An invoice can show a plausible-looking tax number without establishing that the supplier was registered for the transaction. CRA's free GST/HST Registry provides a date-specific check.
Gather three pieces of information
Use the first nine digits of the supplier's GST/HST account number, the legal or trading name and the transaction date shown on the invoice, receipt or contract. The registry asks for the nine digits, not the letters and account suffix. CRA's official verification instructions.
If the name does not match, ask the supplier for the exact name provided to CRA. A trading-name mismatch or typo is a reason to clarify the record, not immediate proof of wrongdoing. Keep the supplier's response and any corrected invoice.
Save or print the search details with the purchase documentation. Checking today's status alone is less useful when the claim concerns an earlier invoice; use the relevant transaction date.
Keep the result in perspective
A successful registry result confirms registration information. It does not prove that the tax rate, description, commercial-use share or your own ITC eligibility is correct. Continue the review of the underlying purchase.
QST numbers use Revenu Québec's separate validation process. Suppliers registered under the simplified cross-border GST/HST framework also require different treatment: a normally registered Canadian business should provide evidence of its registration so the simplified supplier does not charge tax that cannot be recovered through an ordinary ITC.
For a recurring contractor, link the verified details to their supplier record, while preserving the evidence for the actual invoices. If the number or business identity changes, investigate before copying the old tax setup to a new payee.
Checked October 20, 2026. See invoice information for the other documents needed to support a claim.
