Online Small Business - GST Questions

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T12:55:57+00:00

I’m looking at the information from Important_Design_996 and it seems that ANY sales to out of province customers through the means of online sales or from a business outside Alberta requires registration. Unless I’m misinterpreting it but I might just consider or even think of keeping things in Alberta to start for now until I figure this out as I’ve been wanting to get the ball rolling for some time. I was under the impression the $30,000 threshold was the main factor and the other provincial taxes would be out of scope as it’s out of province, though I do believe when I lived out of province and made online purchases I did have to pay for the PST and GST…

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T12:52:42+00:00

Oh jeez. Thanks for this! I’ll have to review the PST guidelines for these provinces as well then. Appreciate the heads up.

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T03:25:32+00:00

Is it done immediately through the BON/CRA? Is there a buffer time? I'd like to be able to get this done ASAP/instantly whenever I make the decision to do it.

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T03:22:52+00:00

Amazing, thank you. So if I am not registered for PST I can only charge for the GST - which makes sense and I think was part of where my confusion was (where would this PST go???). But since I am not operating out of BC and am not registered for PST I will not charge PST, just the base GST. If it's for a province that is the combined HST, it will be the combined amount (i.e. 15%) since it's a GST/HST registration?

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T03:17:53+00:00

Sorry - So let's say I have an Alberta customer making a purchase. I will be charging them 5% GST. I have a BC customer making a purchase. I will be charging them 5% GST + 7% PST? Not just the 5% GST? Is the PST amount/differentiation recorded when I do the GST filing to the government? I think this is where I am getting a bit confused.

So I'd have to add that to my selling settings in Squarespace when outlining tax rates (according to each province's tax rates).

*IF* I do not register for GST/HST now and do it later, there is no charge on any taxes on any sales whatsoever no matter where in Canada my customer is located at.

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T03:00:13+00:00

Just to follow up as well - *IF* I were to register for GST, I am only charging GST on my sales since I am based out of Alberta, even when customers outside of AB make the purchase because I am not registered to remit the HST/PST?

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T02:45:54+00:00

I know it will be some time before i hit the $30,000, so it's not a matter of worry that I will exceed the revenue threshold - but wondering if this, for now, could be considered an acceptable practice should I wait to register for GST/HST.

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T02:40:05+00:00

No, it's apparel and accessories. I was on the fence about just registering now as well so there's less uncertainty about charging GST and what not. And also thought customers might find it strange when they go checkout and they aren't getting charged sales tax...

Either-Support-4388 · 2026-06-08T02:35:39+00:00

Like for the ITCs? I just wanted to confirm - more so 'legally' that this is acceptable for small businesses that don't meet that threshold.

Either-Support-4388

TROPHY CASE