CANADA: Involved in the sharing economy? Know your tax obligations

What is the sharing economy?
The sharing economy is a way to consume and access property and services. In this economy, communities pool, loan, and share their resources through networks of trust, often using technology to connect.

The five key sectors of the sharing economy are:

• accommodation sharing
• ride sharing
• music and video streaming
• online staffing
• peer or crowd funding

What are your tax obligations?
If you participate in the sharing economy, you must report any income you earn through sharing-economy activities. You must also meet your goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) reporting and remittance requirements.

Generally, if you are a small supplier whose supplies of GST/HST taxable property and services are $30,000 or less a year, you do not have to register for a GST/HST account.