Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
You can check any supplier’s GST/HST registration for free on the CRA’s GST/HST Registry. You type in the first nine digits of their account number, their business name and the date on your invoice, and it tells you whether they were registered.
What does GST verification actually check?
It answers one question: was this business registered to collect GST/HST on the date of your invoice? It doesn’t say the business is honest, that it files on time, or that the tax on your bill is right. It only says the number and the name line up with a registrant.
That still matters, because a business that isn’t registered can’t legally charge you GST/HST. If you’re a registrant yourself, the tax you paid a supplier is what you claim back as an input tax credit, and a bad number puts the claim at risk.
How do you verify a GST/HST number step by step?
Have the invoice next to you. The registry asks for three things.
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Account number | Only the first nine digits (the business number). Leave out the letters and the last four digits. |
| Business name | The legal, operating or trade name, as it shows on the invoice or the shop sign. |
| Transaction date | The date printed on the invoice, receipt or contract, not today’s date. |
A full GST/HST account number has 15 characters: the nine digit business number, the letters RT, then a four digit reference. People often paste the whole thing and get an error. Cut it back to nine.
The date trips people up more than you’d think. A supplier can register or cancel at any point, so the answer depends on when you bought, and the registry checks against the date you give it.
What if the check fails?
Don’t panic yet. Start with the boring causes: a typo, a trade name that differs from the legal name, or a number copied from an old invoice. Ask the supplier for the exact name on their registration.
If it still fails, the CRA has a business enquiries line at 1-800-959-5525 for trouble with the tool. And if the supplier can’t show you a valid number at all, be careful about paying tax on that bill. You’d be paying an amount they may not be allowed to collect, and you may not be able to claim it back.
Quebec is separate. The QST has its own registry, so use the Revenu Québec website to confirm a QST number.
How do you check that the tax on the invoice is right?
A valid number doesn’t mean the rate is correct. Compare the tax to the province where the sale happens. Here is what a $200 sale before tax comes to, worked out by our calculators.
| Province | Tax on $200 | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta (GST 5%) | $10.00 | $210.00 |
| Ontario (HST 13%) | $26.00 | $226.00 |
| Nova Scotia (HST 14%) | $28.00 | $228.00 |
| New Brunswick (HST 15%) | $30.00 | $230.00 |
| Quebec (GST plus QST) | $29.95 | $229.95 |
If your invoice shows Ontario and the tax line reads $10, either the supplier made a mistake or the sale was treated as happening elsewhere. Run the price through the GST/HST calculator. If you only have the total, the reverse HST calculator pulls the tax back out. For Quebec bills, use the GST and QST calculator.
Common mistakes with GST verification
The first is checking once and never again. A supplier who was registered last year may have cancelled since, so check new suppliers and re-check when a large claim depends on it.
The second is using the wrong date. The third is trusting a number just because it’s printed on the invoice. Anyone can print nine digits.
Small suppliers add a wrinkle. Businesses under the small supplier limit don’t have to register, and we read that limit as $30,000 in sales, though we couldn’t confirm it on the primary CRA page. So a missing number on a small operator’s invoice isn’t always a red flag. It just means they can’t charge you GST/HST, and you have no credit to claim.
Keep a screenshot or a note of each check with the date. If the CRA ever asks about a claim, you can show what you did.
Where do these rules come from?
The registry steps come from the Canada Revenue Agency’s page on confirming a GST/HST account number, and the rates from the CRA’s GST/HST rate information, both read in September 2026. This site has no connection with the CRA or any government body.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GST/HST Registry free?
Yes. The CRA offers it at no cost. You need the first nine digits of the account number, the business name and the invoice date.
Can I verify a Quebec QST number the same way?
No. The CRA registry covers GST/HST. QST numbers are confirmed on the Revenu Québec website.
Why does my check say the number is not valid?
Usually a typo, the wrong name or the wrong date. Try the legal name and the exact invoice date before you call the supplier.
Do I need to verify every supplier?
Not every one, every time. Check new suppliers and any invoice where you'll claim a large input tax credit.
What if a business charges tax but has no number?
Ask for the number in writing. If they can't give one, be careful about paying the tax, since they may not be entitled to collect it.
- GST, HST, PST and QST explained for every province
Which GST, HST, PST or QST applies where you shop or sell in Canada, the 2026 rates for every province, who must register and how to add or remove tax
Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.