Invoice format in Canada: Invoice rules
A Canada invoice must show 9 things, starting with seller or intermediary name, invoice date and total amount paid or payable. GST is charged at 5%. The template below is pre-filled in CAD with en-CA formatting.
Pre-filled for Canada: Invoice, CAD, GST 5%. Illustrative amounts, not market prices.
From
Granite Services
12 Market Square
Canada
billing@example.com
GST/HST registration number: 123456789 RT 0001
Invoice
Bill to
Copperleaf Group
40 Station Road
Canada
accounts@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design work | 12 hr | $75.00 | $900.00 |
| Website maintenance | 6 hr | $80.00 | $480.00 |
| Project set-up fee | 1 each | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Training workshop (half day) | 1 each | $500.00 | $500.00 |
- Subtotal
- $2,130.00
- GST (5%)
- $106.50
- Balance due
- $2,236.50
Notes
Illustrative amounts, not market prices.
Payment details
Bank transfer. Please quote the invoice number.
Made with Billwise - invoice-pdf-maker-app.web.app
Preview of the PDF. Everything stays in your browser: nothing is uploaded.
Canada invoice facts
| Tax on invoices | Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (Taxe sur les produits et services / taxe de vente harmonisée (TPS/TVH)) |
|---|---|
| Label printed | GST |
| Standard rate | 5% |
| Seller tax ID | GST/HST registration number, format 123456789 RT 0001 |
| Registration threshold | Registration is required once taxable supplies exceed CA$30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive calendar quarters (the small supplier limit). |
| Document name | Invoice |
| Currency and locale | CAD, en-CA |
| Keep invoices for | 6 years |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
What an Canada invoice must show
9 fields, from the sources listed below.
- Seller or intermediary name
- Invoice date
- Total amount paid or payable, in CAD
- GST/HST registration number (from CA$100)
- GST/HST amount or a tax-included statement with the rate (from CA$100) (5%)
- Status of each taxable supply when rates differ (from CA$100) (5%)
- Buyer name or business name (from CA$500)
- Terms of payment (from CA$500)
- Description of each supply (from CA$500)
Sample invoice in CAD
The tool above uses these lines. Illustrative amounts in CAD, not market prices.
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design work | 12 hr | $75.00 | $900.00 |
| Website maintenance | 6 hr | $80.00 | $480.00 |
| Project set-up fee | 1 each | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Training workshop (half day) | 1 each | $500.00 | $500.00 |
| Net total | $2,130.00 | ||
| GST 5% | $106.50 | ||
| Total due | $2,236.50 |
Worked GST example in CAD
A net amount of $1,000.00 at each GST rate of Canada: the tax is the net amount times the rate, rounded to the currency's smallest unit.
| Rate | Net | GST | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 5% | $1,000.00 | $50.00 | $1,050.00 |
Number, date and currency format (en-CA)
How en-CA writes amounts and dates, computed with the browser's Intl API; the invoice tool uses the same formatting.
| Value | Written in en-CA |
|---|---|
| Amount 1234567.89 | $1,234,567.89 |
| Same amount with the ISO code | CAD 1,234,567.89 |
| Credit of 250 | -$250.00 |
| Plain number 1234567.89 | 1,234,567.89 |
| Date 31 December 2026 (long) | December 31, 2026 |
| Same date (short) | 2026-12-31 |
| GST rate 5% | 5% |
Canada invoicing rules
- The information a buyer needs to claim input tax credits rises in three tiers: under CA$100, CA$100 to CA$499.99, and CA$500 or more.
- GST of 5% applies in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the territories; HST replaces it at 13% in Ontario, 14% in Nova Scotia and 15% in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
- The rate follows the province where the supply is made, generally where the goods are delivered or the service is performed, not where the seller is based.
- Quebec adds its own 9.975% Quebec Sales Tax (QST), administered by Revenu Quebec, and an invoice to a Quebec buyer usually shows GST and QST on separate lines.
- Keep books and records, including invoices, for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to.
E-invoicing, simplified invoices and record keeping
Canada has no general e-invoicing mandate for business-to-business sales as of October 2026; paper and PDF invoices are both acceptable.
For sales under CA$100 a receipt showing the seller name, date and total amount is enough for the buyer's input tax credit.
Keep issued and received invoices for at least 6 years in Canada.
How to make an invoice for Canada
-
Set currency and format
Choose CAD and the en-CA format so amounts read like $1,234.50.
-
Title and number
Title the document "Invoice" and number it in sequence, for example CA-2026-0031.
-
Your tax ID
Enter your GST/HST registration number (format 123456789 RT 0001) in the seller details.
-
Add GST
Add GST at 5%, or a reduced rate where the goods or services qualify.
-
Check and download
Check the 9 required fields above, then download the PDF.
Sources
General information, not tax advice; checked October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the tax authority or an accountant before relying on them.
Frequently asked questions
What must an Canada invoice include?
9 items: seller or intermediary name, invoice date, total amount paid or payable, gst/hst registration number (from ca$100), gst/hst amount or a tax-included statement with the rate (from ca$100) and status of each taxable supply when rates differ (from ca$100), plus 3 more listed above.
What GST rate goes on an invoice in Canada?
The standard rate is 5%. On a net $1,000.00 that is $50.00 of GST.
How long must invoices be kept in Canada?
At least 6 years, according to the sources on this page (checked October 2026).
Is e-invoicing mandatory in Canada?
Canada has no general e-invoicing mandate for business-to-business sales as of October 2026; paper and PDF invoices are both acceptable.
Can I issue a simplified invoice in Canada?
For sales under CA$100 a receipt showing the seller name, date and total amount is enough for the buyer's input tax credit.
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