Instalments
When CRA expects you to pay tax during the year instead of all at once, for income tax and for GST/HST.
Instalments are payments toward this year's tax, made during the year. Employees have tax taken off every pay. Instalments are the self-employed version.
Income tax instalments
You may have to pay instalments if your net tax owing is more than $3,000 ($1,800 in Quebec) for this year, and was more than that in either of the two years before.
They are due on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15.
CRA sends an instalment reminder in February and August with suggested amounts. If you pay what the reminder says, on time, CRA won't charge instalment interest, even if your final bill is higher.
Your first year of owing more than $3,000 usually doesn't need instalments yet. The year after is often when the reminders start.
GST/HST instalments
If you file GST/HST annually and your net tax for this year or last year is $3,000 or more, you generally have to pay quarterly instalments. They are due one month after the end of each quarter of your fiscal year. For a December 31 year end: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31.
Paying a quarter of last year's net tax each time, in full and on time, avoids instalment interest.
In CollabNorth
The income tax instalment dates show on Tax time, marked "Only if CRA sent you instalment reminders". The Set aside card tells you roughly how much to have ready. GST/HST instalment dates aren't shown yet.
This is general information to help you keep your own records. It is not tax or legal advice.
Based on: CRA: Required tax instalments for individuals and CRA: Paying GST/HST by instalments
Last checked: 2026-10-12