Canadian Invoice Template
Canada's dual-layered sales tax system — with separate federal GST and provincial PST in some provinces, and harmonised HST in others — makes invoicing compliance more complex than it first appears. Eonebill's Canadian Invoice Template handles the nuances automatically, whether you are billing in Ontario's 13% HST zone, Alberta's GST-only environment, or Quebec's QST system. Every template comes preloaded with the correct tax fields, BN number formatting, and CAD currency conventions. Built for freelancers, agencies, and enterprises across all Canadian provinces and territories.
What Makes a Canadian Invoice Different
Unlike the UK's single VAT rate or Australia's flat GST, Canada operates a patchwork of sales tax regimes that vary by province. In Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the HST consolidates federal and provincial taxes into a single rate, ranging from 13% to 15% depending on the province. In the remaining provinces and territories, you charge only the 5% federal GST and may additionally charge a separate Provincial Sales Tax (PST) where applicable, such as Quebec's 9.975% QST or British Columbia's 7% PST.
This creates a compliance burden for businesses operating nationally. A consultant in Vancouver billing a client in Toronto must apply 5% GST (not HST) to their invoice if they are not registered in Ontario, even though the end client may be in an HST province. The Canada Revenue Agency requires that the correct tax be shown separately on invoices, making it essential that your invoice template can itemise multiple tax lines: GST, PST, QST, or HST depending on your specific situation and the nature of your supply.
The Business Number (BN) issued by the CRA serves as the primary business identifier for tax purposes. Unlike an ABN in Australia or a VAT number in the UK, the BN is not just a tax number — it encompasses multiple program accounts including GST/HST, payroll deductions, and import/export. For GST/HST purposes, your invoice should display your BN with the RT (Registered Tax) program identifier.
Key Requirements for Canadian Invoices
Legal Mandatory Fields
A compliant Canadian GST/HST invoice must include: the supplier's name and address, the supplier's BN with RT program account identifier, the customer's name and address, the date of issue and the supply date (if different), a unique invoice number, a description sufficient to identify the goods or services supplied, the quantity and unit price of each item, the payment amount excluding tax, the applicable GST/HST rate(s) applied, the GST/HST amount charged, the total tax amount, and the total amount payable including all taxes. For zero-rated or exempt supplies, the invoice must clearly indicate that no tax was charged and the reason why.
Tax Identification Numbers
The federal Business Number (BN) is a 15-character identifier structured as follows: nine-digit business number + two-letter program identifier + four-digit reference number. For GST/HST, the format is typically BN 123456789 RT 0001. Provincial identifiers also exist in Quebec (NQ and Quebec Enterprise Number) and some other provinces, but the BN/RT combination is the primary identifier used on federal tax invoices. Small businesses and sole proprietors use the same BN structure as corporations.
Currency and Number Formatting
Canadian invoices must display amounts in Canadian Dollars (CAD), prefixed by the $ symbol. Number formatting follows North American conventions: commas separate thousands (e.g., $12,500.00) and decimals are indicated with a full stop. The CRA requires two decimal places for all monetary amounts. Quebec introduces additional complexity by requiring that amounts be shown in Canadian dollars even when invoicing in USD, with a separate notation for the USD equivalent at the agreed exchange rate.
Sample Canadian Invoice with Localised Data
Maple Grove Digital Inc., a web development company incorporated in Toronto, Ontario, with BN 987654321 RT 0001, invoices Northbridge Manufacturing Ltd., 445 Parliament Street, Toronto ON M4A 2P9, for a full e-commerce platform build. Invoice number MGD-2026-0414 is dated 14 April 2026. Line items include: "E-Commerce Platform Development, Phase 1 — Discovery & UX Design" at $14,000.00, "Custom Web Application Development, 120 hours @ $165/hr" at $19,800.00, and "Mobile Responsive Optimisation" at $3,200.00. Subtotal $37,000.00. HST at 13% (Ontario harmonised rate) adds $4,810.00. Total amount due: $41,810.00. Payment terms are Net30, payable via EFT to TD Bank, transit 10202, account 1234567, referencing MGD-2026-0414. The invoice displays the BN/RT and notes this is an HST-inclusive tax invoice.
How to Create a Canadian Invoice with Eonebill
Choose the Canadian Invoice Template from the Eonebill library. Select your province to automatically apply the correct tax rate: HST for Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland; GST only for Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the territories. If you operate in Quebec, add the QST as a separate line item. Enter your BN/RT number and your client's business details. List your services with descriptions adequate for CRA documentation purposes. The template calculates your tax automatically, breaking out GST and any provincial component. Set your Net30 or preferred payment terms, add your EFT or Interac e-Transfer details, and download your PDF. Eonebill's Canadian template supports multi-province invoicing and flags zero-rated export services.
Related Templates
- Freelance Invoice Template — Canadian freelancers and gig workers managing cross-border clients
- Consulting Invoice Template — Professional services billing with correct HST/GST treatment
- IT Support Invoice Template — Technology service providers operating in multiple Canadian provinces
- Net30 Invoice Template — Standard payment terms for Canadian B2B transactions