GST/HST registration and returns, kept current

Mandatory from day one for rideshare drivers, and unforgiving once you fall behind.

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Annual filers - payment: April 30
Annual filers - return: June 15
Quarterly filers: 1 month
Monthly filers: End of next month

Overview

GST/HST Returns, done properly

GST/HST catches people out in two directions at once. Rideshare drivers are required to register from their very first fare, no matter how little they earn - a rule most drivers only learn about after the CRA has noticed. And once anyone is registered, filing becomes mandatory for every period, even the ones with nothing to report.

The upside is real money in the other direction: registration lets you claim back the HST you paid on fuel, maintenance, equipment and phone bills.

Client result

An Uber driver recovered $2,100

A driver came to us with several overdue HST periods and no idea he was supposed to have registered. We filed the missing returns and claimed the input tax credits on his fuel and vehicle expenses. Those credits more than covered the tax owing, and he ended up $2,100 ahead.

Who this is for

6 common cases

If one of these sounds like you, this service is a good fit.

Uber, Lyft and URide drivers - registration is mandatory from day one
Delivery couriers who have passed $30,000 in revenue
Freelancers and consultants past the small supplier threshold
Small businesses filing monthly, quarterly or annually
Anyone registered who has missed one or more periods
Businesses with nil periods that still need a return filed

What's included

What you actually get

Nothing appears on the invoice later that was not described here.

Registration
We obtain your GST/HST number and set the reporting period that suits your cash flow.
Input tax credits
The HST you paid on fuel, vehicle costs, phone bills and equipment, claimed back against what you owe.
Nil returns
Filed at a reduced fee so a quiet period never becomes a compliance problem.
Catching up missed periods
Overdue returns prepared and filed together, with penalties and interest quantified up front.
Reconciliation with your T2125 or T2
So your income tax and HST filings tell the same story if the CRA looks at both.

The process

How this works

4 steps, from first message to filed.

Step 01
Confirm your obligation
We check whether you must register, when the obligation started, and which periods are outstanding.
Step 02
Register or authorise
New registration if you need one, or CRA authorisation so we can see your existing account.
Step 03
Build the return
Revenue by period, input tax credits calculated from your expense records.
Step 04
File and set reminders
Filed on time, with your next period's deadline diarised so it does not creep up on you.

Step 01
Confirm your obligation
We check whether you must register, when the obligation started, and which periods are outstanding.
Step 02
Register or authorise
New registration if you need one, or CRA authorisation so we can see your existing account.
Step 03
Build the return
Revenue by period, input tax credits calculated from your expense records.
Step 04
File and set reminders
Filed on time, with your next period's deadline diarised so it does not creep up on you.

Questions

GST/HST Returns questions

Straight answers to what people ask us most.

Do Uber and Lyft drivers really have to register from day one?

Yes. Ridesharing is specifically excluded from the $30,000 small supplier threshold that applies to most businesses. If you drive for Uber, Lyft or URide you must register for GST/HST from your first trip, regardless of how much you earn.

What if I earn under $30,000 as a delivery driver?

Food and parcel delivery is treated differently from ridesharing. DoorDash, Instacart, SkipTheDishes and UberEats couriers generally only need to register once revenue passes $30,000. If you do both rideshare and delivery, the rideshare rule applies.

I'm registered but had no income this period. Do I still file?

Yes. Once registered, filing is mandatory for every reporting period even when there is nothing to report. A nil return costs $60 with us - considerably less than the penalties for skipping it.

What happens if I've missed several periods?

The late-filing penalty is 5% of the unpaid amount plus 1% for each full month the return is late, up to 12 months, with interest compounding daily. Refunds and benefit payments can also be held back until you are current. We file the outstanding periods together and tell you the total exposure before we start.

Get started

Ready to sort out your gst/hst returns?

Tell us your situation and we will come back with the exact scope, what we need from you, and the fee, before any work starts.

Key numbers

Annual filers - payment: April 30; For a December 31 fiscal year end
Annual filers - return: June 15; The return and the payment have different dates
Quarterly filers: 1 month; After the end of each quarter
Monthly filers: End of next month; Following the reporting period
Late penalty: 5% + 1%/month; Of the unpaid amount, the monthly portion capped at 12 months, plus daily compounding interest