If a GST/HST NETFILE return will not submit, read the specific message from the CRA or software, verify the account and reporting period, and check CRA service availability. A successful standalone NETFILE filing gives a six-digit confirmation number showing that the return was accepted for processing; it does not confirm payment. CRA NETFILE instructions.
Check the filing route and information
- Confirm that you are using the GST/HST filing service rather than personal income-tax NETFILE; they are different services.
- For the standalone GST/HST form, check your business number, four-digit GST/HST access code, and the start and end of the reporting period.
- Read the exact on-screen error and follow its instructions. If the return was prepared using third-party software, consult that product’s support with the precise error and service name.
- Review figures before resubmitting and retain the six-digit confirmation if the return is accepted for processing.
Filing through CRA My Business Account does not require the separate four-digit code. Accounts administered by Revenu Québec use its own services. Find your GST/HST access code or read the filing walkthrough.
If the service appears unavailable
Check the CRA’s published GST/HST electronic filing hours and technical requirements and the CRA sign-in information alerts. The online form and CRA account are different routes, and either can be unavailable. This page does not monitor their live status.
The standalone NETFILE session expires after 35 minutes of inactivity, and entries are not saved if the session ends before you confirm filing. Have your figures ready before starting again. If a technical issue persists, keep the error and timing details and contact the CRA for the route appropriate to your situation.
Filing and payment are separate
A NETFILE confirmation means the return was accepted for processing, not that the balance was paid. Arrange a payment separately if you owe one, and check the actual payment deadline. See GST/HST payment options.
What if the deadline is close?
Do not assume an outage automatically extends a filing or payment deadline. Check CRA notices, retain evidence of the issue and contact CRA about available options. Most registrants must file electronically; paper filing when electronic filing is required can carry a $100 penalty for the first failure and $250 for subsequent failures. Late filing with a balance owing has its own calculation, and interest on unpaid amounts is separate. See CRA filing penalties and the penalty guide.
Personal T1 filing
Personal income-tax NETFILE uses certified tax software and is separate from GST/HST NETFILE. If your personal-tax software reports an error, follow that product’s specific instructions rather than applying GST/HST filing advice. The personal NETFILE access code and four-digit GST/HST code serve different purposes. See personal income-tax NETFILE.
Related guides
Sources
- CRA: GST/HST NETFILE instructions
- CRA: file a gst hst return rebate election electronically
- CRA: gst hst filing penalties
Sources checked October 17, 2026.