The BC tax verification letter

Published 10 November 2026 · Pantheon Strategic Ltd

What the Province's tax verification letter checks, when you need one, how to get it within 24 hours through eTaxBC, and what to fix first if you can't.

You've won a provincial contract. The award notice is in your inbox, the crew is lined up, and then the ministry asks for a document you've never heard of. Without it, they can't sign. The tax verification letter is a small piece of paper with real consequences: the Province says that if a vendor can't produce one when a procurement requires it, the contract can't be finalized and it will likely move on to the next qualified vendor. This guide explains what the tax verification letter is, when you need it, how to get it in a day, and what to fix first if you can't.

What a tax verification letter is

A tax verification letter is issued by the B.C. Ministry of Finance and confirms that a vendor is compliant with two provincial tax obligations:

• B.C. corporate income tax filings are up to date, and
• provincial sales tax (PST) filings are up to date and there's no PST balance owing, with two exceptions noted below.

The Ministry's FAQ is specific about what it doesn't check. Only PST filing and balance and B.C. corporate income tax filing are covered. Accounts like Property Transfer Tax or ICBC debt aren't reviewed, and for corporate income tax the letter looks at whether filings are current, not whether there's a balance. The Province notes that more accounts, such as employer health tax, may be added later.

Each letter shows the vendor's legal name, the date of issue and the validity period. It's valid for one year from the date it's issued and can be used for multiple contracts.

When you need a tax verification letter

Since January 1, 2020, unless an exception applies, the Province can't sign a contract for goods, services or construction valued at $100,000 or more without a valid letter from the vendor. Three details trip people up:

The $100,000 includes everything

The threshold counts all fees, expenses and all options to extend or renew. A $70,000 contract with a $40,000 renewal option is over the line.

Extensions and renewals count too

The Province attaches a tax verification schedule to applicable contracts, and a valid letter is needed before the Province may extend or renew. If your original letter is still valid on that date, you don't need a new one.

It applies even if you don't pay these taxes

If you don't have a PST account, or you're not a corporation subject to B.C. corporate income tax, you still have to request a letter, and you'll be given one. The FAQ lists consulting firms, companies that don't sell taxable goods, and out-of-province vendors among those covered.

When you don't need one

The requirement described here is the Province's. Municipalities, health authorities and other public bodies that post on BC Bid set their own requirements, so read each solicitation's documents for what it asks.

How to get a tax verification letter

1. Log in to eTaxBC. If you don't have an eTaxBC account, enrol first. The Province publishes tutorial videos for both enrolment and the request.
2. Request the letter. Enter the required information, review, certify it's correct, and submit. A confirmation appears in your eTaxBC account.
3. Download it. If your accounts are compliant, the letter is generated and available within 24 hours to print or download. There's no cost.
4. Send a copy to the contact at the procuring ministry. They must receive it before the contract can be awarded, extended or renewed.

If you can't apply online, the Ministry of Finance will mail a paper application on request, but paper can take up to four weeks, and the Ministry doesn't accept faxed or emailed forms.

If you've never filed in BC

A Canadian vendor that hasn't needed to file a B.C. return will be asked for a Filing and Balance Confirmation letter from the Canada Revenue Agency, which can be generated through CRA's My Business Account. That adds time to the usual turnaround, so start early.

Watch your legal entity and business number

The legal entity entering into the contract must be the same entity named on the tax verification letter. If you bid as a numbered company but your letter is in your operating company's name, fix it before you sign. And if your business number changes within a year of the letter's issue, you need a new letter under the new number, even mid-contract.

If you can't get a tax verification letter

The letter won't be issued if a PST balance is owing, unless one of two things is true: you have an acceptable payment arrangement with the Ministry of Finance, or the balance relates to a PST matter under appeal. In both cases your B.C. corporate income tax and PST filings must also be current. So the fix order is simple:

1. File any missing PST returns.
2. File any outstanding B.C. corporate income tax returns.
3. Pay the PST balance or set up a payment arrangement with the Ministry.
4. Request the letter again.

For questions about the letter itself, the Ministry of Finance takes calls at 1-877-387-3332 and email at [email protected]. For questions about a particular procurement, contact the person named in the procurement documents.

Be letter-ready before you bid

The Province recommends requesting the letter as early as possible in a procurement, to avoid delays at contract signing. Better still, make it part of your standing bid kit: request it once a year, diary the expiry date, and keep a PDF alongside your WorkSafeBC clearance letter and insurance certificates. Our guides on how to use BC Bid and the WorkSafeBC clearance letter cover the other pieces.

A bid kit that's ready when the opportunity lands is part of the contract acquisition work in our service catalogue, under the Business Development pillar. We're not accountants and this isn't tax advice, but if public work is part of your growth plan, we can help you get the whole package in order. The first conversation is free.

Frequently asked questions

What is a tax verification letter in BC?

A letter from the B.C. Ministry of Finance confirming a vendor's B.C. corporate income tax filings and PST filings are up to date and no PST balance is owing, except under a payment arrangement or a PST appeal.

When do I need a tax verification letter?

Before the Province signs, extends or renews a contract valued at $100,000 or more, including all fees, expenses and options to extend or renew, unless an exception applies.

How long does it take to get a tax verification letter?

If your accounts are compliant, the letter is generated and available within 24 hours to print or download. There's no cost.

How long is a tax verification letter valid?

One year from the date it's issued, and it can be used for multiple contracts.

Can I get a tax verification letter if I owe PST?

Only if you have an acceptable payment arrangement with the Ministry of Finance or the balance relates to a PST matter under appeal, and your B.C. corporate income tax and PST filings are current.