Free Invoice Maker for Toronto Businesses
Toronto is Canada's largest city and a major hub for finance, technology, media, and professional services. Independent contractors, consultants, designers, developers, and small business owners make up a significant portion of the city's working population. Getting invoicing right in Toronto means understanding Ontario's HST rules, CRA compliance requirements, and the payment expectations of the city's professional services market. This tool is free, requires no account, and lets you build a CAD invoice with HST line items and export a PDF immediately.
GST/HST for Toronto businesses
Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax rate is 13%, combining the 5% federal GST and 8% provincial component into a single remittance to the Canada Revenue Agency. If your annual taxable revenues exceed $30,000 CAD, you are required to register. Once registered, you collect HST on your invoices and claim input tax credits on your business expenses, which can make registration advantageous even below the threshold. Your CRA Business Number (BN) and RT0001 account identifier serve as your GST/HST registration number and must appear on every invoice you issue to GST/HST-registered clients.
Toronto's invoicing norms
Toronto's business community is accustomed to clean, professional invoices with clear CAD currency designation, a GST/HST number (if applicable), and Net 30 payment terms for most B2B work. Large financial institutions, law firms, and media companies will have vendor registration requirements and often a specific PO or matter number that must appear on your invoice. For smaller clients and direct relationships, a numbered PDF with your banking details (including institution and transit number for EFT/direct deposit) is standard. Always specify CAD explicitly — Toronto's multicultural business environment means some clients work with multiple currencies.
Frequently asked questions
What is HST and how does it apply to Toronto invoices?
HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) in Ontario is 13% — a combination of the 5% federal GST and 8% Ontario provincial component. If you are registered for the GST/HST with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you must collect 13% HST on your taxable supplies in Ontario and remit it to the CRA. Your invoice must show your HST registration number, the HST rate, and the HST amount separately from your subtotal.
Do I need to register for GST/HST as a Toronto freelancer?
You must register for GST/HST if your worldwide taxable revenues exceed $30,000 CAD in any single calendar quarter or in four consecutive calendar quarters. Below this threshold, registration is voluntary (and sometimes advantageous if you have significant business expenses, since registration lets you claim input tax credits). Once registered, you must file returns and remit the net HST collected. If you are not registered, do not add HST to your invoices.
What should a CRA-compliant invoice include?
A CRA-compliant invoice for a GST/HST-registered business must include: your business name and address, your GST/HST registration number, the invoice date, a description of the goods or services, the total charge before taxes, the applicable GST/HST rate and amount, and the total amount payable. For invoices under $30 CAD, simplified requirements apply. For invoices between $30 and $150, an intermediate format is acceptable.