What do I need on a receipt to claim the GST back

To claim the GST/HST you paid on a business purchase back as an input tax credit, you need more than the amount: you need documentation that proves the tax was charged by a registered supplier. See is the tax I pay a cost or do I get it back for what an input tax credit is.

The Canada Revenue Agency scales the requirement by the size of the purchase. There are three tiers, measured on the total amount paid including tax:

• Under $30: the least is required. The supplier's name (or the name on the receipt), the date, and the total amount.
• $30 to under $150: the above, plus the supplier's GST/HST registration number and either the amount of GST/HST charged or a note that the total includes it at the applicable rate.
• $150 or more: all of the above, plus your own name, a brief description of what was bought, and the terms of sale.

The practical takeaway: for anything $30 and up, the receipt has to show the supplier's GST/HST registration number, or the credit is not supportable. A total with no tax detail and no number is the common reason a claim gets denied on review.

Where this becomes judgment. Whether a specific document is sufficient, and whether a given purchase is even eligible, depends on the facts. TALISK_HQ stores the receipt image against each expense and keeps the tax on the line so the record is there when it is asked for; confirming a borderline receipt qualifies is a call for your accountant.