Do I Need to Charge GST to Foreign Clients?

It’s something you need to know when doing business in Canada: Do I need to charge GST to foreign clients? If you’re asking this question, you know that you need some solid advice about the various sales taxes. You need to understand how the Goods and Services Tax (GST) applies to non-residents who are doing business in Canada. This is a tax that is applied to most goods and services made in Canada, and it includes real property or personal property, too.

Do I need to charge GST to foreign clients? The answer comes from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). Gaining the right advice from the CBSA will help you to determine whether you should be charging GST to foreign clients on goods and services sold. Usually, goods which are exported outside Canada and services given to non-residents are 0-rated under the GST rules. Technically, they’re taxable, but the rate is 0%, which means that you don’t have to charge anything. 

Determine the Resident Status of the Business

To determine whether you should be charging GST to foreign clients, you need to first determine their resident status. Let’s break it down:

For Individuals

Residency status is worked out according to the following criteria:

• Residential ties with Canada
• The length of your stay abroad
• Residential ties elsewhere
• How often you visit Canada and for how long

Social ties, like property, spouse and children in Canada, indicate that you are a resident in Canada. Any personnel of the government that have been posted abroad are treated as residents for GST purposes, too.

Parties Other Than Individuals

Anyone who may fit into the category of partnership, trust, estate and even a corporation are considered to be persons other than individuals, which means that the GST rules are different. Goods and Services Tax applies to those who are:

• A permanent establishment
• A corporation if it’s incorporated or continued to run in Canada and not continued elsewhere
• Partnerships that are residents in Canada at that time
• Any labour union resident carrying on labour union activities

When there are residents that are considered to be non-residents based on any of these factors, they still may be considered as Canadian due to activities that are carried out through a permanent establishment. A permanent establishment is defined as:

• A fixed place of business through which they supply services, basic groceries or property
• A fixed place of business of someone else acting in Canada on their behalf to sell goods and services.

What Goods Are You Selling?

Whether Goods and Services Tax applies depends on the goods that you are selling. Does your business fit an exception? This means you might not have to remit or charge a GST or HST rate. There are two possible exceptions to the rules, and these are:

• Those selling goods or services that are classed as GST exempt or zero-rated
• Those who are small suppliers

Exports, medical devices and basic groceries are zero-rated goods and things like music lessons or childcare are considered exempt, which means no GST/HST rates need to be charged.

Small suppliers are classed as such based on how much money the business makes over the course of a year. Small suppliers are qualified if the total taxable revenues - before expenses - total $30,000 or less in a year, as told by the Canada Revenue Agency.

If the first exception does not apply to you, and you make over $30,000 per year, you must get registered for GST and charge it along with HST rates. There are exceptions to these exceptions, too, which is why the help of the right company can help you to wade through the jargon. As an example, taxi operators and non-resident performed must charge GST and HST rates despite being small suppliers. Some still get registered for GST due to the possible tax benefits.

Exempt Supplies

There are supplies that are considered exempt from GST/HST rates, and if you make these supplies, you don't have to charge GST to your customers. However, you also won’t be able to input tax credits on purchases that you make. The Excise Tax Act lists the supply rules and exempt supplies, so checking to see if any of these apply to your business is a smart decision. Some examples of supplies exempt from Goods and Services Tax include:

• Sale of used housing
• Long-term rental of apartments and condominiums
• School fees
• Most services provided by financial institutions
• Insurance policies
• Most health, medical, and dental services
• Child care services

Consider Your Financials and Where Your Business Operates

If you are choosing ship taxable goods to another province or territory, you should be charging the sales tax applicable to that province or territory. Sales taxes vary by province, for example:

No Sales Tax - GST Only

• Alberta
• Northwest Territories
• Yukon

Combined GST/HST Rate Charged

• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Newfoundland
• Labrador
• Prince Edward Island

Provincial Sales Tax (PST)

• British Columbia
• Saskatchewan

You must register for and collect PST if supplying goods here. Otherwise, the customer must remit PST whenever out of province purchases are taxable. GST must also be collected.

Quebec Sales Tax (QST)

• Quebec. You don't have to collect this when shipping to customers based in Quebec - only GST.

Retail Sales Tax (RST)

•  Manitoba. This must be collected if you sell and deliver goods to Manitoba. You’d also collected GST.

Provinces Where Only GST Is Due

You’ll find that there are a few provinces that just require GST. Territories that only charge GST include:

• Alberta
• The Northwest Territories
• Nunavut
• Yukon

 In the above provinces, the GST is 5%.

Those who qualify as a small supplier won’t have to register for GST or HST rates and this includes business owners who have less than $30,000 each year.

What About PST and HST?

You are responsible for charging and collecting sales tax as a small business owner whenever you provide goods and services to customers. Other than Goods and Services Tax (GST), there is a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) that may be charged. Along with Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), you have the trifecta of taxes in Canada. Which tax you pay depends on the location of your business.

• PST is a sales tax put in place by the province. This rate is at 6% and it applies to purchase and importation or rental of certain goods and services. 
• HST is a value-added tax that is a blend of the PST and GST. You’ll find that GST is collected by the Canadian Revenue Agency. It is disbursed to provinces. Additionally, you’ll find that HST is a Canadian consumption tax. HST is used in provinces where both the federal GST and PST have been combined into a single value-added sales tax.

Shipping Products With R+L Global Logistics

When you choose to partner with R+L Global Logistics, you will be working with a business with a reputation for high-quality support across a range of industries. As a family-owned company, we take pride in the results we bring with more than 99% on-time delivery.

Regardless of whether you’re shipping to Canada and crossing the border at Detroit, Port Huron, International Falls in Michigan or elsewhere, we have the services you need to get your goods there intact and on time.

Our global supply chain management services are unrivaled with other companies. R+L Global Logistics can help you answer the tough questions, like, do I need to charge GST to foreign clients? Or, am I complying with CFIA transportation regulations? Give us a call today at 855-915-0573  and we can work with you on a quote for your global shipping needs.