Resource
How to Verify a Supplier's GST/HST/QST Number in Canada
Check a supplier's GST/HST number on the CRA registry: what to enter, how to read the result, QST in Quebec, and what to keep for ITC claims.
Lire cette page en françaisBefore you pay a supplier's invoice, or claim the GST/HST and QST on it as an input tax credit, it is worth confirming that the number printed on the invoice is real and belongs to the business that sent it. The check takes about two minutes, it is free, and the CRA's own registry does most of the work. This guide shows what you need, how to read the answers, what to do when the search fails, and how to keep proof.
General information based on CRA and Revenu Québec pages checked on November 4, 2026. Not tax advice; ask your accountant about a specific claim.
What a valid number looks like
A GST/HST registration number is 15 characters: your nine-digit business number, the letters RT, and a four-digit account number, for example 123456789RT0001. A QST registration number has ten digits followed by TQ and four digits, for example 1234567890TQ0001. The examples above are made up.
Registered suppliers must show their GST/HST number on invoices and receipts for taxable sales of $100 or more. An invoice that charges GST/HST or QST with no number on it is a reason to ask questions before you pay. Small suppliers (taxable sales of $30,000 or less over four consecutive calendar quarters) are not required to register and do not charge GST/HST, so a missing number can also be legitimate when no tax is charged. Our small supplier calculator explains the threshold.
Step by step: the CRA GST/HST Registry
The CRA's "Confirming a GST/HST account number" service is free and does not need a login. Have these three things ready from the invoice.
- Step 1: The first nine digits of the number only, without the RT part and without letters.
- Step 2: The supplier's business name, as it appears on the invoice or sign. The registry accepts the legal name, the operating name or the trading name. Enter it in the same order as it is written.
- Step 3: The transaction date, which is the date on the invoice or receipt.
The registry then tells you whether the business was registered on that date. It checks the date on purpose: a supplier can be registered today and not have been registered when it issued your invoice.
How to read the result
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The business is registered on the date entered | CRA records match the number, name and date | Print or save the Search Details screen with the invoice |
| Insufficient information entered | The name, the order of the name, the number or the date does not match CRA records | Check the details with your supplier and try again |
| Not registered on the transaction date entered | CRA records show the business was not registered on that date | Confirm the details with the supplier, then call the CRA if the problem remains |
If you still cannot confirm a number after speaking with the supplier, the CRA tells you to call Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525.
Quebec: confirming a QST number
The CRA registry covers GST/HST only. To confirm a QST number, the CRA sends you to Revenu Québec, whose free Validate a QST Registration Number service asks for one thing: the registration number, which is ten digits followed by TQ and four digits. Revenu Québec describes the result as the number's status, its effective date and the business name, so compare that name with the invoice the same way you would for GST/HST. The same service also validates the QST numbers of suppliers outside Quebec. If you buy from a supplier outside Quebec that is not registered for the QST, the invoice may show a GST/HST number only.
Two cases need extra care. A QST number with only nine digits, no TQ, and identical to the GST/HST number belongs to a selected listed financial institution: the CRA administers the QST for these businesses, neither online tool can confirm the number, and the CRA asks you to call Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525. A QST number that starts with NR belongs to a supplier outside Quebec registered for the QST; Revenu Québec says you cannot claim an input tax refund (ITR) on purchases from such a supplier, even for business purchases.
Why this check matters for input tax credits
If you are a GST/HST registrant, you recover tax you paid on business purchases through input tax credits. The CRA's RC4022 guide lists what your supporting documents must show, and the amount of detail grows with the purchase:
| Purchase | Information the document must show |
|---|---|
| Less than $100 | Supplier name, invoice date, total |
| $100 to $499.99 | The above, plus the GST/HST charged or included, and the supplier's GST/HST number |
| $500 or more | The above, plus the buyer's name, a brief description of the goods or services, and the payment terms |
Keep your claims within the general four-year time limit for input tax credits, and keep the supporting invoices and your registry search print-outs together. If you work with an accountant, the quarterly GST/HST invoice records guide and the GST/QST invoice report for your accountant show how to hand over clean records.
Make your own invoices easy to verify
Your clients will run the same check on you. Show your GST/HST and QST numbers, your legal or operating name written consistently, and the date, so that a search with those details returns a match. See business number on invoice in Canada and the Canadian invoice requirements checker.
A free Just Invoice account saves your business name, tax numbers and clients, so each invoice carries the same details every time.
Official sources
- CRA: Confirming a GST/HST account number
- CRA: Confirming a GST/HST account number, frequently asked questions
- CRA: General information for GST/HST registrants (RC4022)
- Revenu Québec: Validate a QST Registration Number
- Revenu Québec: API used to validate a QST registration number (format and results)
Frequently asked questions
Is checking a GST/HST number free?
Yes. The CRA's Confirming a GST/HST account number service is free to use and you do not need to sign in.
Do I enter the full 15-character number?
No. Enter only the first nine digits (the business number), without the RT letters or the four-digit account number.
What if the result says "Insufficient information entered"?
It means the name, the order of the name, the number or the date you typed does not match CRA records. Check the details against the invoice, ask the supplier to confirm its exact registered name, and try again.
What if the supplier was not registered on the invoice date?
Confirm the details with the supplier. If the problem remains, call the CRA's Business Enquiries line at 1-800-959-5525 before you claim an input tax credit on that invoice.
Can I look a supplier up without knowing its name?
No. The CRA registry needs the number, the business name and the transaction date. Ask the supplier for the name exactly as it is registered.
How do I check a QST number?
Use Revenu Québec's free Validate a QST Registration Number service and enter the full number (ten digits, TQ, four digits). Compare the business name it returns with the invoice. Nine-digit QST numbers of selected listed financial institutions can only be confirmed by calling the CRA.
Related guides and tools
Continue with resources that answer the same invoicing questions across Canada and Quebec.
- Canadian Contractor Tax Guide 2026: Rates by Province2026 GST/HST, QST, PST and RST rates for Canadian contractors, with registration rules, official sources, invoice guidance and free calculators.
- Contractor Invoice Checklist CanadaPrintable contractor invoice checklist for Canadian trades. Must-have fields for GST/HST/QST compliance, payment terms, e-transfer, and professionalism. Use before sending every invoice.
- GST QST calculatorVerify amounts before sending.
- Invoice toolsCalculators and workflow helpers.
- Canadian Invoice Templates & GuidesFree Canadian invoice templates, GST/HST/QST/PST guides, tax calculators and examples for contractors, freelancers and small businesses across Canada.
Make every invoice easy to verify
A free Just Invoice account saves your business name, GST/HST and QST numbers and clients, so each invoice carries the same details. No credit card needed.