Q1- What fiscal measures is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) taking to help Canadian businesses manage their GST/HST payments and remittances?
A1- The CRA understands that businesses might be dealing with difficulties in making their GST/HST payments or remittances.
The CRA will allow all businesses to defer, until the end of June 2020, any GST/HST payments or remittances that become owing on or after March 27, 2020, and before June 2020. This means that no interest will apply if your payments or remittances are made by the end of June 2020.
The deadline for businesses to file their returns is unchanged. Those who are able to, should continue to file their GST/HST returns on time reporting their net tax for the reporting period to help facilitate tax compliance and administration. However, recognizing the difficult circumstances faced by businesses, the CRA won’t impose penalties where a return is filed late provided that it is filed by June 30th.
Q2: I am an annual filer who is required to make quarterly GST/HST instalment payments. Does the announced deferral apply to instalment payments?
A2: Yes, any GST/HST instalment payments due on or after March 27, 2020, and before June 2020 can be deferred until the end of June 2020. No interest will apply if the instalment payment amounts are paid by the end of June 2020.
Q3: I am an individual with a calendar year reporting period who is not required to file my GST/HST return until June 15th. Am I still required to remit the net tax owing for my 2019 reporting period by April 30, 2020.
A3: No, the remittance of your net tax can be deferred until the end of June 2020. No interest will apply if the net tax is remitted by the end of June 2020.