GST/HST for digital economy businesses: Overview

As of July 1, 2021, digital economy businesses, including digital platform operators, may have potential goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) obligations under three measures that were announced in the Fall Economic Statement 2020 by the Government of Canada and revised as announced on April 19, 2021 following consultations with stakeholders. This means you may have new obligations, including registering, and charging and collecting the GST/HST.

Administration and compliance approach

The government expects that affected businesses and platform operators to comply with their obligations to register, collect and remit the GST/HST as set out under the new rules and legislative provisions to ensure that the GST/HST applies effectively and fairly to e-commerce transactions.

On April 19, 2021, the Government of Canada announced in the Federal Budget that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will work closely with businesses and platform operators to assist them in meeting their obligations.

Where the affected businesses and platform operators show that they have taken reasonable measures but are unable to meet their new obligations for operational reasons, the CRA takes a practical approach to compliance and exercises discretion in administering these measures during a 12-month transition period, starting July 1, 2021.

Before the CRA exercises its discretion in the administration of the new measures, an affected business or platform operator must first obtain the CRA’s written approval that such discretion will be exercised. Submissions may be made to the CRA during the 12-month transition period. Please contact us for further information and assistance.

Type of businesses affected

Depending on the type of business in which you are involved, you may also be affected by more than one of the measures and need to consider their combined impact on your business. Even if you are not required to register and charge and collect GST/HST, your customers may have to begin paying GST/HST to a digital platform operator on your supplies if they are facilitated through a digital platform.

Types of businesses affected by each measure:

Cross-border digital products and services

These are non-resident vendors or non-resident distribution platform operator vendors who sell taxable digital products or services, such as online music streaming or traditional services, to Canadian consumers and Canadian entities who are not registered under the normal GST/HST regime. This also includes distribution platform operators who facilitate such supplies through their platform. A simplified GST/HST registration, reporting and remittance system is available to non-resident vendors, non-resident distribution platform operator vendors and distribution platform operators under this measure.

Supply of qualifying goods in Canada

These are non-resident vendors or non-resident distribution platform operator vendors who make the supply of qualifying goods (also known as “qualifying tangible personal property supply”) including goods that are delivered or made available in Canada, such as goods located in a fulfillment warehouse or goods shipped to a purchaser in Canada. This also includes distribution platform operators who facilitate the supply of qualifying goods through their platform.

Platform-based short-term accommodation

These are suppliers of taxable supplies of short-term accommodation in Canada or accommodation platform operators that facilitate such supplies through their accommodation platforms. A simplified GST/HST registration, reporting and payment (remittance) system is available to accommodation platform operators under this measure.

Get started with the GST/HST