GST in BC: when to register and what changes after you do
A plain-language guide to BC GST registration thresholds, filing schedules, and what actually changes once you sign up.
If your small business is approaching $30,000 in gross revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters, the CRA expects you to register for a GST/HST number. This is one of the most misunderstood thresholds in Canadian small business, and getting it wrong is expensive.
The good news: registration itself is free, fast, and can usually be done online in under 20 minutes. The harder part is what comes after.
When the clock actually starts
The $30,000 threshold is rolling, not annual. The moment you cross it in any 12-month window, you have 29 days to register and start charging GST. Many owners assume it resets January 1 — it does not.
If you bill another business, registering early is often a win: you can claim Input Tax Credits on your expenses (software, fuel, supplies) and your clients don't care about the extra 5% because they claim it back too.
What changes the day you register
You start charging 5% GST on every taxable invoice, you file a return (monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on revenue), and you keep every receipt that backs an ITC claim. Your bookkeeping workload goes up — but so does your credibility.
If you're unsure where you stand, send us your last 12 months of revenue and we'll tell you in plain English whether you need to register, and when.