---
title: "Provincial sales taxes worked out, returns drafted"
description: "GST, HST, PST and QST workings by province with return drafts for your CPA. Dedicated accountant, your software, month-to-month. Get a quote."
url: https://ledgerbpo.com/ca/services/gst-hst/
updated: 2026-09-11
publisher: LedgerBPO (SS Support Network LLC)
language: en-CA
---

# Provincial sales taxes worked out, returns drafted

LedgerBPO's GST HST bookkeeping services keep your sales taxes worked out by province: HST in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces, GST plus PST in BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and GST plus QST in Quebec. A named dedicated accountant reconciles the tax accounts in QuickBooks Online, Xero or Sage 50 and drafts each return for your CPA or you to file.

- Since 2020
- US · UK · CA · AU
- Named accountant plus backup
- Your software, no lock-in

[Get a custom quote](https://ledgerbpo.com/get-a-quote/) [Book a 20-minute call](https://ledgerbpo.com/book-a-call/) In short

- GST/HST, PST and QST worked out by province and reconciled to the ledger
- Return workings drafted every filing period, seven days before the due date
- Preparation support for your CPA; only registered EFILE transmitters file

Updated September 2026 · Reviewed by [Nimra Khalid](https://ledgerbpo.com/team/nimra-khalid/)

## What is GST/HST bookkeeping?

GST/HST bookkeeping is the record-keeping behind a correct Canadian sales tax return: coding every transaction with the right tax by province, tracking input tax credits, reconciling the GST/HST accounts to the ledger and bank, and drafting return figures each filing period. PST and QST are handled the same way. The business or its CPA reviews and files.

## Who it is for

### Owners selling into several provinces

You ship to Ontario, BC and Quebec and each one taxes differently. You want the rates right at invoice time and one reconciled return per tax, not a quarterly guess.

### Businesses whose GST account never ties

The GST/HST payable balance in QuickBooks does not match the last return or the CRA statement. You want it reconciled and kept that way.

### CPAs who want clean workings from clients

You review and file for many clients. Receiving reconciled return workings with exceptions listed cuts review time and keeps EFILE submissions on schedule.

## What's included

- Sales tax codes checked by province in QuickBooks Online, Xero or Sage 50
- Every sale coded to GST, HST, PST or QST by place-of-supply rules
- Input tax credits tracked with supporting invoices that show the supplier's registration
- Zero-rated and exempt supplies separated so ITCs are claimed correctly
- GST/HST payable and receivable accounts reconciled to the ledger and bank
- PST accounts reconciled for BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba registrants
- QST workings prepared alongside GST for Quebec businesses
- Return workings drafted each filing period: monthly, quarterly or annual
- Instalment tracking for annual filers with quarterly instalments
- CRA and Revenu Québec account statements reconciled to the ledger
- Quick Method calculations where you have elected to use it
- Compliance Desk answers on place-of-supply questions within 2 business days

## Deliverables and KPIs

| Deliverable | KPI we report | Cadence |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Return workings | Drafted at least 7 days before each GST/HST, PST or QST due date | Per filing period |
| Tax account reconciliation | GST/HST, PST and QST accounts agree to returns and payments to the cent | Monthly |
| ITC support check | Every input tax credit above threshold backed by a compliant invoice or flagged | Per filing period |
| Exceptions list | Doubtful coding or missing documents listed for you or your CPA | Per filing period |
| CRA account reconciliation | Agency statement reconciled to the ledger with differences explained | Quarterly |
| Filing calendar | Every tax, frequency and due date maintained in one place | Updated as registrations change |

KPIs are what we measure and report, agreed per engagement. Service-level commitments are set in your agreement.

## How it works

1. ### Discovery call
A 20-minute call about the provinces you sell into, your registrations, filing frequency, software, and whether you or your CPA files the returns.
2. ### Access and tax code review
You grant accountant access to QuickBooks Online, Xero or Sage 50. We review sales tax codes, customer and supplier defaults, and reconcile the tax accounts to the last return filed.
3. ### First period in parallel
A named accountant prepares the workings for the current period alongside your existing process and hands them to you or your CPA to compare line by line.
4. ### Period-by-period workings
Each period the workings and exceptions list arrive seven days early through the LedgerDesk portal after Two-Tier Review. You or your CPA file; we reconcile the tax accounts monthly and the CRA statement quarterly.

Our Compliance Desk process

Place-of-supply and rate questions that come up between periods, such as which tax applies to a service delivered to a customer in another province, go to our Compliance Desk with a 2-business-day answer. The reply is a researched summary with CRA references for you and your CPA to decide on, not tax advice.

## Software we work in

- [QuickBooks Online](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/quickbooks-online/)
- [Xero](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/xero/)
- [Sage 50](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/sage-50/)
- [Wave](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/wave/)
- [Dext](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/dext/)
- [Plooto](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/plooto/)
- [All 50 platforms](https://ledgerbpo.com/software/)

## How much does gst/hst returns cost?

GST/HST support is priced as a fixed fee per filing period or per month, based on transaction volume, the number of provincial taxes you handle, and whether bookkeeping is included. Your CPA's review and filing fee is separate. Pricing depends on volume and scope, so we send a custom quote within 1 business day.

