Claim Every Eligible ITC

Review every business expense for eligible input tax credits before filing your GST/HST return. Office supplies, professional fees, software subscriptions, and vehicle costs all carry HST that you can recover. Most businesses we onboard have thousands in unclaimed ITCs sitting in their books from prior filing periods.

File Your GST/HST Return on Time

CRA imposes a 1% penalty on the net tax owing for each month your GST/HST return is late, up to 12 months, plus daily compound interest at the prescribed rate. Filing on time through GST/HST NETFILE — even if you cannot pay the full balance — avoids the late-filing penalty entirely.

Choose the Right Filing Frequency

Your GST/HST filing frequency — monthly, quarterly, or annual — directly affects cash flow. Businesses that consistently receive refunds should file monthly to get ITCs back faster. Businesses that owe should file annually to hold cash longer. We match your GST/HST reporting period to your actual transaction pattern.

Consider the Quick Method

If your taxable revenue is under $400,000, the GST/HST Quick Method lets you remit a reduced percentage of sales and keep the difference. For service-based businesses, this can save 2% to 5% on every dollar collected. We calculate whether the Quick Method or regular method produces lower net HST payable for your situation.

Reconcile GST/HST Accounts Monthly

Your GST/HST collected and GST/HST paid accounts must reconcile to the general ledger before each filing. Unreconciled entries lead to over-remittances or under-remittances that CRA catches during matching reviews. Monthly reconciliation also ensures your input tax credit claims are supportable and your HST return is accurate.

Track Restricted ITCs Properly

Not all HST paid qualifies as an input tax credit. Meals and entertainment are restricted to 50%, club memberships are fully denied, and personal-use portions of mixed expenses must be excluded from your GST/HST return. Claiming restricted ITCs triggers CRA adjustments, interest, and potential gross negligence penalties.

Register at the Right Time

You must register for a GST/HST account once your revenue exceeds $30,000 in any rolling four quarters. Late registration means you owe HST on past sales without having collected it from customers. We review your revenue trajectory so your GST/HST registration happens at the optimal point, not after the deadline passes.

Keep CRA-Compliant Documentation

Every ITC claim on your GST/HST return requires a supplier invoice showing their business number, the HST amount, and a description of the supply. CRA auditors deny input tax credits outright when documentation is missing or incomplete. Organizing receipts by period before each filing protects every dollar you claim.

File Catch-Up Returns Immediately

If you have missed GST/HST filing periods, file the overdue returns now. CRA assesses penalties and interest on each late period independently, and outstanding returns prevent you from receiving any refunds owed on subsequent periods. Catching up on GST/HST filings stops the penalty accumulation and unlocks held refunds.

Separate HST on Imports and Exports

Zero-rated exports do not require you to collect GST/HST, but you can still claim ITCs on expenses related to those sales. Conversely, imported goods trigger GST/HST at the border that must be reported on your return. Properly coding imports and exports on your GST/HST filing recovers tax others routinely miss.