Reporting periods

Your annual sales determine how many times a year you have to file GST/HST returns. We refer to these as reporting periods.

For each reporting period, you have to prepare and send us a GST/HST return showing the amount of GST/HST you charged or collected from your customers and the amount of GST/HST you paid or owe to your suppliers.

Your reporting period is based on the total of:

• annual taxable supplies of goods and services made in Canada;
• zero-rated supplies of goods and services; and
• annual taxable supplies of all your associates.

When calculating annual taxable supplies do not include:

• supplies made outside Canada,
• zero-rated exports of goods and services,
• zero-rated supplies of financial services,
• taxable sales of capital real property, or
• supplies of goodwill.

We assign your reporting period when you register for a GST/HST account.  You can choose to file more frequently as shown in this chart.

Note
For fiscal years beginning after 2007, the threshold amount for annual filing is increased to $1,500,000. Previously, you were permitted to choose an annual reporting period if your taxable supplies were less than $500,000 in the preceding fiscal year. For fiscal years that began during 2007, you still have to use this threshold.

Once you have registered, you can choose to change your reporting period by completing Form GST20, Election for GST/HST Reporting Period.

Note
If your business is using accounting periods other than calendar months or quarters, or if you want to use fiscal months that do not meet the guidelines, see Accounting periods.

Forms and publications

• Guide RC4022, General Information for GST/HST Registrants
• Booklet RC2, The Business Number and Your Canada Revenue Agency Program Accounts
• Form RC1, Request for a Business Number (BN)
• Form GST20, Election for GST/HST Reporting Period

Related topics

• Business Registration On-line
• BusinessGateway.ca
• Related provincial and territorial government sites
• Canada's Business and Consumer Site