How does the software handle different provincial taxes?

Set your business province and the software applies the correct tax: HST in Ontario, GST+QST in Quebec, GST+PST in BC, etc. You can override per invoice for out-of-province sales.

Can I invoice in both English and French?

Yes. Billed supports bilingual invoicing for Quebec clients and federal government contracts. You can set the language per client or per invoice as needed.

Does it help with CRA record-keeping?

Billed stores all invoice history with tax breakdowns, payment status, and dates for the six-year CRA retention period. Export reports to simplify GST/HST return preparation.

When do I charge GST only versus HST or GST plus PST?

HST provinces combine federal and provincial tax in one rate; others show federal GST plus provincial PST or QST separately. Place-of-supply rules decide which combination applies to your buyer. Configure default rates by province and override when a contract specifies a different delivery location or special exemption. For tangible goods, the buyer's ship-to address usually drives which provincial rate profile you apply at checkout.

What is a small supplier and how does it show on invoices?

Small suppliers under CRA registration thresholds generally do not collect GST/HST. Invoices should still list your legal name, address, invoice date, and clear totals without tax lines so buyers know the absence of tax is intentional. Register promptly once you cross the threshold and begin showing your GST/HST number. If you register mid-year, reissue or credit prior taxable supplies as your advisor directs so customer ITCs stay supportable.

How should Quebec QST appear on invoices to other provinces?

QST generally applies to Quebec-based supplies under QST rules; sales delivered elsewhere may follow different combinations. Show GST and QST as separate lines when both apply, use the buyer's ship-to address, and keep proof if you rely on zero-rating or exempt treatment for specific goods or services. Retain customs or freight paperwork when goods leave Quebec so auditors can confirm the correct provincial split.

Are electronic invoices acceptable to the CRA?

Yes, when they contain the same information as paper records and you can retrieve them unchanged for six years. PDFs, portal downloads, and structured files all qualify if complete. Store metadata such as issue date, payment status, and tax breakdown so audits and GST/HST filings reconstruct each period quickly. Immutable send timestamps and read receipts strengthen evidence if CRA questions when a document was issued.

Can buyers claim ITCs if my invoice omits their business number?

For many B2B ITC claims over $150 before tax, CRA expects the customer's name, GST/HST registration number where they have one, and your supplier details on the invoice. Missing data can delay client refunds. Capture buyer BN and legal name in your client profile so every PDF meets documentation rules.

Invoicing Software for Canada

Bill in Canadian dollars and document federal and provincial taxes the way CRA and provincial authorities expect.

Start Invoicing in Canada View Pricing

Canadian invoicing software must handle the country's layered tax system: federal GST (5%), provincial PST/RST, harmonized HST (13–15%), and Quebec's QST (9.975%). The right tool calculates the correct tax combination based on your province and the place of supply rules, displays your GST/HST registration number, and produces invoices that support input tax credit (ITC) claims.

Practical tips: break out each tax component on the face of the invoice, show your business name and address as registered with the CRA, and include the buyer's name for B2B ITC support. Interac e-Transfer is ubiquitous for SMEs—include a clear payment email or autodeposit note alongside void cheque details for EFT.

For small businesses and freelancers, look for software that invoices in CAD, supports Interac e-Transfer details, and exports data compatible with CRA requirements. Bilingual capability (English/French) is valuable for Quebec clients and federal government contracts.

Cross-border work often means USD invoices to U.S. clients while keeping CAD books; document exchange rates and tax treatment when zero-rated exports apply. Quebec registrants may need both GST and QST lines; some provinces exempt certain goods—map rates per line to avoid amended returns.

If you are a small supplier under CRA thresholds, your invoices should still be professional and dated even when you do not charge GST/HST, so buyers understand why tax is absent. Large corporate and government buyers may require purchase order references, remittance addresses, and bilingual labels—mirror those fields on every PDF.

Retain complete electronic records for at least six years and align invoice dates with your reporting period so GST/HST net tax is easy to reconcile with bank deposits and your accountant's working papers.

Compliance & invoicing expectations in Canada

Local rules change over time; use these themes as a checklist and confirm details with a qualified adviser for your situation.

Tax Compliance

Calculate GST, HST, PST, QST, or RST based on province of supply. Display GST/HST registration number and break out each tax component separately for ITC claims.

Currency & Payments

Invoice in CAD with bank details for direct deposit and Interac e-Transfer. Support USD invoicing for cross-border clients with CRA-compliant conversion tracking.

E-Invoicing Rules

No federal e-invoicing mandate exists in Canada. PDF invoices are standard. CRA accepts electronic records for audit if they are complete and accessible.

Record Keeping

Retain invoice records for at least six years per CRA requirements. Export GST/HST summaries for filing periods to streamline returns.

Practical invoicing tools for businesses billing from or into Canada.

How Billed supports Canada invoicing

Multi-tax calculation (GST/HST/PST/QST)

Automatically apply the correct tax combination based on your province and the buyer's location. Switch between HST, GST+PST, or GST+QST without manual calculation.

How to choose invoicing software for Canada

Use this checklist when evaluating any invoicing tool for Canada-based businesses.

Local tax support

Can it handle Canada-specific tax rules (rates, exemptions, filing formats)?

Currency & language

Does it support the local currency and languages used in Canada?

Compliance ready

Does it generate invoices that meet local legal requirements for tax credits and audits?

Payment integrations

Does it connect with payment methods popular in Canada?

Scalability

Can it grow with your business — recurring billing, multi-client, team access?

Affordability

Does it offer a free tier or trial so you can evaluate before committing?

Feature	Billed	Generic tools
Canada tax lines	Configurable	Varies
Local currency	Yes	Usually
Free plan	Yes	Sometimes
Recurring invoices	Included	Paid plans
Payment tracking	Built-in	Limited

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Start Invoicing in Canada

Join businesses that use Billed to invoice professionally, stay organized, and offer clear payment options—whether your clients are in Canada or abroad.

Try It Free View Pricing

No credit card required. Cancel anytime.