{"id":505,"date":"2025-11-22T17:09:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T17:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada.truenorthtaxes.ca\/?p=505"},"modified":"2025-11-22T17:09:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T17:09:32","slug":"gst-hst-expenses-you-can-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/gst-hst-expenses-you-can-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"Claim GST HST Expenses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n:root {\n    --primary-color: #4F46E5;\n    --secondary-color: #10B981;\n    --text-dark: #1F2937;\n    --text-light: #6B7280;\n    --bg-light: #F9FAFB;\n    --border-color: #E5E7EB;\n    --success-color: #059669;\n    --warning-color: #F59E0B;\n}\n\n.vftc-wrapper {\n    font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;\n    max-width: 1200px;\n    margin: 0 auto;\n    padding: 20px;\n    color: var(--text-dark);\n}\n\n.vftc-hero {\n    text-align: center;\n    padding: 40px 20px;\n    background: 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0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-section h2 {\n    font-size: 2em;\n    margin: 0 0 30px 0;\n    color: var(--text-dark);\n    text-align: center;\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-item {\n    background: var(--bg-light);\n    padding: 24px;\n    border-radius: 12px;\n    margin-bottom: 16px;\n    cursor: pointer;\n    transition: all 0.3s;\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-item:hover {\n    background: #F3F4F6;\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-question {\n    font-weight: 600;\n    color: var(--text-dark);\n    display: flex;\n    justify-content: space-between;\n    align-items: center;\n    font-size: 1.1em;\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-toggle {\n    width: 32px;\n    height: 32px;\n    background: white;\n    border-radius: 50%;\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    justify-content: center;\n    flex-shrink: 0;\n    transition: all 0.3s;\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-item.active .vftc-faq-toggle {\n    background: var(--primary-color);\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-toggle svg {\n    width: 20px;\n    height: 20px;\n    stroke: var(--text-dark);\n    transition: all 0.3s;\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-item.active .vftc-faq-toggle svg {\n    stroke: white;\n    transform: rotate(180deg);\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-answer {\n    margin-top: 16px;\n    color: var(--text-light);\n    line-height: 1.7;\n    display: none;\n}\n\n.vftc-faq-item.active .vftc-faq-answer {\n    display: block;\n}\n\n.vftc-cta-box {\n    background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--primary-color) 0%, #7C3AED 100%);\n    padding: 32px;\n    border-radius: 12px;\n    text-align: center;\n    color: white;\n    margin: 30px 0;\n}\n\n.vftc-cta-box h3 {\n    margin: 0 0 16px 0;\n    color: white;\n}\n\n.vftc-cta-box p {\n    margin: 0 0 20px 0;\n    opacity: 0.95;\n    color: white;\n}\n\n.vftc-cta-button {\n    display: inline-block;\n    background: white;\n    color: var(--primary-color);\n    padding: 14px 32px;\n    border-radius: 8px;\n    text-decoration: none;\n    font-weight: 600;\n    transition: all 0.3s;\n}\n\n.vftc-cta-button:hover {\n    transform: translateY(-2px);\n    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\n    .vftc-hero h1 {\n        font-size: 1.8em;\n    }\n    \n    .vftc-content {\n        padding: 24px;\n    }\n    \n    .vftc-features-grid {\n        grid-template-columns: 1fr;\n    }\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"vftc-wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"vftc-hero\">\n        <h1>Claiming GST\/HST Expenses in Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide<\/h1>\n        <p>Stop leaving money on the table \u2014 recover every dollar of sales tax you paid on business expenses<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div class=\"vftc-content\">\n    <p>Let&#8217;s cut to the chase \u2014 if you&#8217;re running a business in Canada and not claiming your GST\/HST expenses properly, you&#8217;re basically donating money to the government. And not in a nice, charitable way. Every receipt you lose, every invoice you misfile, every shipping charge you ignore is cash that should be back in your pocket. The good news? The Canada Revenue Agency gives you a straightforward way to recover that money through Input Tax Credits (ITCs). The bad news? Mess it up, and you&#8217;re leaving thousands on the table.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-highlight-box\">\n        <h3> Quick Answer<\/h3>\n        <p><strong>You can claim 100% of the GST\/HST you paid on legitimate business expenses through Input Tax Credits (ITCs)<\/strong>. You must be registered for GST\/HST, have proper documentation, and claim the tax during the reporting period when the amount became payable. This applies to inventory, equipment, utilities, rent, professional services, and most operational costs tied to your commercial activity.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <h2>\n        <div class=\"vftc-icon\">\n            <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M9 7h6m0 10v-3m-3 3h.01M9 17h.01M9 14h.01M12 14h.01M15 11h.01M12 11h.01M9 11h.01M7 21h10a2 2 0 002-2V5a2 2 0 00-2-2H7a2 2 0 00-2 2v14a2 2 0 002 2z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        What Are Input Tax Credits (ITCs)?\n    <\/h2>\n    \n    <p>Think of Input Tax Credits as the CRA&#8217;s way of saying &#8220;we get it \u2014 you shouldn&#8217;t pay tax on tax.