{"id":10409,"date":"2025-10-28T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/?p=10409"},"modified":"2025-11-26T15:44:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:44:36","slug":"tax-basics-for-side-hustlers-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/tax-basics-for-side-hustlers-in-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Tax Basics for Side Hustlers in Canada (Side Hustle Series)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve landed here, you\u2019ve hopefully registered your business and chosen your structure. Now it\u2019s time for the dollars and cents. Making revenue means you need to know how taxes work. If you&#8217;re unsure where to start, you&#8217;re not alone. This guide breaks down the basics of GST and HST, so you can stay organized and avoid unexpected costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/why-start-a-side-hustle-in-canada\/\">Why Start a Side Hustle in Canada?&nbsp; (Side Hustle Series)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/register-a-business-while-working-full-time-ontario\/\">How to Register a Business While Working Full-Time (Side Hustle Series)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/the-right-business-structure-for-your-side-hustle-ontario\/\">Choosing the Right Business Structure for Your Side Hustle (Side Hustle Series)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Do You Need to Register for a GST\/HST Number?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you need to pay taxes on your revenue? The answer is yes; once you exceed a certain amount of revenue, you will need to pay for HST in Ontario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your side hustle\u2019s profits exceed $30,000 within a calendar year, then congratulations! You\u2019re no longer considered a small supplier. And you will need to register the business to charge GST\/HST on profits that exceed $30,000.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Register for GST\/HST?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Registering for taxes can be done with help from our team at Ontario Business Central. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/forms\/bn-registration.php\">Registering<\/a> online is simple. You will start by providing the following information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Business<\/strong>: Name, service and address information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Personal: <\/strong>Name, address, date of birth, phone number and Social Insurance Number (via phone or email)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HST reporting period:<\/strong> Monthly, quarterly, or annually<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Total sales<\/strong>: Throughout Canada or beyond if applicable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>BN number:<\/strong> A 9-digit number that identifies your business with the CRA\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Note: Your Business Identification Number (BIN) is not the same as your BN number. If you can\u2019t locate it, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/forms\/bn-registration.php#order:~:text=Retrieving%20Existing%20BN,RETRIEVE%20EXISTING%20BN%23]\">Ontario Business Central<\/a> can help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/forms\/bn-registration.php\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/tax-accounts-2-CTA.webp\" alt=\"Businessman reviewing tax account information. Register an HST Tax Account today!\" class=\"wp-image-7144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/tax-accounts-2-CTA.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/tax-accounts-2-CTA-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/tax-accounts-2-CTA-768x402.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to Know About Deadlines and Transaction Tracking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you reach $30,000 in revenue, applying for HST is voluntary. But once you exceed it, your deadline for applying is no later than the day you\u2019ve exceeded the amount. Otherwise, you\u2019ll have to start charging GST\/HST on any product or service that exceeds $30,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To ensure you maximize your gains, you\u2019ll want to maintain an organized record of transactions and plan if you will be required to register for HST. These records include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Income<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expenses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Receipts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re unsure about upcoming deadlines for GST\/HST, or if you want to check if a business is already registered for GST\/HST and can\u2019t find the account number, we can run a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/forms\/bn-search.php\">BN Search<\/a> to confirm any muddy details or missing information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Keep More of What You Earn<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding GST\/HST is a key part of managing your side hustle as it grows. Knowing when to register, how to track your business transactions, and how to stay organized can save you time and prevent costly mistakes down the road. Whether you\u2019re just crossing the $30,000 mark or planning ahead, Ontario Business Central is here to help with every aspect of your business journey, including tax registration. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/contactus.php\">Reach out to us<\/a> today to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"ma&#105;&#108;&#116;&#x6f;&#x3a;&#x69;&#x6e;qu&#105;&#114;&#105;&#x65;&#x73;&#x40;&#x6f;nt&#97;&#114;&#105;&#x6f;&#x62;&#x75;&#x73;in&#101;&#115;&#115;&#x63;&#x65;&#x6e;&#x74;ra&#108;&#46;&#99;&#x61;\">&#x69;&#110;&#x71;&#x75;i&#x72;&#105;e&#x73;&#64;o&#x6e;&#116;&#x61;&#x72;i&#x6f;&#98;u&#x73;&#105;n&#x65;&#115;&#x73;&#x63;&#101;&#x6e;&#x74;r&#x61;&#108;&#46;&#x63;&#97;<\/a><br>Toll-Free: 1-800-280-1913<br>Local: 1-416-599-9009<br>Fax: 1-866-294-4363<br>Office Hours: 9:00am \u2013 5:00pm<br>Monday \u2013 Friday E.S.T.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ontario Business Central Inc. is not a law firm and cannot provide a legal opinion or advice. This information is to assist you in understanding the requirements of registration within the chosen jurisdiction. It is always recommended, when you have legal or accounting questions that you speak to a qualified professional.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve landed here, you\u2019ve hopefully registered your business and chosen your structure. Now it\u2019s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10410,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[115,188],"tags":[180,179,172,161],"class_list":["post-10409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tax-government-accounts","category-side-hustles","tag-business-planning","tag-new-business-owners","tag-side-hustle","tag-taxes"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes.webp",1150,767,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes.webp",1150,767,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes.webp",1150,767,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes-150x150.webp",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes-300x200.webp",300,200,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes-1024x683.webp",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes.webp",1150,767,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes.webp",1150,767,false],"obc-archive-card":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes-720x405.webp",720,405,true],"obc-archive-card-2x":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes.webp",1150,767,false],"obc-archive":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes-960x540.webp",960,540,true],"obc-archive-2x":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes.webp",1150,767,false],"rt_custom":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/entreprenuer-doing-taxes.webp",1150,767,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Laura Harvey","author_link":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/author\/laura-harvey\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/category\/business-maintenance\/tax-government-accounts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Tax &amp; Government Accounts<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/category\/tips-resources\/side-hustles\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Side Hustles<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"If you\u2019ve landed here, you\u2019ve hopefully registered your business and chosen your structure. Now it\u2019s...","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10409"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10412,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10409\/revisions\/10412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}