Guide · 8 min
Invoicing online in Québec: GST, QST and required information
In Québec, a registered business adds 5% GST and 9.975% QST to its invoice, each calculated on the sale price, drafts the invoice in French, and shows the information Revenu Québec requires for the amount: from $100, your GST and QST registration numbers; from $500, also the customer's name and the payment terms. An invoice sent online follows the same rules as a paper one.
Updated · Official sources checked on that date · By the ZeniPay team
Calculating GST and QST: two examples
According to Revenu Québec, 5% GST and 9.975% QST both apply to the sale price. QST is not calculated on an amount that already includes GST. A one-step calculation at the combined 14.975% rate gives the same result.
| Line | $2,000 contract | $85 sale |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $2,000.00 | $85.00 |
| GST (5%) | $100.00 | $4.25 |
| QST (9.975%) | $199.50 | $8.48 ($8.47875 rounded) |
| Invoice total | $2,299.50 | $97.73 |
Rounding: only fractions of $0.005 or more are rounded up to the next cent; for several items you can calculate the taxes on the total before rounding. The 9.97%, 14.97% and 14.975% rates must not appear on the document attesting to the sale (Revenu Québec, Calculating the Taxes).
What to show on the invoice, by amount
Revenu Québec does not impose an invoice format (except for restaurants and taxis). But your registered customers need specific information to support their input tax credits (ITCs) and input tax refunds (ITRs), and you must provide it in writing if they ask. The simplest approach is to put it on every invoice.
| Information | Less than $100 | $100 to $499.99 | $500 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier's name or business name | Required | Required | Required |
| Invoice date | Required | Required | Required |
| Total amount of the invoice | Required | Required | Required |
| Amount of applicable tax | Required for the QST only | Required | Required |
| Supplier's GST and QST registration numbers | Not required | Required | Required |
| Purchaser's name or business name | Not required | Not required | Required |
| Payment terms | Not required | Not required | Required |
| Description identifying the property or service | Required for the QST only | Required for the QST only | Required |
If you show a single tax amount that includes both GST and QST, Revenu Québec asks you to state that it includes both. Source: Revenu Québec, Preparing Invoices.
Do you have to charge GST and QST? The $30,000 threshold
You are a small supplier if the taxable supplies made worldwide by you and your associates do not exceed $30,000 in a given calendar quarter or in the four preceding calendar quarters. A small supplier does not have to register for or collect GST/HST and QST (Revenu Québec, Small Suppliers).
Two moments to watch: if you exceed $30,000 in a single quarter, you stop being a small supplier immediately and must collect tax on the sale that takes you over the limit and on every sale after it. If you exceed it over four quarters, you generally stop being a small supplier at the end of the following calendar month.
You can also register voluntarily to claim ITCs and ITRs on your purchases. Some activities, such as operating a taxi business, require registration regardless of sales (Revenu Québec, Registering).
In Québec, Revenu Québec generally administers the GST/HST, as the Canada Revenue Agency notes: you deal with one agency for both taxes.
The invoice must be drawn up in French
Section 57 of the Charter of the French Language states that "invoices, receipts, acquittances and other documents of the same nature must be drawn up in French." It adds that "no person may send such a document in a language other than French if the French version is not available to the recipient on terms that are at least as favourable."
In practice: a bilingual invoice, or a French invoice with an English version, works for an English-speaking customer. An English-only invoice does not. The rule also covers payment receipts sent by email.
What your online invoicing tool should show
- GST and QST on two separate lines, or a single amount with a statement that it includes both taxes.
- Your GST and QST registration numbers once the invoice reaches $100.
- The customer's name and the payment terms ("due on receipt", "30% on signing, balance on delivery") from $500.
- A description that identifies the goods or service, and the invoice date.
- French text, including the email that carries the invoice and the receipt.
- A unique invoice number: it is not in Revenu Québec's table, but it is how you match an invoice to its payment.
How long to keep your invoices
Revenu Québec requires you to keep registers and supporting documents for six years after the end of the last year to which they apply, and longer if you object to an assessment or appeal (Revenu Québec, Keeping registers). Electronic records are accepted if they can produce accessible, usable copies.
Common mistakes
- Calculating QST on a price that already includes GST: it is calculated on the sale price.
- Printing "Taxes 14.975%" on the invoice: that rate must not appear on the sales document.
- Leaving your registration numbers off an invoice of $100 or more: your business customer cannot support their ITCs and ITRs and will ask for a new invoice.
- Sending an English-only invoice to a Québec customer.
- Crossing $30,000 in one quarter without noticing: tax is owed from the sale that crosses the threshold, even if you did not charge it.
- Splitting an invoice into installments without stating the payment terms on it: at $500 or more they are required information. For when tax becomes payable on a deposit or installments, check with your accountant or Revenu Québec.
Invoicing online with ZeniPay
With ZeniPay, the invoice is emailed with a Pay button under your business name. The customer pays by card or bank transfer (EFT, up to $2,500 per transaction); the invoice is marked paid automatically and a receipt is sent. Invoices can be in CAD or USD, and invoice emails are written in French with a line in English for English-speaking customers.
An invoice can also be split into a deposit and 2 to 12 installments, each with its own link. Before sending your first invoice, check in the preview that the information in the table above is there; for any question about how taxes are displayed, write to info@zeniva.ca. Details on the Online invoicing page.
Frequently asked questions
What are the GST and QST rates in Québec in 2026?
GST is 5% and QST is 9.975%, both calculated on the sale price, according to Revenu Québec's Calculating the Taxes page as viewed on October 2, 2026. Together they add 14.975% to the price.
How do I calculate GST and QST on an invoice?
Multiply the sale price by 5% for GST and by 9.975% for QST, then add both. On $2,000: $100 GST, $199.50 QST, $2,299.50 total. Only fractions of $0.005 or more are rounded up to the next cent.
Do I have to charge GST and QST if I make less than $30,000 a year?
No, if your taxable supplies do not exceed $30,000 in a calendar quarter or over the four preceding quarters: you are a small supplier. You can still register voluntarily, and some activities, such as taxis, must register regardless.
What information is required on an invoice in Québec?
According to Revenu Québec, always: the business name, the date and the total. From $100: the tax amount and your GST and QST numbers. From $500: also the customer's name, the payment terms and a description of the goods or service. The invoice must be drawn up in French (Charter, s. 57).
Can an invoice be in English only in Québec?
No. Section 57 of the Charter of the French Language requires invoices and receipts to be drawn up in French. A bilingual invoice, or an English version provided in addition to the French one, is possible.
Do I need my QST number on an invoice under $100?
Revenu Québec does not require it under $100, taxes included. The QST amount and a description must still appear. Many businesses show it on every invoice anyway.
How long do I need to keep my invoices?
Six years after the end of the last year to which they apply, according to Revenu Québec, and longer if you object to an assessment or appeal.
Is an invoice sent by email valid?
Yes. Revenu Québec accepts electronic registers and supporting documents as long as accessible, usable copies can be produced. The same information as on a paper invoice must appear.
Official sources
- Revenu Québec — Calculating the Taxes (GST 5%, QST 9.975%, rounding)
- Revenu Québec — Preparing Invoices (required information by amount)
- Revenu Québec — Registering for the GST and QST
- Revenu Québec — Details Concerning Small Suppliers ($30,000)
- Revenu Québec — Keeping registers and supporting documents (six years)
- Canada Revenue Agency — RC4022, General Information for GST/HST Registrants (GST/HST in Quebec)
- LégisQuébec — Charter of the French Language (CQLR, c. C-11), section 57
This guide summarizes public rules; it does not replace the legislation or advice from an accountant or lawyer.
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