&#8221; When you shell out for GST\/HST on business purchases, ITCs let you recover that money. It&#8217;s not a loophole or a favour; it&#8217;s how the system is designed to work. You collect tax from customers, then remit the difference after subtracting what you paid on your own expenses.<\/p>\n\n    <p>Here&#8217;s the beauty of it: <strong>GST\/HST becomes a pass-through tax<\/strong>. A restaurant pays GST\/HST on ingredients, kitchen equipment, and accounting services, then claims every penny back. Their net cost? Zero. The tax flows through their business without sticking. That&#8217;s the system working exactly as intended \u2014 but only if you claim properly.<\/p>\n\n    <h2>\n        <div class=\"vftc-icon\">\n            <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M9 12l2 2 4-4m6 2a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        What Expenses Can You Actually Claim?\n    <\/h2>\n\n    <p>The golden rule: if it&#8217;s for your commercial activity, you can probably claim it. But let&#8217;s get specific \u2014 because the devil is in the details, and the CRA loves details.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-features-grid\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-feature-card\">\n            <div class=\"vftc-feature-icon\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M20 7l-8-4-8 4m16 0l-8 4m8-4v10l-8 4m0-10L4 7m8 4v10M4 7v10l8 4\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n            <h4>Inventory &#038; Supplies<\/h4>\n            <p>Raw materials, products for resale, office supplies \u2014 basically anything you buy to run your business. The tax paid at the border on imports? That&#8217;s claimable too.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"vftc-feature-card\">\n            <div class=\"vftc-feature-icon\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M9.75 17L9 20l-1 1h8l-1-1-.75-3M3 13h18M5 17h14a2 2 0 002-2V5a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v10a2 2 0 002 2z\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n            <h4>Equipment &#038; Assets<\/h4>\n            <p>Computers, machinery, vehicles, furniture \u2014 if it&#8217;s a capital asset for your business, the GST\/HST is recoverable. Even better? You can claim it in the period you acquire it, no waiting required.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"vftc-feature-card\">\n            <div class=\"vftc-feature-icon\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M17 20h5v-2a3 3 0 00-5.356-1.857M17 20H7m10 0v-2c0-.656-.126-1.283-.356-1.857M7 20H2v-2a3 3 0 015.356-1.857M7 20v-2c0-.656.126-1.283.356-1.857m0 0a5.002 5.002 0 019.288 0M15 7a3 3 0 11-6 0 3 3 0 016 0zm6 3a2 2 0 11-4 0 2 2 0 014 0zM7 10a2 2 0 11-4 0 2 2 0 014 0z\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n            <h4>Professional Services<\/h4>\n            <p>Legal fees, accounting, consulting, marketing \u2014 if you&#8217;re paying a GST\/HST-registered provider for business services, claim that tax back.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"vftc-feature-card\">\n            <div class=\"vftc-feature-icon\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M13 10V3L4 14h7v7l9-11h-7z\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n            <h4>Operating Costs<\/h4>\n            <p>Rent, utilities, phone bills, software subscriptions \u2014 the day-to-day expenses that keep your lights on and your business humming.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <p>Here&#8217;s what trips people up: <strong>you can claim GST\/HST on expenses you&#8217;ve been invoiced for but haven&#8217;t paid yet<\/strong>. The CRA says you can include it when you calculate your ITCs for the reporting period when the amount became payable \u2014 even if your wallet is still closed. That&#8217;s a huge cash flow advantage if you know how to use it.<\/p>\n\n    <h2>\n        <div class=\"vftc-icon\">\n            <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M9 12h6m-6 4h6m2 5H7a2 2 0 01-2-2V5a2 2 0 012-2h5.586a1 1 0 01.707.293l5.414 5.414a1 1 0 01.293.707V19a2 2 0 01-2 2z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        The Documentation Rules (Don&#8217;t Skimp Here)\n    <\/h2>\n\n    <p>Listen, the CRA isn&#8217;t asking for your receipts because they enjoy paper cuts. Proper documentation is your lifeline if they come knocking. And trust me, they will \u2014 eventually.<\/p>\n\n    <ul class=\"vftc-list\">\n        <li>A proper invoice showing the GST\/HST registration number of the supplier<\/li>\n        <li>The date of the invoice and your payment terms<\/li>\n        <li>A clear description of what you bought<\/li>\n        <li>The amount of tax charged, shown separately or clearly stated<\/li>\n        <li>Proof it was paid or became payable during your reporting period<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n\n    <p>The good news? <strong>Digital records are 100% acceptable<\/strong>. Use apps like Dext, QuickBooks, or even well-organized PDFs. Just make sure they&#8217;re legible and accessible for six years minimum. That&#8217;s not a suggestion \u2014 it&#8217;s the law.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-highlight-box\">\n        <h3>The Million-Dollar Mistake<\/h3>\n        <p>Here&#8217;s a real kicker: US-based companies shipping goods across Canada often miss massive ITC opportunities on freight charges. Why? Their systems don&#8217;t capture Canadian tax properly, freight consolidators summarize without tax visibility, or staff don&#8217;t understand our tax rules. One company discovered their freight tax field had been disabled for two years \u2014 costing them millions. Don&#8217;t let that be you.