### What moves the quote

- Number of taxes: GST/HST only, plus PST, plus QST
- Filing frequency: monthly, quarterly or annual with instalments
- Transaction volume and quality of supplier invoices on file
- Whether monthly bookkeeping is done by us or your own team

### Market benchmarks

| Market | Typical range | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Canada | Outsourced bookkeeping C$300 to C$2,000 per month, most SMBs C$400 to C$800; freelance C$30 to C$90 per hour | Outsource Bookkeeping CA, TheAccTaxCo (2026) |

Third-party ranges for orientation, not our prices.

[Get a custom quote](https://ledgerbpo.com/get-a-quote/) No setup fee. Month-to-month.

## GST/HST returns for your industry

- [E-commerce brands & Amazon sellers](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/ecommerce/)
- [Construction companies & contractors](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/construction/)
- [Retail stores](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/retail/)
- [Restaurants & hospitality](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/restaurants/)
- [HVAC, plumbing, electrical & landscaping](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/field-services/)
- [Marketing agencies & consultancies](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/agencies/)
- [All 26 industries](https://ledgerbpo.com/industries/)

## Security and compliance

- Accountant access only; filing and CRA payments stay with you or your CPA
- MFA on every login, per-client access log, no local downloads
- Workings shared through the LedgerDesk portal, not email attachments

Full control list on the [security page](https://ledgerbpo.com/security/) and country rules on the [compliance page](https://ledgerbpo.com/compliance/). Certifications are listed only when held.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much do GST HST bookkeeping services cost?

Pricing depends on volume and scope, and we send a custom quote within 1 business day. As a market reference, Canadian outsourced bookkeeping runs C$300 to C$2,000 per month, with most SMBs paying C$400 to C$800, and freelance bookkeepers charge C$30 to C$90 per hour (Outsource Bookkeeping CA, TheAccTaxCo, 2026). GST/HST workings are quoted per period on top of bookkeeping.

### Do you file GST/HST returns with the CRA?

No. We provide preparation support for your CPA or for you: reconciled workings and draft figures. Only registered EFILE transmitters may file electronically on a client's behalf, and payments go through your own CRA account. You or your CPA file; we reconcile what was filed to the ledger afterwards.

### Which tax applies in which province?

HST applies in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. GST plus a separate PST applies in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Quebec has GST plus QST. Alberta and the three territories have GST only. The place-of-supply rules decide which applies to each sale; we code accordingly.

### How do you handle input tax credits?

Input tax credits are tracked on every eligible purchase and checked against the CRA's invoice requirements, including the supplier's registration number above the relevant threshold. Purchases for exempt supplies, some meals and entertainment, and personal items are excluded or restricted. Doubtful claims go on the exceptions list for your CPA.

### Can you handle QST for a Quebec business?

Yes. QST workings are prepared alongside GST, and the Revenu Québec account is reconciled the same way as the CRA account. French-language supplier invoices are handled as part of normal bookkeeping. Filing remains with you or your CPA. Quebec's separate filing portal and due dates are tracked on the same filing calendar.

### What if my GST/HST account in QuickBooks does not match the CRA?

That is a common starting point. We reconcile the payable account to every return filed and every payment made, find where the difference arose, and propose adjusting entries for your CPA to approve. From then on the account is reconciled monthly so it stays matched. Our sales tax reconciliation service explains the method.

### Do you work with the Quick Method?

Yes. If you have elected the Quick Method, we apply the remittance rate for your business type and province to eligible sales and track the ITCs you can still claim on capital purchases. Whether the election suits you is a decision for your CPA; we prepare the workings either way.

### Can you also do our monthly bookkeeping?

Yes. Most clients combine GST/HST workings with our Canadian bookkeeping service so the tax accounts are reconciled as part of the monthly close rather than reconstructed at filing time. If the books are behind, a catch-up project comes first. Your CPA then receives one reconciled file for both the return and the year-end.

Talk to a person

A 20-minute call with someone who runs gst/hst returns every day. No sales script.

[Book a 20-minute call](https://ledgerbpo.com/book-a-call/) [Get a custom quote](https://ledgerbpo.com/get-a-quote/) Compliance note

You approve and release every payment. We never move money, sign returns or give audit opinions. [Country rules](https://ledgerbpo.com/compliance/).

Next step

## Books closed. Invoices paid. Every month.

Tell us what is going on with your books or billing. You will hear from a named person within 1 business day, with a custom quote and a plan for the first close.

- Reply from a named person within 1 business day
- No setup fee, month-to-month
- Your software, your data, no lock-in

Start with a custom quote

[Get a custom quote](https://ledgerbpo.com/get-a-quote/) [Book a 20-minute call](https://ledgerbpo.com/book-a-call/) Or call [+1-657-777-0006](tel:+16577770006) during US, UK or Australian business hours.

---

Source: https://ledgerbpo.com/ca/services/gst-hst/ · Contact: https://ledgerbpo.com/contact/ · Full site map for agents: https://ledgerbpo.com/llms.txt