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Reports & Analytics
GST/HST Reports

GST/HST Quarterly Reports

Overview

Generate CRA-compliant GST/HST reports for your quarterly or annual filings. Akili Apps automatically calculates GST/HST collected from invoices and paid on expenses, giving you the net amount owed or refundable.

What You'll Learn

  • Understanding GST/HST reporting requirements
  • How to generate quarterly reports
  • GST/HST calculations and breakdowns
  • Input Tax Credits (ITCs)
  • Exporting reports for CRA filing
  • Common filing mistakes to avoid

GST/HST Basics for Canadian Businesses

Who Needs to Register?

Required registration:

  • Businesses with revenue over $30,000 in last 4 quarters
  • Voluntary registration available below threshold

Benefits of registration:

  • Claim Input Tax Credits (ITCs)
  • Appear more established to clients
  • Required for government contracts

Filing Frequency

Annual filers:

  • Revenue under $1.5M
  • File once per year
  • Due 3 months after fiscal year-end

Quarterly filers:

  • Revenue $1.5M - $6M
  • File 4 times per year
  • Due one month after quarter end

Monthly filers:

  • Revenue over $6M
  • File 12 times per year
  • Due one month after period end

Akili Apps supports all filing frequencies.

Generating GST/HST Reports

Quick Generate Report

  1. Navigate to Reports > GST/HST Report
  2. Select reporting period:
    • Q1 (Jan-Mar)
    • Q2 (Apr-Jun)
    • Q3 (Jul-Sep)
    • Q4 (Oct-Dec)
    • Or select custom date range
  3. Click "Generate Report"
  4. Report displays in 2-3 seconds

Report Components

Your GST/HST report includes:

Sales (Output Tax):

  • Line 101: Total sales and other revenue
  • Line 103: GST/HST collected or collectible
  • Calculated from your invoices

Purchases (Input Tax Credits):

  • Line 106: Total purchases and expenses
  • Line 108: ITCs - GST/HST paid or payable
  • Calculated from your expenses

Net Calculation:

  • Line 109: Net Tax (Line 103 - Line 108)
  • Positive = Amount you owe CRA
  • Negative = Refund from CRA

Provincial Breakdown (if applicable):

  • GST collected (5%)
  • PST/QST collected (provincial rate)
  • RST collected (for MB/SK)

Understanding the Report

Output Tax (GST/HST Collected)

From Invoices:

  • All invoices sent to clients
  • GST/HST charged on services
  • Includes both paid and unpaid invoices

Line 101 - Total Sales:

January Invoices:  $10,000
February Invoices:  $8,000
March Invoices:    $12,000
-------------------------
Q1 Total Sales:    $30,000

Line 103 - GST/HST Collected:

Ontario (13% HST):
$30,000 × 13% = $3,900

Input Tax Credits (GST/HST Paid)

From Expenses:

  • All business expenses
  • GST/HST you paid to suppliers
  • Recoverable from CRA

Line 106 - Total Purchases:

January Expenses:   $3,000
February Expenses:  $2,500
March Expenses:     $4,500
-------------------------
Q1 Total Expenses: $10,000

Line 108 - ITCs Claimed:

Ontario (13% HST):
$10,000 × 13% = $1,300

Net Tax Calculation

Line 109 - Net Tax:

GST/HST Collected:  $3,900
Less: ITCs Claimed: $1,300
-------------------------
Net Tax Owed:       $2,600

You owe CRA $2,600 for this quarter.

If negative:

GST/HST Collected:  $1,500
Less: ITCs Claimed: $2,000
-------------------------
Net Tax:           -$500

CRA owes you $500 refund.

Detailed Breakdown View

Transaction-Level Details

Click "View Details" to see:

Sales Detail:

  • Each invoice included
  • Invoice number
  • Client name
  • Invoice date
  • Amount before tax
  • GST/HST amount
  • Total

Expense Detail:

  • Each expense included
  • Merchant name
  • Expense date
  • Category
  • Amount before tax
  • GST/HST claimed
  • Total

Filtering Transactions

Include/Exclude:

  • Certain expense categories
  • Specific date ranges
  • Particular clients
  • Payment status (paid vs. unpaid)

Useful for:

  • Excluding non-taxable items
  • Focusing on specific revenue streams
  • Removing personal expenses incorrectly categorized

Special Situations

Zero-Rated Supplies

Some goods/services have 0% GST/HST:

  • Basic groceries
  • Prescription drugs
  • Certain medical devices
  • Exports

In Akili Apps:

  1. Mark line items as "Zero-rated"
  2. Reported separately
  3. ITCs still claimable on related expenses

Exempt Supplies

Some supplies are exempt (no GST/HST):

  • Residential rent (long-term)
  • Most health/medical services
  • Educational services
  • Financial services

In Akili Apps:

  1. Mark invoices as "Exempt"
  2. Not included in GST/HST calculations
  3. Cannot claim ITCs on related expenses

Provincial Considerations

Quebec (GST + QST):

  • Separate lines for GST and QST
  • QST calculated on price + GST
  • File both federal and provincial returns

BC, MB, SK (GST + PST/RST):

  • GST filed federally
  • PST/RST filed provincially (separate)
  • Akili Apps tracks both