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <h2>\n        <div class=\"vftc-icon\">\n            <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        How to Actually Claim Your ITCs\n    <\/h2>\n\n    <p>Enough theory \u2014 let&#8217;s talk action. You&#8217;ve got three main ways to file: CRA My Business Account, the NETFILE web form, or through authorized software. Here&#8217;s how it works:<\/p>\n\n    <ul class=\"vftc-list\">\n        <li><strong>Step 1:<\/strong> Gather all invoices for the reporting period (monthly, quarterly, or annual)<\/li>\n        <li><strong>Step 2:<\/strong> Log into CRA My Business Account and select &#8220;File a Return&#8221;<\/li>\n        <li><strong>Step 3:<\/strong> Enter your total sales, GST\/HST collected, and ITC amount<\/li>\n        <li><strong>Step 4:<\/strong> The system calculates your net tax \u2014 what you owe or what&#8217;s refunded<\/li>\n        <li><strong>Step 5:<\/strong> Submit and save that six-digit confirmation number. That&#8217;s your proof.<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n\n    <p>Even if you had zero sales, <strong>file a nil return<\/strong>. Every period. No exceptions. Missing a filing is like waving a red flag at the CRA bull.<\/p>\n\n    <h2>\n        <div class=\"vftc-icon\">\n            <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 9v2m0 4h.01m-6.938 4h13.856c1.54 0 2.502-1.667 1.732-3L13.732 4c-.77-1.333-2.694-1.333-3.464 0L3.34 16c-.77 1.333.192 3 1.732 3z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        Special Situations That Trip People Up\n    <\/h2>\n\n    <p>Not everything fits in a neat box. Here are the curveballs:<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Non-resident businesses:<\/strong> If you&#8217;re a US company selling services to Canadians, you might need to register and charge GST\/HST \u2014 even with no physical presence here. Your Canadian customers might also need to self-assess the tax if you don&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Bad debts:<\/strong> Charged GST\/HST on a sale you never got paid for? You can recover that tax on line 107 of your return \u2014 but only if you dealt with the person at arm&#8217;s length and wrote off the debt.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Imports:<\/strong> GST is applied at the border (5% on commercial imports). If you&#8217;re registered, claim it as an ITC on your next return. Don&#8217;t wait for a separate rebate process.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-cta-box\">\n        <h3>Need to Calculate Your Tax Recovery?<\/h3>\n        <p>Figure out exactly how much GST\/HST you should be claiming back<\/p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/sales-tax-calculator\/\" class=\"vftc-cta-button\">Use Our Sales Tax Calculator<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <h2>\n        <div class=\"vftc-icon\">\n            <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M8.228 9c.549-1.165 2.03-2 3.772-2 2.21 0 4 1.343 4 3 0 1.4-1.278 2.575-3.006 2.907-.542.104-.994.54-.994 1.093m0 3h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n        <\/div>\n        The Bottom Line\n    <\/h2>\n\n    <p>Look, claiming GST\/HST expenses isn&#8217;t rocket science \u2014 it&#8217;s about being organized, understanding the rules, and staying consistent. The difference between businesses that thrive and those that struggle often comes down to mastering these fundamentals. Every dollar you recover through ITCs is a dollar that drops straight to your bottom line.<\/p>\n\n    <p>If you&#8217;re just getting started or feeling overwhelmed, <a href=\"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/gst-hst-registration-small-businesses\/\" style=\"color: var(--primary-color); text-decoration: none; font-weight: 600;\">registering properly is step one<\/a>. Then build a system that captures every eligible expense. Your future self will thank you when that refund hits your account.<\/p>\n\n    <p>And remember \u2014 when in doubt, claim it. The CRA will let you know if you&#8217;ve crossed a line. But more often than not, you&#8217;re leaving money behind by being too cautious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"vftc-faq-section\">\n    <h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            What&#8217;s the difference between zero-rated and exempt supplies for ITC purposes?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            Huge difference! Zero-rated supplies (like basic groceries, exports) are taxable at 0%, so you charge no tax but can still claim ITCs on related expenses. Exempt supplies (like most healthcare, residential rent) \u2014 you charge no tax and can&#8217;t claim ITCs on related expenses. This distinction is crucial for tax recovery strategy.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            Can I claim ITCs for expenses from before my GST\/HST registration date?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            Yes, but within limits. You can claim ITCs for capital assets bought within two years before registration, and for other expenses within 30 days before registration \u2014 but only if they relate to your commercial activities after you register. Keep those pre-registration invoices!\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            What happens if I file my GST\/HST return late?