GST Considerations For New Business Owners

The Goods and Services Tax or GST is a consumption tax which charged on most Goods and Services Tax Registration in India Online and services sold within Canada, regardless of where your business is situated. Subject to certain exceptions, all businesses are required to charge GST, currently at 5%, plus applicable provincial sales taxation’s. A business effectively acts as an agent for Revenue Canada by collecting the required taxes and remitting them on a periodic basis. Businesses additionally permitted to claim the taxes paid on expenses incurred that relate of their business activities. The particular referred to as Input Tax Credit.

Does Your Business Need to Register?

Prior to going into any kind of economic activity in Canada, all business owners need to figure out how the GST and relevant provincial taxes apply to them. Essentially, all businesses that sell goods and services in Canada, for profit, should charge GST, except in the following circumstances:

Estimated sales for your business for 4 consecutive calendar quarters is expected to get less than $30,000. Revenue Canada views these businesses as small suppliers and are also therefore exempt.

The business activity is GST exempt. Exempt goods and services includes residential land and property, child care services, most health and medical services many others.

Although a small supplier, i.e. a business with annual sales less than $30,000 is not had to have to file for GST, in some cases it is beneficial to do so. Since a business could only claim Input Tax credits (GST paid on expenses) if they are registered, many businesses, particularly in the start up phase where expenses exceed sales, may find that possibly they are able to recover a significant involving taxes. This really balanced against prospective competitive advantage achieved from not charging the GST, provided additional administrative costs (hassle) from having to file returns.