Canada
Freelance invoice template (Canada)
A free Canadian freelance invoice template: your name and business name, GST/HST for the client’s province, your GST/HST number and Interac e-Transfer.
Last updated · Invoice Native team
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Léa Fournier operating as Fournier Studio
1450 W 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6H 1C1
(604) 555-0119
GST/HST No. 123456782 RT0001
Invoice
INV-0058
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Logo design, 3 concepts and final files1 × $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 |
| Brand style guide1 × $650.00 | $650.00 |
| Revisions3 hrs × $75.00 | $225.00 |
- Subtotal
- $2,075.00
- GST 5%
- $103.75
- Balance due
- $2,178.75
Quick answer
A Canadian freelance invoice shows your name and business name, the client, a unique number and date, each deliverable with its price and the total. If you’re registered for GST/HST, charge the rate for your client’s province (GST 5% in Alberta, HST 13% in Ontario) and print your GST/HST number.
- Sample: BC freelancer, Alberta client: $2,075.00 + GST 5% $103.75 = $2,178.75
- The client’s province sets the tax, not yours
- No BC PST on design services
- Clients outside Canada: most services are zero-rated
Freelancers in Canada often work for clients in other provinces, and that's where invoices go wrong: the sales tax follows the client, not you. This template picks the tax from your client's province and prints your GST/HST number, so the invoice is right whether your client is down the street or across the country.
The sample is a Vancouver designer, registered for GST/HST, billing an Edmonton coffee company. Fill it in online and download a PDF. No account needed. It opens in the free Canadian invoice generator, ready to fill in.
Use the freelance template
No sign-up. Your invoice stays in your browser until you download the PDF.
What's on this template
- Your name and business name: "Léa Fournier operating as Fournier Studio".
- Your GST/HST number (if registered).
- The client company and address — the address sets the tax.
- Invoice number, date and due date.
- Each deliverable with its price.
- GST/HST for the client's province and the total.
- Interac e-Transfer details.
Example line items
| Description | Qty | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logo design, 3 concepts and final files | 1 | $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 |
| Brand style guide | 1 | $650.00 | $650.00 |
| Revisions | 3 hrs | $75.00 | $225.00 |
| Subtotal | $2,075.00 | ||
| GST 5% | $103.75 | ||
| Total due | $2,178.75 |
Which tax to charge
For services, the place of supply is generally the province of your client's Canadian address. So the same freelancer charges:
| Client in | Tax |
|---|---|
| Alberta | GST 5% |
| Ontario | HST 13% |
| Nova Scotia | HST 14% |
| Quebec | GST 5% (+ QST 9.975% if you're QST registered) |
| Outside Canada | Usually 0% (zero-rated) |
BC PST doesn't apply to design, writing or most consulting services. See which sales tax to charge and invoicing clients outside Canada.
Small suppliers
If your taxable sales are $30,000 or less, you can stay a small supplier and charge no GST/HST. Choose Small supplier and the tax line and number disappear. See invoicing as a small supplier.
Deposits and milestones
For projects of more than a few weeks, ask for a deposit before you start and bill the rest at milestones. Each invoice should say which stage it covers ("Stage 2 of 3: final concepts"), and the final invoice shows earlier payments as already received. GST/HST is charged on each invoice as it's issued, not all at the end.
Getting paid
Interac e-Transfer is the quickest way for Canadian clients to pay; give the email or phone number you've registered, and turn on autodeposit so they don't need a security answer. Larger clients may prefer direct deposit: give your institution number, transit number and account number. Clients abroad usually need SWIFT details or a payment link.
Records and year end
Keep a copy of every invoice you send, in number order with no gaps, and record when and how each was paid. As a sole proprietor you report the income on form T2125 with your income tax return, and once you're registered, the GST/HST you charged on your GST/HST return. The CRA says to keep records for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to, so 2026 invoices are kept until at least the end of 2032. A free account keeps your invoices, clients and payments in one place, which makes the year-end totals easy to pull together.
Common mistakes
- Charging your own province's rate.
- A bare 9-digit Business Number instead of the full GST/HST number.
- GST/HST on a zero-rated service to a client abroad.
- No due date, with no late-interest terms agreed.
Create this invoice free
No sign-up. Your invoice stays in your browser until you download the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Do freelancers in Canada charge GST?
Once registered for GST/HST, yes, at the rate for the client's province. Registration is required once taxable sales pass $30,000; below that you're a small supplier and charge nothing.
Why does the sample charge only GST?
The client is in Alberta, which has GST 5% and no provincial sales tax. The freelancer being in BC doesn't change that, and design services don't carry BC PST anyway.
How do I invoice a US client?
Most services to a non-resident are zero-rated, so you charge 0% and add a note. You can invoice in US dollars.
What's the best way to get paid?
Interac e-Transfer for Canadian clients, direct deposit for larger amounts, and a payment link or wire for clients abroad.
Can I invoice in US dollars?
Yes. Set the currency on the invoice. If you charge GST/HST on an invoice in another currency, show the tax in Canadian dollars too.
Can I add my logo?
Yes. Add a logo, choose a layout and an accent colour in the editor, and the PDF uses them.
Do I need an account to use the template?
No. You can fill it in and download the PDF as a guest. A free account saves your clients, numbering and payment records if you want them.
Do I put my Business Number on the invoice?
Print your full GST/HST number, the 9-digit BN followed by RT0001, if you are registered. A bare BN, or a number when you are a small supplier, confuses clients about whether you can charge tax.
Sources
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. CRA, Revenu Québec and provincial rules change and depend on your situation, so check with them or ask an accountant.