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            Late filing triggers penalties faster than you can say &#8220;Revenue Canada.&#8221; You&#8217;ll face late filing penalty guidelines, interest charges, and potentially lose your ability to claim ITCs. Even worse, it flags your account for closer scrutiny. File on time, every time \u2014 even if it&#8217;s a nil return.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            Can I claim ITCs on meals and entertainment expenses?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            Yes, but with restrictions. You can only claim 50% of the GST\/HST on meals and entertainment (matching the income tax deduction limit). So if you spent $100 plus $13 HST on a client dinner, you can only claim $6.50 as an ITC. Keep detailed records of who attended and business purpose.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            How do I handle GST\/HST on freight and shipping charges?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            Domestic freight within Canada is taxable at the rate of the destination province. International freight is zero-rated. The biggest mistake? Not capturing the tax on detailed invoices. Make sure your freight forwarder breaks out taxes separately \u2014 consolidated summaries without tax visibility kill your ITC claims.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            Should I use the Quick Method or regular ITC claims?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            The Quick Method simplifies calculations but you can&#8217;t claim individual ITCs (you get a reduced remittance rate instead). For businesses with few taxable expenses, it saves time. But if you have significant equipment purchases, inventory costs, or operating expenses, regular ITC claims usually save more money. Calculate both ways to see what&#8217;s better for your situation.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            Can I claim ITCs on purchases from non-registered suppliers?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            No. If your supplier isn&#8217;t GST\/HST registered, they can&#8217;t charge you tax, so there&#8217;s nothing to claim. Be suspicious of invoices that show &#8220;tax&#8221; without a registration number \u2014 that&#8217;s a red flag. Always verify suppliers are registered, especially for large purchases. No registration number, no ITC.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            How does GST\/HST recovery work for non-profit organizations?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            Non-profits can&#8217;t claim regular ITCs but may qualify for public service body rebates (PSB rebates) that recover a portion of GST\/HST paid (typically 50% federal, with provincial rates varying). They file Form GST66 instead of claiming ITCs. If you run a non-profit, don&#8217;t assume you&#8217;re out of luck \u2014 check if you qualify for PSB status.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            What if my ITCs exceed the GST\/HST I collected?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            You get a refund! The CRA will pay you the difference. This commonly happens for new businesses with large startup costs or seasonal businesses. File your return, and the CRA typically issues refunds within 2-4 weeks if you file electronically faster than waiting for personal income tax refunds. Just make sure your documentation is bulletproof because they&#8217;ll scrutinize large refunds.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"vftc-faq-item\">\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-question\">\n            Can I amend a previous GST\/HST return if I missed ITCs?\n            <div class=\"vftc-faq-toggle\">\n                <svg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M19 9l-7 7-7-7\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"vftc-faq-answer\">\n            Yes, but you have a four-year time limit from the end of the reporting period. You can adjust your return electronically through My Business Account or file Form GST189. Many businesses discover missed ITCs during audits or when implementing better record-keeping systems. It&#8217;s worth reviewing the last four years of expenses to catch anything you missed.\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {\n    const faqItems = document.querySelectorAll('.vftc-faq-item');\n    \n    faqItems.forEach(item => {\n        item.addEventListener('click', function() {\n            const isActive = this.classList.contains('active');\n            \n            \/\/ Close all items\n            faqItems.forEach(i => i.classList.remove('active'));\n            \n            \/\/ Open clicked item if it wasn't active\n            if (!isActive) {\n                this.classList.add('active');\n            }\n        });\n    });\n});\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Claiming GST\/HST Expenses in Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide Stop leaving money on the table \u2014 recover every dollar of sales tax you paid on business expenses Let&#8217;s cut to the chase \u2014 if you&#8217;re running a business in Canada and not claiming your GST\/HST expenses properly, you&#8217;re basically donating money to the government. And [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gst-hst-guide-canada"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=505"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/505\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truenorthbenefits.ca\/taxes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}