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GST vs HST: what is the difference?

By Diljit Ramachandran, founder of The Invoice Generator. Published Oct 26, 2026.

GST and HST are Canadian sales taxes. GST is the federal goods and services tax. HST is a single combined tax that blends the federal and provincial parts, charged in the provinces that have joined. Which one you charge depends on the place of supply, usually where goods are delivered or where your customer is; check the Canada Revenue Agency.

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What are GST and HST, and how do they differ?

GST is the federal part. HST adds the provincial part in a single tax. In an HST province you charge HST instead of GST, not both. Elsewhere the picture differs:

WhereWhat is charged
HST provinces, such as OntarioHST
Alberta and the territoriesGST only
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, QuebecGST plus a separate provincial tax (PST or QST)

Which one do you charge?

It depends on the place of supply. For services this is generally the customer's address, for goods usually where they are delivered, and for property where it is located. Rates and rules change, so check the Canada Revenue Agency or ask an accountant. Our VAT and GST rates pages list rates by country, and the sales tax calculator helps with sums.

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How do you show them on an invoice?

  • Show tax as its own line, named GST or HST.
  • Show the tax amount or rate, or say that prices include tax.
  • Add your registration number where the rules ask for it.
  • Do not hide tax inside the price unless you say prices include it.

Questions

Can I use the invoice tool for GST or HST?
Yes. Set the tax name and rate in the tool; it adds the line and the total. See what to put on an invoice.
Do I need to register to charge GST?
Where required, yes, and registration rules depend on your sales. Check with the tax authority.

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Drafted with AI assistance from public sources and our own tool, and published by Diljit Ramachandran. It has not been checked by an accountant. It is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules differ by place; check with an accountant or your local tax office.