How to set up GST, HST and PST in Zoho Books for Canadian businesses

Before you start

• Your GST/HST registration number, and PST or QST numbers if registered
• The provinces you sell into
• Which items and services are taxable or zero-rated
• Your accountant's chart of accounts

Step 1: Organisation and tax registration

Set the organisation's province and enable tax, then enter your GST/HST number and any PST or QST registrations. Zoho Books uses the province of supply to choose the right tax.

Step 2: Check tax rates by province

• GST only: Alberta, the territories, and as the federal part elsewhere
• HST: Ontario and the Atlantic provinces
• GST plus PST: British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
• GST plus QST: Quebec

Step 3: Customers, items and place of supply

Give each customer the right province and tax treatment, and mark items as taxable, zero-rated or exempt. A wrong province on a customer is the most common cause of wrong tax on Canadian invoices.

Step 4: Purchases and input tax credits

Record tax on purchases correctly so Zoho Books tracks input tax credits (ITCs) for your GST/HST return.

Step 5: Test and file

• Raise test invoices for customers in your province, in an HST province and in Quebec
• Check amounts with your accountant
• Use the GST/HST report to prepare your CRA return, and PST or QST reports for provincial returns

Frequently asked questions