customer needs it to claim an input tax credit. Without it they cannot recover the tax you charged.
Do I have to register for GST/HST?
Only once you exceed the CRA's small supplier threshold. Below it registration is voluntary, and while unregistered you must not charge GST/HST.
Is voluntary registration worth it below the threshold?
Sometimes — it lets you claim input tax credits on your own purchases. Whether that is favourable depends on your cost base, so it is worth discussing with an accountant.
Do I need to invoice in French for Quebec customers?
There are French language requirements for doing business in Quebec, and bilingual invoices are generally better received there even where not strictly required.