Question 1

What is North?

Accepted Answer

North is the AI inside NorthOS, a Canadian bookkeeping app for sole proprietors and side hustlers. You talk to North the way you would talk to a coworker: tell it what you earned, send it a photo of a receipt, or ask where you stand on GST. It proposes the entry, you confirm it, and your books stay CRA-ready all year.

Question 2

Do I have to pay taxes on my side hustle income in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the CRA requires you to report all income including money earned from side hustles, freelancing, or gig work. This applies whether you receive a T4, T4A, or no tax slip at all. Digital platforms like Etsy, Airbnb, and Uber are now required to report your earnings directly to the CRA. Failing to report this income can result in penalties and interest charges.

Question 3

What expenses can I deduct as a Canadian freelancer?

Accepted Answer

Common deductible expenses include home office costs such as a portion of rent, utilities and internet, vehicle expenses for business use, professional development and courses, equipment and supplies, software subscriptions, bank and transaction fees, and professional services like accounting. North helps you identify all eligible deductions specific to your side hustle.

Question 4

How do I report Uber, DoorDash, or other gig income?

Accepted Answer

Gig income is reported as self-employment income on Form T2125, the Statement of Business or Professional Activities, which is filed with your personal T1 return. You report your gross income and deduct eligible business expenses to arrive at your net self-employment income. NorthOS keeps a running T2125 so the numbers are ready at filing time.

Question 5

Do I need to charge GST/HST on my side hustle?

Accepted Answer

You must register for and charge GST/HST once your worldwide taxable revenues exceed $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive calendar quarters. Below that you are a small supplier and registration is optional. North tracks your revenue against this threshold and warns you before you cross it.

Question 6

How long do I need to keep my receipts and records?

Accepted Answer

The CRA requires you to keep business records and supporting receipts for six years from the end of the tax year they relate to. Digital copies are acceptable. NorthOS backs up your receipt photos so the original is always attached to the expense it supports.

Question 7

Do I need to register my side hustle as a business in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Most side hustlers operate as sole proprietors, which usually requires no federal registration to start. Depending on your province and whether you operate under a business name, provincial registration may apply. Once revenue grows, GST/HST registration and other obligations follow. North flags these milestones as you approach them.

Your back office,
on a first-name basis.

One conversation runs the whole back office

Books

Trips

Invoices

Tax

You run the business. North runs alongside.

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Canadian tax questions, answered

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Your back office,on a first-name basis.