Exporting Reports for Filing

Export Options

PDF Export:

  • Professional formatted report
  • Includes all details
  • Ready to print or email accountant
  • Click "Export PDF"

Excel Export:

  • Detailed transaction data
  • Pivot tables and analysis
  • Import into accounting software
  • Click "Export Excel"

CRA XML Format:

  • Direct import to CRA NETFILE
  • Available on Professional/Growth plans
  • Click "Export CRA Format"

Sending to Accountant

Built-in accountant sharing:

  1. Generate report
  2. Click "Share with Accountant"
  3. Enter accountant email
  4. Optional message
  5. Send

Accountant receives:

  • PDF report
  • Excel transaction details
  • Access link (if you grant permission)

Filing with CRA

Online Filing (My Business Account)

  1. Generate report in Akili Apps
  2. Log into CRA My Business Account
  3. Navigate to GST/HST
  4. Enter amounts from report:
    • Line 101: Total sales
    • Line 103: GST/HST collected
    • Line 106: Total purchases
    • Line 108: ITCs claimed
    • Line 109: Net tax
  5. Review and submit

Due dates:

  • Quarterly: One month after quarter end
  • Annual: Three months after fiscal year-end

Payment:

  • Pay online via bank
  • Pre-authorized debit
  • Credit card (fee applies)

Working with Accountant

Provide accountant with:

  1. Akili Apps GST/HST report (PDF + Excel)
  2. Any supporting documentation
  3. Notes on unusual transactions
  4. Questions or concerns

Accountant can:

  • Review for accuracy
  • Identify optimization opportunities
  • File on your behalf
  • Provide tax planning advice

Review and Reconciliation

Before Filing Checklist

✅ Review all invoices:

  • Are all client invoices included?
  • Correct tax rates applied?
  • Any missing invoices?

✅ Review all expenses:

  • All expenses recorded?
  • Appropriate ITCs claimed?
  • Personal expenses excluded?

✅ Verify calculations:

  • Output tax correct?
  • Input tax credits accurate?
  • Net tax makes sense?

✅ Check for errors:

  • Duplicate entries?
  • Incorrect dates?
  • Wrong amounts?

Common Errors to Avoid

❌ Including personal expenses:

  • Only business expenses qualify for ITCs
  • Review and remove personal items

❌ Claiming ITCs on meals:

  • Only 50% of meals are deductible
  • But can claim 100% of GST/HST on the 50%
  • Akili Apps handles this automatically

❌ Missing expenses:

  • Small expenses add up
  • Review all months carefully

❌ Incorrect tax rates:

  • Different provinces have different rates
  • Ensure correct rate applied

❌ Not claiming all ITCs:

  • Many expenses have GST/HST you can recover
  • Don't leave money on the table

Adjustments and Corrections

Making Corrections

Before filing:

  • Edit expenses or invoices in Akili Apps
  • Regenerate report
  • File corrected version

After filing:

  • Need to file GST/HST adjustment
  • Contact accountant
  • Use CRA adjustment process

Quarterly Adjustments

Common adjustments:

  • Bad debts (unpaid invoices written off)
  • Returned goods
  • Pricing errors
  • Rebates and discounts

How to adjust:

  1. Note adjustment in current quarter
  2. Or file separate adjustment return
  3. Document reason for adjustment

Historical Reports

Accessing Past Quarters

  1. Reports > GST/HST Report
  2. Select historical quarter:
    • Previous quarters listed
    • Can go back years
  3. View or export past reports

Use cases:

  • Compare quarter-over-quarter
  • Audit preparation
  • Historical analysis
  • Re-export if needed

Tips & Best Practices

  • Review monthly - Don't wait until filing deadline
  • Categorize immediately - Accurate categories = accurate ITCs
  • Track all receipts - You need them for ITCs
  • Set reminders - File on time to avoid penalties
  • Consult accountant - Especially for complex situations
  • Keep backups - Export and save reports
  • Reconcile regularly - Monthly reconciliation catches errors early
  • Use bank sync - Ensures all expenses captured

Common Questions

Q: Can I claim GST/HST on meals with clients? A: Yes! While only 50% of meal cost is deductible, you can claim 100% of the GST/HST on that 50%. Akili Apps calculates this correctly.

Q: What if I have both paid and unpaid invoices? A: Report GST/HST on all invoices, regardless of payment status. Use accrual basis unless you've elected cash basis with CRA.

Q: Can I claim ITCs for purchases before registration? A: Generally no, but there are exceptions for certain capital property. Consult an accountant.

Q: What if my report shows a refund? A: You'll receive a refund from CRA, usually within 2-4 weeks of filing.

Q: Do I need to keep receipts? A: Yes! CRA requires receipts for at least 6 years. Akili Apps stores digital copies.

Q: What if I missed claiming some ITCs? A: You can claim missed ITCs within 4 years. Consult your accountant about filing an adjustment.

Q: Can I change my filing frequency? A: Generally requires CRA approval. Contact CRA to request change.

Q: What happens if I file late? A: Penalties and interest apply. File as soon as possible to minimize charges.

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Need More Help?

Contact support at support@akiliapps.com or use the live chat in the bottom right corner of the app.

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