When is HST due? Quarterly vs annual filing explained
"When is my HST due?" sounds like a simple question, and it has a simple answer: it depends on how often you file. That depends on a reporting period the CRA assigns you, and you may not have looked at it since you registered. Here is how it works, in plain English.
How the CRA picks your reporting period
The CRA assigns your default period based on your annual taxable supplies (your taxable sales of goods and services in Canada) in your previous fiscal year:
| Annual taxable supplies | Default reporting period |
|---|---|
| $1,500,000 or less | Annual |
| More than $1,500,000, up to $6,000,000 | Quarterly |
| More than $6,000,000 | Monthly |
When the CRA works out that amount, it counts zero-rated supplies and the taxable supplies of your associates. It leaves out things like exempt supplies, supplies made outside Canada, and zero-rated exports. Charities and most listed financial institutions are annual filers.
The simplest way to find out which period you're on is your online CRA account, which shows your reporting periods and due dates.
When each one is due
| Reporting period | File and pay by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | One month after the period ends | July 31 period end: due August 31 |
| Quarterly | One month after the quarter ends | March 31 quarter end: due April 30 |
| Annual | Three months after your fiscal year-end | August 31 year-end: due November 30 |
If a due date lands on a weekend or a CRA-recognized holiday, the CRA says a payment is on time if it arrives by the next business day.
A special rule for self-employed people with a December 31 year-end
If you file annually and have a December 31 fiscal year-end, the dates may be different. The CRA says your payment deadline is April 30 while your filing deadline is June 15. It applies only if all three of these are true:
- You are an individual with business income for income tax purposes.
- You file annual GST/HST returns.
- Your fiscal year-end is December 31.
Note that the payment is due about six weeks before the return. Many people mix up the two dates.
Annual filers can still owe instalments
Annual doesn't always mean one payment a year. The CRA says annual filers whose net tax was $3,000 or more in both the previous and the current fiscal year may have to make quarterly instalment payments. Each instalment is due one month after the end of each fiscal quarter. For a December 31 year-end, that is April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31.
The CRA says instalments are generally one-quarter of the previous year's net tax. If you pay in full and on time, you avoid instalment interest.
Can you change your period?
Often yes, in one direction more easily than the other:
- Filing more often: if you are assigned annual or quarterly, you can elect a more frequent period using Form GST20 or through your CRA account.
- Filing less often: only if you are assigned monthly or quarterly and, after 12 months, your taxable supplies fall below that period's thresholds.
- It won't change by itself. The CRA says your period does not automatically adjust if your sales drop. If you don't file an election, you keep the one you were assigned.
Which one is better for you?
This is a judgment call, not a CRA rule, so talk to your accountant. A few things to weigh:
- Quarterly or monthly: smaller, more regular amounts, and less to reconstruct when you file. The tradeoff is more deadlines.
- Annual: fewer filings, but one larger bill, and possibly instalments on top. A year of receipts is also a lot to catch up on at once.
Whichever you choose, missing a deadline can lead to penalties and interest, so put the dates in your calendar.
Sample calendar for a quarterly filer
For a business with a December 31 fiscal year, quarterly due dates look like this:
| Quarter | Period | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | April 30 |
| Q2 | Apr 1 – Jun 30 | July 31 |
| Q3 | Jul 1 – Sep 30 | October 31 |
| Q4 | Oct 1 – Dec 31 | January 31 |
If your fiscal year ends on a different date, your quarters shift to match. Check the dates in your CRA account.
Once you know your due dates, see our checklist of what to give your accountant each quarter.
Know your numbers before the deadline
JiffyTax reads the HST off your receipts and tracks HST collected and paid by quarter, so your net HST owing is ready when the due date arrives.
⚡ Start Free — 10 Scans/MonthThis page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Thresholds, dates and rules can change, so confirm yours with the CRA or a qualified accountant.