If you sell digital products or services to customers in British Columbia (BC) and exceed CAD $10,000 in annual BC sales, you must register for BC Provincial Sales Tax (PST). BC PST is administered by the BC Ministry of Finance — separately from the federal GST/HST managed by the Canada Revenue Agency.
This guide covers the registration process. For information about BC PST rates and taxability, see the British Columbia PST Guide. For how to file and pay returns once registered, see the British Columbia PST Filing Guide.
How to register for PST in British Columbia
BC offers online PST registration for businesses not physically located in the province. The process has two steps: register to collect PST, then enroll for access to your eTaxBC account where you will file and pay.
Information to have ready
Have the following ready before starting (the process takes approximately 15–25 minutes):
- Your Canadian federal Business Number (BN), if you already have one — the process will create one for you if you don't
- If you do have a BN: a recent copy of a GST return to verify your business details
- Your passport or other government-issued ID
- Your total annual Canadian (nationwide) sales, or an estimate if you've been in business less than 12 months
- Your anticipated monthly taxable sales to BC customers
Step 1: Register to collect PST
Register online through eTaxBC.
The process is mostly straightforward. However, at step 3 — when selecting your business ownership type — you will be asked if you are a Foreign Company. Select Yes. A link will appear to a short country registration questionnaire that you must complete before continuing.
After submitting, your registration can take up to 21 business days to be processed. Once approved, you'll receive:
- Your BC PST number (format: PST-1234-5678) — include this on invoices to BC customers
- A Business Number (BN) issued by the Canada Revenue Agency — you'll need this for step 2
You can also register by mail or fax if you prefer not to register online.
Step 2: Enroll for access to eTaxBC
Your eTaxBC account is where you'll manage all ongoing PST compliance — filing returns, making payments, and reviewing your account.
- Go to the eTaxBC enrollment page and click Create a New Enrolment
- Enter your Business Number (BN) and select account type Provincial Sales Tax
- Enter your PST number and complete enrollment
After enrolling, you'll receive a confirmation email. When you first log in, a one-time access code is sent to your email (expect it within 2 minutes, up to 30 minutes). If you don't receive the code, call the BC tax agency at 1-877-388-4440 (option 1).
➡ Once registered, see the British Columbia PST Filing Guide for how to file returns and pay.
Note: At Quaderno we love providing helpful information and best practices about taxes, but we are not certified tax advisors. For further help, or if you are ever in doubt, please consult a professional tax advisor or the tax authorities.
