Fusion Financial - Bookkeeping in Sault Ste. Marie
    CRA Updates

    HST/GST Filing Guide for Ontario Small Businesses

    Feb 1, 2026 1 min read

    Do You Need to Register?

    In Canada, you must register for an HST/GST account once your business earns more than $30,000 in revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters. However, voluntary registration can benefit businesses below this threshold by allowing you to claim Input Tax Credits (ITCs).

    Ontario HST Rate

    Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) rate is 13% — combining the 5% federal GST with the 8% provincial PST component. This applies to most goods and services sold in Ontario.

    Filing Frequency

    Your filing frequency depends on your annual taxable revenue:

    • $1.5M+: Monthly filing
    • $500K–$1.5M: Quarterly filing
    • Under $500K: Annual filing (with option to file more frequently)

    Common HST Mistakes

    The most frequent errors we see among Sault Ste. Marie businesses include not tracking ITCs properly, missing filing deadlines, charging HST on exempt goods or services, and failing to account for place-of-supply rules when selling to other provinces.

    Let Us Handle Your HST

    At Fusion Financial, HST/GST filing is integrated into our bookkeeping workflow. We track your ITCs throughout the year, prepare your returns, and file them directly with the CRA. Learn more.