GST/HST Payment to the CRA in Canada: A Complete Guide to Methods, Deadlines, and Penalties

If your business is registered for GST/HST, you are required to collect the tax from customers and remit it to the Canada Revenue Agency by the filing deadline. Making your GST/HST payment on time avoids penalties and interest charges that add up quickly. This guide covers every payment method available, filing deadlines for monthly, quarterly, and annual filers, and what happens if you pay late. Our GST/HST services at Torontax ensure Toronto businesses file accurately and on time.

GST/HST Payment Methods Accepted by the CRA

The CRA accepts several methods for paying your GST/HST balance owing. Payments of $10,000 or more must generally be made electronically. Here are all the ways you can pay:

Online Banking (Most Common)

You can pay GST/HST through your bank’s online or mobile banking service by adding the CRA as a payee. Select the CRA GST/HST payment option and enter your 15-character Business Number exactly as it appears on your CRA correspondence. All major Canadian banks including RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, and CIBC support CRA payments through their bill payment systems. Processing takes 1-3 business days, so pay at least two business days before the deadline to ensure your payment is received on time.

CRA My Payment

My Payment is the CRA’s online payment portal that allows you to pay directly from your bank account using Interac Debit. Payments made through My Payment are processed immediately, making it useful for last-minute payments on the due date. You can access My Payment through the CRA website without needing a CRA My Business Account login.

Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD)

You can set up a pre-authorized debit agreement through CRA My Business Account to have payments automatically withdrawn from your bank account on scheduled dates. This is useful for businesses that want to automate their GST/HST remittances and avoid the risk of missing a deadline. You control the payment amount and schedule, and you can modify or cancel the agreement at any time.

At Your Financial Institution

You can make GST/HST payments in person at your bank or credit union using your GST/HST remittance voucher. You can also pay by mail using a cheque payable to the Receiver General for Canada, mailed with your remittance voucher to the address on the form. Allow sufficient mailing time as the payment must be received by the due date.

GST/HST Filing and Payment Deadlines

Your GST/HST filing frequency depends on your annual taxable revenue. The CRA assigns you a reporting period when you register, and you can request a change. Here are the deadlines for each filing frequency:

Monthly Filers

Businesses with annual taxable revenue over $6 million must file monthly. Your GST/HST return and payment are due one month after the end of each reporting period. For example, your January return and payment are due by the last day of February.

Quarterly Filers

Businesses with annual taxable revenue between $1.5 million and $6 million typically file quarterly. Your return and payment are due one month after the end of each fiscal quarter.

Annual Filers

Businesses with annual taxable revenue of $1.5 million or less can file annually. For sole proprietors and partnerships, the return is due June 15 following the fiscal year, but any balance owing must be paid by April 30. For corporations, the return and payment are due three months after the fiscal year-end. If your net tax owing exceeds $3,000 in a year, the CRA may require you to make quarterly instalment payments for the following year.

Penalties for Late GST/HST Filing and Payment

The CRA imposes separate penalties for late filing and late payment of GST/HST:

Late filing penalty: If you owe a balance and file your return late, the penalty is 1% of the amount owing plus 0.25% for each complete month the return is late, up to a maximum of 12 months, for a maximum total penalty of 4% of the balance owing.

Late GST/HST payment interest: Interest is charged on any overdue amount starting the day after the payment deadline at the CRA’s prescribed interest rate plus 4%. The prescribed rate is updated quarterly by the CRA. Interest compounds daily, so the longer you wait to pay, the more it costs.

Director liability: If your corporation fails to remit GST/HST collected from customers, the CRA can hold corporate directors personally liable for the unremitted amounts plus penalties and interest. This is because collected GST/HST is considered trust funds held on behalf of the government.

Input Tax Credits: Getting Your GST/HST Back

When you file your GST/HST return, you can claim Input Tax Credits (ITCs) to recover the GST/HST you paid on business purchases. This includes HST on office supplies, professional services, equipment, software subscriptions, business travel, and other eligible expenses. Some items are restricted: you cannot claim ITCs on personal expenses, club memberships, or more than 50% of the HST on meals and entertainment. Our bookkeeping team tracks your ITCs throughout the year so nothing is missed at filing time.

Quick Method of Accounting for GST/HST

Small businesses with annual taxable revenue of $400,000 or less (excluding zero-rated supplies) may be eligible for the Quick Method. Instead of tracking ITCs on every purchase, you remit a flat percentage of your revenue, which is lower than the full HST rate. For most service businesses in Ontario, the Quick Method rate is 8.8% on GST/HST-included revenue. This can result in significant savings compared to the regular method, especially for businesses with low expenses. Our accountants analyze whether the Quick Method or regular method saves you more money and handle the election process with the CRA.

Get Help With Your GST/HST Filing

Managing your GST/HST payment and filing obligations is one of the most time-consuming aspects of running a business in Ontario. Our GST/HST services handle registration, return preparation, filing, and payment for Toronto businesses. Combined with our bookkeeping and corporate tax services, we provide a complete financial solution. Contact us at (437) 410-7999 or file through our remote portal. For official CRA information on GST/HST, visit the Canada Revenue Agency GST/HST page.

Last updated: September 10, 2026 – Verified against official CRA sources.