Review our tax policies in Canada and steps on how to verify your exemption.

Depending on your billing address, we might collect GST/HST and QST/PST taxes for your Squarespace subscriptions. This guide explains our Canadian tax policies and how to apply for an exemption.

Tip: For residents of the United States, visit US sales tax and Squarespace billing. For residents of the UK, EU, or Norway, visit VAT and Squarespace billing. For residents of countries who pay taxes on goods and services, visit GST and Squarespace billing.

Before you begin

• For help setting international tax rules for your online store, visit Setting up manual tax rates in Squarespace Commerce.
• Per our Terms of Service, Squarespace doesn't provide advice or recommendations regarding laws applicable to your site or business. If you have questions about collecting taxes, you can consult with a tax advisor.
• Canadian taxes are charged at both the federal and provincial level. Depending on your location, we may charge one or more of the following taxes:
  • Goods & Services Tax (GST) - Federal tax on goods and services for residents of Canada.
  • Province Sales Tax (PST) - Province-level sales tax. Rates vary by province.
  • Quebec Sales Tax (QST) - Province-level sales tax for residents of Quebec.
  • Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) - Combined federal and provincial tax.

Canadian taxes and Squarespace pricing

Squarespace collects taxes in areas where we’re legally required to do so. We apply federal and provincial tax to applicable subscriptions for all Canadian residents.

Your tax location is determined by the billing address entered with your credit card information. If you receive an email about or are charged GST/HST or QST/PST taxes you don't think apply to you, ensure that your billing information is correct.

If you have more questions about taxes, we suggest speaking with a tax advisor.

Verify your exemption (GST/HST, or QST)

If you run a site for an entity in Canada, you may be exempt from GST/HST and/or QST.

Note: For questions about tax exemptions for First Nations, please contact us, and include a copy of your Indian status card.

You can verify your tax exemption at checkout when you first purchase a Squarespace site or standalone subscription, or by updating the billing card on file for a site or subscription you already have. Doing so exempts you from the associated taxes on any subscriptions paid for using your card on file, and adds your business name and registration numbers to any invoice for a payment that included tax.

To verify your exemption, you'll need your business name and the registration numbers for the taxes you're exempt from. Make sure your registration numbers meet the following guidelines:

• GST/HST - 15-digits (no spaces), and contains the program identifier RT (capitalized). These letters confirm that your business is registered to collect GST/HST, and is therefore exempt from this tax.
• QST - 16-digits (no spaces)

Note: Squarespace Domains and Getty Images purchases are currently exempt from PST for businesses registered in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

For new Squarespace sites or standalone subscriptions you’re purchasing

In the Canadian tax exemption status section on the checkout page, confirm your business is registered, then enter your business name and GST/HST number when upgrading to a paid Squarespace subscription.

For Squarespace sites or standalone subscriptions you already have

If you already have a Squarespace site or standalone subscription, add your exemption to your billing credit card:

1. In the Home menu, click Settings.
2. Click Billing, then click Payment information.
3. Enter your credit card information and billing address.
4. Ensure Canada is selected from the Country drop-down menu.
5. Click the Province drop-down menu to select your province.
6. In the Canadian tax exemption section, click the checkbox to confirm you’re registered for GST/HST in Canada.
7. Enter your business name and applicable registration numbers, without spaces. For example:

• GST/HST: 123456789RT0001
• QST: 1234567890TQ0001

If you run multiple Squarespace business sites or standalone subscriptions, repeat these steps for each billing credit card.

Note: If our system doesn’t recognize your registration numbers, ensure your information is valid and formatted correctly.

Remove an exemption

If you don't need your GST/HST or QST tax exemptions anymore, remove them by updating your billing credit card and deleting the registration numbers. We can't remove the exemption for you.

If you run multiple websites, repeat the process for each site that no longer needs tax exemption.