# Facebook ads in Canada: GST/HST, QST, the French rule and key dates > Facebook ads in Canada: GST or HST on Meta's bill and how a tax ID stops it, Quebec sales tax, French-language advertising, time zone changes and key dates. - **Author**: Marxx - **Published**: 2026-10-31 - **Category**: Americas - **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-markets/meta-ads-in-canada --- Facebook ads in Canada run in Meta Ads Manager, and Meta adds GST or HST to your bill unless you add your GST/HST ID to the ad account. If your address is in Quebec, Meta adds Quebec sales tax (QST) unless you add your QST registration number. ## Facts that differ in Canada (checked 2026-10-20) | Fact | Canada | |---|---| | Ad transparency | The [Meta Ad Library](/glossary/meta-ad-library) shows every active ad. Ads about social issues, elections or politics need [authorisation](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2150157295276323) and a disclaimer, and stay in the Library for 7 years ([Meta](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2405092116183307)). | | Tax on Meta's bill | Since July 2021, Meta adds GST or HST at the local rate if your "Sold To" address is in Canada and you have not added a GST/HST ID. Since March 2019, it adds QST for Quebec addresses without a QST registration number ([Meta](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/133076073434794)). GST is 5% and Ontario's HST is 13% ([CRA](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/charge-collect-which-rate/calculator.html)). | | Main languages | In 2021, English was the mother tongue of 54.9% of Canadians and French of 19.6% ([Statistics Canada](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/220817/t001a-eng.htm)). Quebec's language office said on 26 May 2015 that commercial advertising there must be in French, and may also use another language if French is clearly predominant ([OQLF](https://www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/office/communiques/2015/20150526_publicite_commerciale.html)). | | Popular platforms | Ad reach in late 2025: YouTube 33.0 million, Facebook 24.6 million, Instagram 21.0 million, TikTok 16.6 million (adults only) ([DataReportal](https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2026-canada)). Ad reach is the audience each platform's ad tool reports, not active users. | | Payments Meta accepts | Amex, Mastercard and Visa cards, and PayPal ([Meta](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/475435136157514)). | | Time zone | It differs by province, and some provinces have stopped changing clocks. IANA records British Columbia on UTC-7 all year since 9 March 2026, Alberta on UTC-6 all year since 18 June 2026, and Manitoba on UTC-5 all year from 31 October 2026. Ontario and Quebec still change clocks ([IANA tz database 2026e](https://data.iana.org/time-zones/tzdb/NEWS)). | ## Key selling dates (checked 2026-10-20) - **Black Friday:** Friday 27 November 2026, Cyber Monday 30 November ([plan](/campaigns/black-friday-ad-ideas)). - **Christmas Day:** Friday 25 December 2026. **Boxing Day:** Saturday 26 December, a general holiday for federally regulated workplaces ([Canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/workplace/federal-labour-standards/vacations-holidays.html)). See [Christmas ideas](/campaigns/christmas-ad-ideas). - **New Year's Day:** Friday 1 January 2027, on the same list. - **Canada Day:** Thursday 1 July 2027, on the same list. ## What to run and when Say your business address is in Ontario, you have no GST/HST ID and you spend CAD 1,000. At Ontario's 13% HST, Meta adds CAD 130 and you pay CAD 1,130. Add the ID in Payment settings and Meta adds nothing. Now say you plan CAD 20,000 for Black Friday to Boxing Day. You spend CAD 4,000 in the two weeks before 27 November to test hooks, CAD 12,000 across 27 to 30 November behind the winners, and CAD 4,000 on December reminders. Write separate French creative for Quebec rather than translating the English ad line by line. Selling across the border? See the [United States](/markets/meta-ads-in-united-states), where Meta adds tax in only four states. To see what rival brands run before you spend, search the Ad Library by hand. We make Marxx, which [tracks competitor ads](/features/competitor-tracking) on Meta and Google in one place. ## Common mistakes - Leaving the GST/HST ID off a registered business, so Meta adds tax you could have avoided. - Running English-only commercial ads to Quebec without checking the language rule. - Scheduling launches in one time zone when provinces differ. - Running ads about social issues, elections or politics without authorisation. ## FAQ ### Does Meta charge GST on Facebook ads in Canada? Yes, unless you add your GST/HST ID to the ad account. Meta adds GST or HST at the local rate, and Quebec addresses may also pay QST. ### Do Facebook ads in Quebec have to be in French? Quebec's language office said in 2015 that commercial advertising must be in French, and may also be in another language if French is clearly predominant. Ask a lawyer how this applies to your ads. ### Which payment methods work for Facebook ads in Canada? Amex, Mastercard and Visa cards, and PayPal. The Canadian dollar is on Meta's list of accepted ad account currencies. --- - [More Americas articles](https://marxx.ai/library-markets/category/americas) - [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-markets)