Calculate your GST/HST payments under the Quick Method of Accounting instantly. Select your business type and see your GST/HST liability at a glance.
CALCULATOR DETAILS
Calculation Summary
GST/HST to Pay
0.00
To CRA
Amount You Keep
0.00
Retained Income
The GST/HST Quick Method of Accounting is a simplified method for calculating GST/HST designed specifically for small businesses with turnover under CA$150,000. Instead of calculating GST/HST on individual purchases and claiming back input GST/HST, eligible businesses pay a fixed percentage of their turnover directly to CRA. This percentage varies by business type, ranging from 4% for retail food businesses to 14.5% for professional services like accountancy and IT.
The GST/HST Quick Method of Accounting is available to registered GST/HST businesses with annual turnover below CA$150,000. You must:
Once you exceed CA$230,000 turnover, you must leave the scheme.
| Business Type | Flat Rate % |
|---|---|
| Accountancy | 14.5% |
| Advertising | 11% |
| Architect | 14.5% |
| Retail Food | 4% |
| Farming | 6.5% |
| Printing | 8.5% |
| General Building | 9.5% |
| IT Consultancy | 14.5% |
| Legal Services | 14.5% |
| Hotel / Accommodation | 10.5% |
The GST/HST Quick Method of Accounting is a simplified way to calculate GST/HST for small businesses with turnover under CA$150,000. Instead of calculating GST/HST on individual transactions, you pay a fixed percentage of your turnover to CRA. The percentage varies by business type from 4% (retail food) to 14.5% (accountancy, IT, legal).
Yes! New businesses can join the quick method of accounting immediately upon GST/HST registration, provided your turnover is below CA$150,000. In fact, if you're in your first year of registration, you can apply for a 2% discount on your flat rate percentage, which can make the scheme even more attractive.
You must leave the quick method of accounting if your turnover exceeds CA$230,000. The scheme is designed for small businesses, and at this level, standard GST/HST accounting is more appropriate. However, you can voluntarily leave the scheme at any time if standard rating becomes more beneficial.
No, you cannot reclaim input GST/HST on most supplies while using the quick method of accounting. This is one of the key differences from standard GST/HST accounting. However, you can still reclaim GST/HST on capital purchases above CA$2,000 (or CA$500 if purchased before 1 April 2022). Any GST/HST you pay on supplies becomes a business cost.
There are 44+ business categories covered by the quick method of accounting, including everything from accountancy to waste management. If your business type doesn't have a specific rate listed, there's usually a catch-all category like "Other" that applies. Use our calculator above to find your exact rate, or contact CRA for clarification.