Ontario · HST
When Is HST Due in Ontario? Filing and Payment Deadlines for Small Businesses
If you run a business in Ontario and you're registered for HST, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) expects a return from you on a fixed schedule, even in periods when you had no sales. Missing that date is one of the most common, and most avoidable, ways small businesses end up paying penalties and interest.
Here's how the deadlines work, in plain language.
The short answer
| Your reporting period | Return due | Payment due |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | 1 month after the month ends | Same day |
| Quarterly | 1 month after the quarter ends | Same day |
| Annual (most businesses) | 3 months after your fiscal year-end | Same day |
| Annual, sole proprietor with a December 31 year-end | June 15 | April 30 |
If a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the CRA treats your return or payment as on time if it arrives the next business day.
Which reporting period are you on?
The CRA assigns your reporting period when you register, based on your annual taxable sales (including those of associated businesses):
- $1,500,000 or less: annual
- More than $1,500,000, up to $6,000,000: quarterly
- More than $6,000,000: monthly
You can choose to file more often than your assigned period. Many small businesses switch from annual to quarterly on purpose, because it spreads the tax bill out and avoids one large payment at year-end. You make that change with CRA form GST20.
Your exact period and due dates are shown in your CRA My Business Account. If you're not sure, that's the first place to look.
Worked examples
Monthly filer. Your September period ends September 30, so the return and payment are due October 31.
Quarterly filer, calendar quarters. The July to September quarter ends September 30, so the return and payment are due October 31. The October to December quarter is due January 31.
Annual filer, incorporated, March 31 year-end. Return and payment are due June 30.
Sole proprietor, December 31 year-end, with business income. Your HST payment is due April 30, but the return itself isn't due until June 15. This lines up with your personal income tax deadline, but remember the money is due six weeks earlier. Interest starts on any unpaid balance after April 30.
Annual filers may owe instalments
If you file annually and your net HST for the previous year was more than $3,000, the CRA generally expects you to pay quarterly instalments during the year, rather than one lump sum at the end. Missing instalments leads to instalment interest, even if your final return is filed on time.
You must file electronically
Almost all GST/HST registrants are now required to file returns electronically, through CRA My Business Account, GST/HST NETFILE, or accounting software that files directly. Paper returns can attract a penalty.
What happens if you file late
If you file late and owe money, the CRA can charge a late-filing penalty of 1% of the balance owing, plus 0.25% of that balance for each full month the return is late, up to 12 months. Interest also runs daily on any unpaid amount. Repeated late filing, or ignoring a CRA demand to file, can lead to larger penalties.
A return showing nothing owing still has to be filed. If you had no sales in a period, you file a "nil" return.
How to make sure you never miss one
- Know your period. Check CRA My Business Account and write the next four due dates in your calendar.
- Track HST as you go. Record the 13% HST you charge on every sale, and the HST you pay on every business purchase, so your input tax credits are claimed rather than lost.
- Reconcile monthly. If your bank and card accounts are reconciled every month, the HST return becomes a 15-minute job instead of a weekend.
- Set aside the HST you collect. It isn't your money. Many owners move it to a separate savings account each month so it's there when the return is due.
Let us handle it
At TallyNeo, HST is tracked on every transaction, input tax credits are claimed, and your return is prepared and filed on your CRA schedule, whether that's monthly, quarterly or annually. It's included in every plan, from CAD $249 a month.
See how our Ontario bookkeeping works or book a free 30-minute call.
This article is general information, not tax advice. Your own deadlines are shown in your CRA account. For decisions about your specific situation, speak to an accountant.