GST/HST Quick Method Calculator Canada
This GST/HST Quick Method calculator works out your net tax, compares it with the regular input tax credit method, and shows whether to elect.
What it does
The GST/HST Quick Method calculator works out the net tax you would remit under the CRA Quick Method of accounting and compares it with the regular input-tax-credit method, so you can see which election leaves more cash in the business.
Data sources & parameters
The figures below drive this calculator. We keep them aligned with the latest official guidance, and each result recalculates automatically whenever a value changes.
| Parameter | Value | Source | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| GST, HST, PST and QST rates by province and territory (Nova Scotia HST 14 pct from 1 April 2025). | Rate schedule | canada.ca | Effective 2025-04-01Every rate verified at the CRA GST/HST rate table; citation moved off a retail trade association page. |
| GST/HST Quick Method annual taxable-sales eligibility ceiling (including GST/HST) | 400,000 | canada.ca | Effective 2026-01-01GST/HST Quick Method annual taxable-sales eligibility ceiling (including GST/HST) |
| Quick Method 1% credit rate on the first $30,000 of eligible supplies | 0.01 | canada.ca | Effective 2026-01-01Quick Method 1% credit rate on the first $30,000 of eligible supplies |
| Base of eligible supplies on which the Quick Method 1% credit is available | 30,000 | canada.ca | Effective 2026-01-01Base of eligible supplies on which the Quick Method 1% credit is available |
We always strive to use the latest data for every variable so our results and reports are as accurate as possible. Even so, errors are possible — you should not rely on this tool or its report alone, and we accept no liability for any decision made based on it.
The formula
Quick = (sales x (1 + rate)) x remittance rate - 1% credit - capital ITCs; Regular = tax collected - all ITCs
How it works
It applies your province's GST or HST rate to your taxable sales, adds that tax to get supplies including GST/HST, multiplies by the remittance rate you were assigned, subtracts the 1% credit on the first $30,000 of supplies and any capital-purchase tax, then sets the result beside the regular method's tax collected less input tax credits.
Where it is used
- Deciding whether to elect the Quick Method
- Budgeting a quarterly GST/HST remittance
- Checking you are still under the $400,000 eligibility ceiling
Worked example
An Ontario consultant billing CA$120,000.00 charges … of HST, making supplies of …. At an 8.8% remittance rate that is …, less a … credit, so … goes to CRA. The regular method would cost …, so the election is worth ….
What the GST/HST Quick Method calculator does
The calculator estimates what a Canadian small business would remit to the CRA under the Quick Method and puts it next to what the same business would owe under the regular input tax credit method.
Enter your taxable sales for the period, the province where you make your supplies and your CRA remittance rate. The calculator adds the GST or HST you charged, applies your remittance rate to the tax-included total, deducts the 1% credit and any tax paid on capital purchases, and shows the net tax under each method and the difference.
How the Quick Method works
Under the regular method, you collect GST/HST on sales, add up the GST/HST paid on business purchases, and remit the difference. It is accurate but needs every receipt, because every receipt carries a credit.
Under the Quick Method you still charge customers the full GST or HST, but you remit a fixed percentage of your tax-included supplies. That percentage is lower than the rate you charged, and you keep the difference, which is meant to approximate the input tax credits a typical business of your type would have claimed.
Two adjustments apply on top. The 1% credit reduces the remittance on the first $30,000 of eligible tax-included supplies each fiscal year; the calculator shows it as a separate deduction, which gives the same result. And tax paid on capital property such as equipment, vehicles, computers and real property is still recoverable in full.
Working through an Ontario example
A consultant in Ontario bills $120,000 of fees in a year. HST at 13% adds $15,600, so tax-included supplies are $135,600. At a remittance rate of 8.8% that is $11,932.80, and the 1% credit on the first $30,000 takes off $300, leaving $11,632.80 to remit.
Under the regular method the consultant collects $15,600 and claims back the HST on operating costs. With $1,800 of credits, the remittance would be $13,800. The Quick Method keeps $2,167.20 more in the business and removes the need to track a year of purchase receipts.
A business with large taxable inputs, thin margins or a lot of subcontracting can generate credits worth more than the flat-rate discount, in which case the regular method wins. The side-by-side comparison shows which applies to you.
Why the province of supply matters
The remittance rate is applied to tax-included supplies, so a supplier charging 15% HST in New Brunswick starts from a larger base than one charging 5% GST in Alberta on the same pre-tax revenue. The CRA publishes different remittance rates for different provinces of supply, which is why the calculator asks for the province. Changing the province changes the GST/HST rate applied but not your remittance rate, so look up the matching rate whenever you change province.
If you supply in more than one province, you may need more than one remittance rate. Run the calculator once per province and add the results rather than averaging rates.
Checking that you qualify
Your worldwide taxable supplies, including GST/HST and those of associated businesses, must not exceed $400,000 over the four consecutive fiscal quarters before the quarter in which you elect. The calculator shows how much room you have under that ceiling.
Accountants, bookkeepers, financial consultants, tax return preparers, lawyers, charities, public institutions and listed financial institutions cannot use the Quick Method whatever their size. Read CRA guide RC4058 before filing form GST74 to elect.
For an annual filer the election must generally be made by the first day of the second fiscal quarter of the year it applies to; monthly and quarterly filers have until the due date of the return for the first period covered. Once made, it stays in effect for at least a year.
Reading the numbers
The main figure is the net tax under the Quick Method, what you would put on the return. Beside it are the regular-method figure and the difference, shown as the Quick Method advantage; a negative value means the regular method is cheaper. Tax collected, tax-included supplies and the remittance before credit let you check the arithmetic, and the effective remittance rate expresses the result as a percentage of pre-tax sales, 9.69% in the example.
Where the figures come from
The GST and HST rates, the $400,000 ceiling, the 1% credit rate and the $30,000 base are maintained as parameters against CRA sources. Your remittance rate is the one figure you enter, because the CRA’s table varies by business type and by province. The 8.8% in the example is the usual rate for a service provider supplying in Ontario; confirm your own in RC4058.
This calculator gives a planning estimate, not tax advice. Confirm your rate, eligibility and filing obligations with the CRA or a qualified adviser before you file.
About This Tool: GST HST Quick Method
GST HST Quick method: use this tool to get an instant, accurate estimate. The figures follow official CRA guidance and every rate and threshold is kept up to date for 2026. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.
Tax year 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the GST/HST Quick Method?
Who can elect the Quick Method?
Where does my remittance rate come from?
What is the 1% credit?
Can I still claim input tax credits?
Does this cover PST and QST?
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