Tax readiness for Canadian freelancers
Stop dreading tax season. Understand your obligations, track everything during the year, and hand your accountant a clean set of books.
GST/HST Registration
When to register, how to file, and what happens if you don't. Mandatory once you hit $30K in revenue.
Home Office Deductions
Deduct a portion of rent, utilities, internet, and insurance based on your workspace square footage.
Vehicle & Mileage
CRA per-km rates, logbook requirements, and how to calculate your business-use percentage.
Receipt Retention
The CRA requires you to keep records for 6 years. Digital receipts are accepted if they're clear and complete.
Business Expense Deductions
Software, courses, insurance, meals, and more. Know what you can deduct and keep proper records.
CRA Filing Deadlines
T1 due June 15 for self-employed (but tax owing due April 30). GST/HST return due 3 months after year-end.
Canadian sales tax rates by province
| Province | Sales Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | GST 5% | No provincial sales tax |
| British Columbia | GST 5% + PST 7% | |
| Manitoba | GST 5% + PST 7% | |
| New Brunswick | HST 15% | |
| Newfoundland | HST 15% | |
| Nova Scotia | HST 15% | |
| Ontario | HST 13% | |
| PEI | HST 15% | |
| Quebec | GST 5% + QST 9.975% | Separate QST filing |
| Saskatchewan | GST 5% + PST 6% |
Rates current as of 2026. norabooks calculates the correct rate automatically based on your province and your client's location.
Common tax questions
You must register once your revenue exceeds $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive quarters. You can register voluntarily before that to claim Input Tax Credits on business purchases.
GST (5%) is federal. HST combines GST + provincial tax into one rate (13-15% depending on province). PST is a separate provincial tax in BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec (QST). norabooks handles all of them automatically.
The tax rate depends on where your client receives the service, not where you are. If you're in Alberta (GST 5%) but your client is in Ontario (HST 13%), you charge 13%. norabooks automates this based on your client's province.
Yes. Calculate the percentage of your home used for business (square footage of office / total square footage). Apply that percentage to rent, utilities, internet, insurance, and maintenance costs.
The CRA requires you to keep all business records and supporting documents for 6 years from the end of the last tax year they relate to. Digital records are accepted.
norabooks generates the reports you need to file: tax collected, ITCs (tax paid on purchases), income summary, and expense breakdown. You or your accountant use these to complete your CRA return.
Be ready for tax season, all year
norabooks tracks your income, expenses, receipts, and tax automatically.