How to invoice in Canada: what a compliant invoice must show

What every invoice must show

Whatever your trade, these fields are the minimum:

The word Invoice (or Tax Invoice where you charge GST/HST) and a unique sequential number.
Issue date and, for services, the date or period of supply.
Your business name, address and Business number (BN); your registration number if you have one.
The client's name and address, and their Business number (BN) when they are a registered business.
One line per item or service: description, quantity, unit price and line total in CAD.
Subtotal, GST/HST rate and amount (or a statement that none was charged), and the total due.
Payment terms, due date and bank details.

In Canada specifically:

Your GST/HST number on any invoice over $30 where tax is charged; the rate depends on the province (5% GST, or 13% to 15% HST).

Numbering and dates

Numbers must run in sequence with no gaps or repeats; Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) checks for both. Use a prefix per year or series if it helps (2026-001), but never reissue a number. The issue date fixes the tax period the sale falls into, so date the invoice when you send it, not when the work started.

Showing GST/HST

Only registered businesses charge GST/HST. If you are registered, show the rate and the amount as separate lines; if you are not, do not show a GST/HST line and say so on the document. Charging GST/HST without registration is an offence in most countries, and clients' accountants will spot it.

Electronic invoicing in Canada

No mandatory e-invoicing.

Many countries now require invoices to be issued through, or reported to, an official electronic system. Where Canada does, the PDF you make here is a working document for quotes, proformas and internal records, and the fiscal invoice comes from the official system. Where it does not, an emailed PDF is a valid invoice.

Getting paid

State the due date, not just the terms. Put the bank details on the invoice and ask for the invoice number as the payment reference. Send the PDF on the day the work finishes; late invoices are paid late. A proforma up front is the cleanest way to ask for a deposit.

Fixing a mistake

Never edit or delete an invoice you have sent. Issue a credit note that references the original number, states the reason and reverses the same GST/HST, then issue a new invoice if needed. The Canada credit note generator does this.

Questions people ask

Do I need to be registered to send an invoice?

You need a Business number (BN); registration for GST/HST is only needed if you charge it. Many small businesses invoice without charging GST/HST.

Can I invoice in a foreign currency?

Usually yes for export clients, but Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) generally wants the GST/HST amount, and sometimes the total, shown in Canadian Dollar at the official rate on the invoice date. Show both.

Is a PDF invoice legally valid in Canada?

Where Canada has no mandatory e-invoicing, yes: an emailed PDF with the required fields is a valid invoice. Where electronic issuance is required, the official system's document is the fiscal invoice and the PDF supports it.

What is the difference between an invoice and a receipt?

An invoice asks for payment and creates the debt; a receipt confirms payment received. Issue the invoice first, then a receipt or a marked-paid copy when the money arrives.

Sources

How this guide was made

Written from published tax-authority guidance and reviewed on 2026-09-03. Everything here is indicative rather than a ruling on your circumstances, and rules change. Confirm anything you rely on with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) before acting on it, and tell us if you find something out of date so we can correct it.