Introduction
The deadline for filing GST/HST returns is one of the most important deadlines in the year for any organization that needs to charge or collect GST/HST. If the return is filed on time, you can avoid penalties and interest from the government.
Paper returns.
If you are paper filing the tax return, you must submit it on or before the deadline. You can do this by filing online or by mail. If you file online, you may need to register for a GST/HST account first. If you choose to file by mail, use the return envelope provided by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Electronic returns.
Electronic filing is the quickest and easiest way to file GST/HST returns. It can be done through the CRA website, or you can use a GST/HST NETFILE-certified software product if you don’t want to use Internet Explorer or Firefox for security reasons.
Suppose you are a GST/HST registrant with a business number (BN). In that case, you can file your return electronically using NetFile Canada by selecting “GST44” as your return type in Step 1 of your online submission process.
Payments.
There are several ways to pay your GST/HST account balance. If the amount owing is within $3,000, you can pay it all at once with a monthly payment agreement. If it’s more than that, you can also make two payments for 80 percent of the total and 20 percent within 30 days of filing your return.
The deadline for making these payments is April 30th of each year. This date applies even if you file after this date but before December 31st. A 1% late-payment penalty will apply if you don’t make the first payment by April 30th or subsequent payments by their respective deadlines (e.g., June 30th). You may also be charged interest on unpaid balances from July 1st onward at a prime rate of 2%.
Organizations should always be aware of the dates of their GST/HST.
GST/HST deadline is when you are required to filed your returns with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The CRA establishes this date to ensure taxpayers pay their taxes on time.
For example, if you are a small supplier and need to file your return on or before March 1st, it’s best to mail your GST/HST return in mid-February to allow ample time for processing. This will help prevent any unnecessary delays in receiving refunds or penalties.
GST/HST filing deadlines are different across Canada because of provincial legislation and regulations surrounding taxation. For example:
In British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and Nova Scotia: Your GST/HST returns must be filed by the fifteenth day after the end of each quarter.
* In Quebec: The latest deadline for filing quarterly returns is May 31st.
* In Ontario: Your tax year ends December 31st; therefore, there is no end-of-year deadline for filing quarterly returns.
* In New Brunswick: Your tax year ends March 31st; therefore, there is no end-of-year deadline for quarterly filings either.
* Yukon territory does not have legislation regarding this matter, so they use a standard set by federal law instead (the same as Alberta).
Conclusion
We hope this blog has given you a clearer understanding of Canada’s GST/HST filing and payment deadlines. We also hope it will help you avoid unnecessary late payment penalties or interest on taxes owed to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).