The short answer
Use the CRA's free GST/HST Registry. You need the number's first nine digits, the business name and the transaction date.
It confirms that a business charging you GST/HST is registered. It is not a directory: you can't browse it or find a number from a name alone. Checked with the CRA on October 31, 2026.
What brings you here today?
Deciding how clients should pay you?
With Biller, every invoice shows your e-Transfer details and, once you connect Stripe, a pay-by-card button — so clients pay the way they prefer, and card payments and Autodeposit e-Transfers are recorded as they land.
Start freeFree plan — unlimited invoices, no card needed.
Setting your prices?
Our pricing guides show what Canadian service businesses charge, service by service. When you have your rate, the free invoice generator turns it into a GST/HST-ready invoice.
Thanks for telling us.
The rest of this guide is written for you. If you ever take payments for your own work, see how Biller tracks them.
Why you would check a number
The CRA's page on confirming a GST/HST account number gives the reason. A lookup confirms that the business charging you GST/HST is registered, so your input tax credit claims include only tax charged by registered suppliers.
The check also runs the other way. A business client can check your number before it claims the tax on your invoice.
How to check a number
- Get the details from the invoice: the GST/HST number, the business name and the date on the invoice, receipt, contract or other business paper.
- Open the GST/HST Registry and accept the terms of use.
- Enter only the first nine digits, with no letters. For 123456789 RT 0001, enter 123456789.
- Enter the business name. Use the legal, operating or trading name shown on the invoice or at the business.
- Enter the transaction date.
- Print the Search Details screen to keep a record.
If the name you see on the invoice returns nothing, ask the owner for the exact name registered with the CRA. If you have no number, ask the supplier for it, or call the CRA's Business enquiries line at 1-800-959-5525.
What a lookup can show
The registry's job is narrow. The CRA's terms of use say to use it only to validate the GST/HST number of a business. They also say its information is as up to date as CRA records.
What a lookup cannot show
- A list of businesses. The CRA says "The GST/HST Registry is not intended to be a search engine."
- A Quebec sales tax number. The registry checks GST/HST numbers only. Use Revenu Québec's validation tool for a QST number.
- Some financial institutions' numbers. The tools can't validate the 9-digit number of a selected listed financial institution. Call the CRA instead.
The terms also prohibit any commercial reproduction of the results, and they say the CRA isn't responsible for losses or damages from your use of the registry.
Looking up a business number instead
A business number isn't the same as a GST/HST account. Our business number guide explains the difference.
The CRA's page on ways to find an existing business number is written for your own BN. It lists your records, your CRA account, a call to the CRA, and these online registries:
| Registry | Covers |
|---|---|
| Corporations Canada | Federally incorporated businesses |
| Ontario Business Registry | Ontario businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Fees may apply for some services |
| Canada's Business Registries | Federal corporations, and corporations and limited partnerships in certain provinces |
The CRA doesn't say these return a BN for every business. Federal corporation search takes a BN as a search term: enter the first nine digits only. It doesn't include corporations formed under provincial or territorial law. A sole proprietor isn't in the CRA's description of any of the federal registries, so don't expect to find one there.
If someone checks your number
Make it easy. Put your full number and your registered business name on your invoices. For a sale of $100 or more, the CRA's input tax credit rules call for your GST/HST registration number. If you don't have a number yet, see how to register for GST/HST.
Common questions
How do I look up a GST/HST number?
Use the CRA's GST/HST Registry. It is free. Enter the first nine digits of the number, the business name and the transaction date, then print the Search Details screen for your records.
Can I look up a GST number by business name?
Not on its own. The registry asks for the number as well, and the CRA says it is not intended to be a search engine. If you don't have the number, ask the supplier or call the CRA at 1-800-959-5525.
Is there a CRA business number lookup?
The CRA's page on finding a BN is about your own business and lists no public CRA lookup. It points to Corporations Canada, the Ontario Business Registry and Canada's Business Registries, which cover incorporated businesses and some others.
Can the GST/HST Registry check a Quebec QST number?
No. The registry checks GST/HST account numbers only. Confirm a QST number with Revenu Québec.
Why did my GST/HST lookup not find the business?
The name you entered may not be the name the CRA has. The CRA says to ask the owner for the exact name registered with it. You can also call 1-800-959-5525.
Why would anyone check a GST/HST number?
To claim input tax credits, a business needs GST/HST charged by a registered supplier. A lookup confirms the supplier is registered.
Related guides
- How to register for GST/HST
- Business numbers and the $30,000 test
- How to write an invoice
- GST/HST guide for small businesses
General information, checked on Canada.ca on October 31, 2026. It is not tax advice. Rules change, so confirm your situation with the CRA or an accountant.