What information and documents do you need before registering 🗂️
Before diving into the CRA portal, make sure you have all the essentials ready. Registration is straightforward, but only if your business information is organized. You’ll need your business number (BN), your legal name, and operating trade name (if applicable). Founders who incorporated through Corporations Canada or a provincial registry will already have a BN assigned. If not, you can obtain one during registration.
You’ll also need to identify your business activity, which helps the CRA classify your sector. For most tech startups or digital service companies, this falls under professional, scientific, and technical services. Be specific here; vague classifications can delay processing or trigger follow-up requests from the CRA. Having your business address, email, and banking information on hand will save time later.
If you already use cloud accounting tools like EIM’s Cloud Accounting Solutions or QuickBooks, you can pull these details directly from your system. It ensures consistency across your records, which the CRA expects.
Finally, decide on your reporting frequency: monthly, quarterly, or annually. Early-stage founders often choose annual filing for simplicity, but quarterly filing can help manage refunds and track cash flow more closely, something EIM’s Financial Statements service supports strategically.
How to complete your GST/HST registration online 💻
Head to the CRA’s Business Registration Online (BRO) portal. Log in with your GCKey or Sign-In Partner, then select “Register for a new program account.” From the options provided, choose GST/HST (RT).
The CRA will prompt you to confirm your business details and select your effective date of registration. This is the date your sales start being taxable, usually the day you cross $30,000 in total taxable revenues in any 12 months. However, if you choose to register voluntarily before that threshold, you can claim input tax credits earlier and strengthen your compliance profile, a move many EIM clients find worthwhile. For a complete overview of when registration becomes mandatory and how the $30,000 threshold works, refer to our pillar guide: GST/HST Registration: When You Need to Register and How to Do It.
Next, select your filing period (monthly, quarterly, or annually), and confirm the physical location of your business. The system may ask additional questions depending on your business structure. Answer each prompt carefully; errors here can lead to mismatched records later.
The portal will then issue your GST/HST program account number, which looks like this: 123456789RT0001. Save this confirmation page immediately. This number will appear on every invoice you issue moving forward, and you’ll need it for all future CRA correspondence.
If at any step the process feels uncertain, don’t worry. EIM’s experts can guide founders through this and ensure registration aligns with your forecasted revenue, expense structure, and funding goals.
How to confirm your registration and get your GST number 🔢
Once you’ve completed the form, the CRA generates your GST/HST number instantly. You can find it on your confirmation page, and it will also appear in your CRA My Business Account once processed. It’s a good idea to print or download this confirmation for your records; you’ll need it for your invoices and filings.
To verify your registration, log into My Business Account, navigate to “View and manage accounts,” and ensure that the “RT” program number appears active. If you registered voluntarily, the system might take one to two business days before it reflects in your profile. Once it does, start using your GST number immediately on all invoices and receipts.
A common mistake among founders is to delay invoice updates after registration. Doing so can lead to reconciliation issues later when remitting taxes. With tools like EIM’s integrated Bookkeeping Services, you can automate this process so that every new invoice is generated with your GST/HST information already included.
Another frequent oversight is failing to update your website, contracts, and email templates with your new GST/HST number. Clients and partners expect to see this information clearly displayed, and having it visible strengthens your professional credibility.
How to organize your invoices and remittances from day one 🧮
Now that you’re registered, it’s time to set up a clean system for collecting and remitting taxes. Every sale you make within Canada will now include GST or HST, depending on the province. Your accounting software should automatically calculate the correct rate based on your client’s location and the nature of the service or product.
EIM’s Accounting Solutions for Startups are designed to integrate your GST/HST setup directly into your invoicing and bank reconciliation processes. This ensures every taxable transaction is tracked, allocated, and ready for remittance without manual sorting at the end of the quarter.
If you operate in multiple provinces or make both taxable and exempt sales, classify them carefully from day one. Keeping separate revenue accounts or tax-tracking categories within your system helps avoid errors during CRA filing. For example, if you’re a SaaS company selling to both Canadian and international clients, ensure your system distinguishes between domestic taxable sales and zero-rated export sales.
Finally, remember that GST/HST collected is not income. It belongs to the government and must be remitted according to your filing frequency. Setting up a separate bank sub-account for GST/HST can help you see your true available cash balance and avoid using collected taxes for operational expenses.
When your filing date arrives, your CRA portal will display the amount owing or refundable. From there, you can pay directly online or through your financial institution. With consistent recordkeeping, your remittance process becomes routine, not stressful.
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Natasha Galitsyna
Co-founder & Creator of Possibilities
Serving the startup community since 2018
