Is Ontario HST the same as GST in B.C.?

No. Ontario is generally an HST province. B.C. splits GST and PST. Copying a 5% GST line onto an Ontario job is how AP sends the invoice back.

What HST rate should I print?

Many Ontario supplies are 13%, but place of supply and exceptions exist. Confirm the rate for that supply. This guide is not tax advice.

Do Toronto companies need a client portal?

They need a PO, an AP email, Net terms, and a numbered PDF or share link they can open. A portal login often delays payment.

How to invoice as a freelancer in Ontario

Ontario is an HST province. The invoice is still a request for payment — not a return. Put the Canada-wide fields on it, then get the tax line right for where the work is supplied.

justIssued Team

justIssued10 September 2026Updated 11 September 20262 min read

Invoice with an HST tax band and a charcoal payment panel

If you freelance in Ontario, start with the same document you would send anywhere in Canada: legal name, sequential number, dates, lines, how to pay. Then the tax line. Ontario generally uses HST, not GST-plus-PST. Copying a 5% GST line from a B.C. template is how AP sends it back.

This is not tax advice. Place of supply, small-supplier status, and whether you must register are CRA questions. Read CRA GST/HST for businesses or ask the person who files your return.

HST on an Ontario freelancer invoice

If you are registered and the supply is taxable in Ontario, the invoice usually shows HST as its own line — not buried in a lump sum. Many Ontario supplies are 13%. Do not treat a blog number as law; confirm the rate for that supply.
Print your GST/HST account number (BN with the RT extension) the way CRA expects. See GST/HST on an invoice.
Toronto and Ottawa clients who are companies will still want a PO, AP email, and Net terms. That is AP, not HST. See how to invoice a business.
How they pay is still Interac, bank, or PayPal for most sole operators. Put the Interac address on the PDF.

If the client is in another province, do not assume Ontario HST. The Canada-wide checklist is how to invoice as a freelancer in Canada. B.C. is a different stack: invoice in B.C..

What you can skip

A QST engine. A payroll module. A client portal. Ontario accounts payable needs a number, a tax line they can claim, and a way to send the money — not a full QuickBooks file.

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Numbered PDF, share link, outstanding board. Free is three clients. Paid ($12/mo after a 7-day trial) prints a tax ID and how-to-pay on the page. Pay now is optional Stripe Connect. Start free or try the free invoice generator with no account.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ontario HST the same as GST in B.C.?: No. Ontario is generally an HST province. B.C. splits GST and PST. Copying a 5% GST line onto an Ontario job is how AP sends the invoice back.
What HST rate should I print?: Many Ontario supplies are 13%, but place of supply and exceptions exist. Confirm the rate for that supply. This guide is not tax advice.
Do Toronto companies need a client portal?: They need a PO, an AP email, Net terms, and a numbered PDF or share link they can open. A portal login often delays payment.

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