GST and QST,
without the headache.
Do you have to charge tax? How much to add on an invoice, and how much to set aside for your remittances? Three clear answers.
GST and QST, made simple
Whether you need to charge tax, how much to add on an invoice, and how much to remit.
Your sales of taxable goods and services. Used to know whether registration becomes mandatory (the $30,000 threshold).
The GST/QST paid on these purchases is recoverable (ITC/ITR credits) and reduces what you remit.
Your taxable income ($40,000) exceeds the $30,000 threshold. You must register for GST and QST, then collect and remit the tax.
The quick method (a simpler option)
If your taxable sales stay under about $400,000, the “quick method” replaces the credit calculation with a fixed percentage of tax-included sales: for services, 3.6% GST and 6.6% QST; for resale of goods, 1.8% and 3.4%. It is often simpler and sometimes advantageous, but you no longer claim the tax on your everyday expenses. Confirm with an accountant.
What this calculation is based on: sources and method
What this calculation includes
- GST 5% and QST 9.975%, calculated separately on the pre-tax price
- Small-supplier threshold ($30,000)
- Net remittance: tax collected minus ITC/ITR credits
- Quick-method overview
Official sources
- Revenu Québec GST/HST and QST, small-supplier threshold
- Canada Revenue Agency GST/HST — registration and remittances
The tax isn’t your money
The GST/QST you collect passes through you: you remit it to Revenu Québec, less the tax you paid on your purchases. Set the amount to remit aside with every payment you receive. This tool informs and doesn’t replace an accountant.
Frequently asked questions
When do I have to register for GST and QST?
As soon as your taxable sales exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters (or in a single quarter), you stop being a “small supplier” and registration becomes mandatory, within 30 days. Below that threshold, registration is optional: you can still register voluntarily to recover the tax you pay on your purchases.
Is QST calculated on top of GST?
No. Since 2013, GST (5%) and QST (9.975%) are both calculated on the pre-tax price, separately. QST is no longer applied on a cascading basis on an amount that already includes GST. On $100, you add $5 of GST and $9.975 of QST, for $114.98.
Is the GST/QST I collect income?
No. It’s money collected for the government that you hold in trust, then remit (less the credits on your purchases). Your taxable business income is always calculated before tax. Set the amount to remit aside so you’re never caught short.
What is the quick method?
A simplified calculation option for small businesses (taxable sales under about $400,000). Instead of subtracting your input tax credits, you remit a fixed, reduced percentage of your tax-included sales. It’s simpler and sometimes advantageous, but you no longer claim the tax on your everyday expenses. An accountant can tell you whether it suits you.