How to invoice a customer for Interac e-Transfer

• Send to: the exact email address or registered mobile number tied to the receiving account
• Account name: the legal or trading name the account is registered under, so the customer knows the deposit is going to the right place
• Amount: the total in Canadian dollars, formatted as $1,299.00 CAD
• Message or memo: the invoice number, so you can match the deposit without guessing
• Security question: only if you do not have auto-deposit enabled — and never the answer

Auto-deposit removes the security question entirely: funds land directly in your account and cannot be declined or intercepted. It also removes the most common support problem for small businesses — a customer who cannot guess an answer that was never shared clearly.

If you keep the question, choose something the customer already knows from the invoice context but that is not printed on it, and confirm the answer by phone or a separate message.

Ask for the invoice number in the transfer message and reconcile the same day. Record the payment against the invoice with the transfer reference so the paid date, the deposit and the invoice all line up when you file.

For partial payments, record each one separately rather than editing the invoice total — the running balance is what tells you when to stop chasing.

Save your e-Transfer email, account name and optional security question once in your business settings and every issued invoice carries the same instructions, along with a customer-facing link where the customer can confirm they have sent payment. You approve the confirmation, and the balance and receipt update together.

CollabNorth does not process payments — the money moves directly between your bank and your customer's.

What do I put on the invoice for an e-Transfer?

The exact email address (or registered phone number) to send to, the name the account is under, the amount in Canadian dollars, and the invoice number to use as the message or memo. If you do not have auto-deposit, add the security question and tell the customer how you will share the answer.

Should I put the security answer on the invoice?

No. Anyone who sees the invoice could then intercept the transfer. Put the question on the invoice and share the answer separately, or turn on auto-deposit so no question is needed.

Are there limits on e-Transfer amounts?

Yes. Limits are set by the sender's financial institution and vary widely, often around $3,000 per transaction with daily, weekly and monthly caps. For larger invoices, offer a bank transfer or agree on instalments up front.

Does e-Transfer change how I charge tax?

No. The payment method does not affect GST/HST, QST, PST or RST. Charge based on what you supplied and the place of supply, and keep the same invoice records.