Credit card processing and merchant services in Iqaluit, NU
Iqaluit businesses renew a City business licence every year on top of the territorial one, and their sales carry only the 5% GST, which keeps a till's tax setup short.
With 7,429 people at the 2021 Census, Iqaluit is a small market, but it's Nunavut's capital, and doing business here means holding two licences.
The first is the City's. The City of Iqaluit says anyone conducting business within Iqaluit, wholly or partially, must hold a valid business licence under its Business Licensing By-law No. 859, and licences have to be renewed every year. That word "partially" matters if you're based elsewhere but do some of your work in Iqaluit. The second licence is territorial: the Government of Nunavut applies its Business Licence Act to all businesses carried on in Nunavut.
The City has also told residents that selling prepared foods takes a business licence. If you sell meals or baking from your own kitchen, get licensed before you start advertising or taking payments.
Sales tax is the easy part. Nunavut has no territorial sales tax, so taxable sales in Iqaluit carry the 5% GST and nothing more. Shipping south changes that. Under CRA's place-of-supply rules, goods delivered to a customer in Ontario are supplied in Ontario, so a GST/HST registrant charges Ontario's 13% HST on them instead of 5%. If you sell online, set your checkout to charge tax by delivery address.
For card payments, a home food seller can start with tap to pay on a phone or a small card reader through our mobile payments setup. A shop that takes phone orders from other communities can key them into our virtual terminal or send a payment link. We price on interchange-plus, with no long-term contract and a dedicated rep. Start with a free statement review, and see our Nunavut page for the territorial rules.
Rules that matter in Iqaluit
City business licence
The City of Iqaluit requires anyone conducting business within Iqaluit, either wholly or partially, to hold a valid business licence under its Business Licensing By-law No. 859, and licences must be renewed every year. The City has also told residents that they must obtain a business licence to sell prepared foods.
A City licence doesn't replace the territorial one. The Government of Nunavut's Business Licence Act applies to all businesses carried on in Nunavut.
Sources: City of Iqaluit, Apply for a Business License; City of Iqaluit, Residents Must Obtain a Business License to Sell Prepared Foods; Government of Nunavut, Get a business licence
Payment services we provide
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Common questions
Do I need a City of Iqaluit business licence?
Yes, if you conduct business within Iqaluit, wholly or partially. The City's Business Licensing By-law No. 859 requires a valid licence, and it has to be renewed every year. You also need a territorial business licence, since the Government of Nunavut applies its Business Licence Act to all businesses carried on in Nunavut.
Can I sell home-cooked food in Iqaluit without a licence?
No. The City of Iqaluit has told residents they must obtain a business licence to sell prepared foods. Get the licence before you advertise, then set up a way to take cards. Tap to pay on a phone or a small mobile card reader handles small sales at the door.
Does a business based outside Iqaluit need a City licence to work there?
It may. The City of Iqaluit says anyone conducting business within Iqaluit, either wholly or partially, needs a valid business licence. If you're based in another community or in the south and do part of a job in the city, check with the City before the work starts, and keep your territorial licence current as well.
What rate do I charge on goods shipped from Iqaluit to Ontario?
If you're a GST/HST registrant, generally Ontario's 13% HST. Under CRA's place-of-supply rules, goods delivered to a customer in Ontario are supplied in Ontario, whichever province or territory you ship them from. Orders delivered within Nunavut carry the 5% GST. Ask your accountant how the rules apply to services you sell outside the territory.
Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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