Whether you're giving promotional gifts to clients, donating inventory to charity, or receiving donations as a non-profit business, GST/HST rules around gifts can be confusing. The short answer: most business gifts and donations are not subject to GST/HST when given away, but the CRA has specific rules about what qualifies, and the tax treatment depends on whether you're selling or giving. Understanding these rules helps you avoid reporting errors and claim the right deductions. A business gift is property (physical items, vouchers, or services) that you give to someone without charging them. The CRA does not consider gifts to be taxable supplies, meaning you don't charge GST/HST on them. However, this applies only if: - You give the gift without expecting anything in return - The gift is not part of a promotional scheme with conditions attached - The recipient is not a customer receiving it as part of a sale For example, if you give a branded water bottle to a client as a thank-you gift, no GST/HST applies. But if you bundle that water bottle with a paid service package, the bundled price is a taxable supply and GST/HST applies to the whole transaction.
No, gifts given without charge or expectation of return are not taxable supplies, so you don't charge GST/HST. However, you can claim the GST/HST you paid to purchase those gifts as an input tax credit.
Yes, if the gifts are reasonable in value and directly related to your business operations. You'll need to keep receipts showing the GST/HST paid and be able to explain the business purpose if audited.
When a gift is bundled with a paid service, the entire transaction is treated as a single taxable supply. You charge GST/HST on the total value, not just the service portion.
Donations to registered charities are generally not taxable supplies for GST/HST purposes. In some cases, you may be able to claim a rebate on the GST/HST paid to acquire the donated goods.
Gifts to employees are not GST/HST taxable supplies, but they may be taxable as employment income to the employee under income tax rules. You can claim GST/HST paid on the gifts as an input tax credit.