Earning under $30K a year? CRA doesn't force you to register — but you CAN volunteer. Why on earth would you?
Meet your new best friend: INPUT TAX CREDITS. That's the GST/HST you paid on business stuff — software, rent, supplies, professional fees. Register voluntarily and CRA lets you claim that tax back as a refund. 💸
The catch: once registered, you must charge and file GST/HST like everyone else — even in slow months. So do the math first: big expenses + business clients = usually a no-brainer. Mostly everyday customers = you're just raising your own prices.
📌 General info only — every situation is different.