Use our free Canada Sales Tax Calculator to work out the GST, HST, PST, or QST on any purchase in seconds. Enter an amount, choose your province or territory, and see the exact tax and total — whether you’re adding tax to a price or working backward from a tax-included amount.
✓ 2026 rates for all 10 provinces and 3 territories · Verified against CRA and provincial sources · Last reviewed: July 2026
How to Use the Sales Tax Calculator
Enter the dollar amount you want to check, select the province or territory where the sale takes place, and the calculator instantly breaks down the federal GST, any provincial tax (HST, PST, RST, or QST), and the final total. Because sales tax in Canada isn’t the same everywhere, choosing the correct province is the most important step — the combined rate ranges from 5% in Alberta to 15% in the Atlantic provinces.
Types of Sales Tax in Canada
GST (Goods and Services Tax) is the 5% federal tax that applies in every province and territory.
HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) combines the 5% federal GST with a province’s own tax into a single rate collected by the Canada Revenue Agency. Five provinces use it: Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
PST and RST (Provincial and Retail Sales Tax) are charged separately, on top of the 5% GST, in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (Manitoba calls its version RST).
QST (Quebec Sales Tax) is Quebec’s 9.975% provincial tax, administered by Revenu Québec alongside the federal GST.
Sales Tax Rates by Province and Territory (2026)
| Province / Territory | Tax Type | Combined Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | GST only | 5% |
| British Columbia | 5% GST + 7% PST | 12% |
| Manitoba | 5% GST + 7% RST | 12% |
| New Brunswick | HST | 15% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | HST | 15% |
| Northwest Territories | GST only | 5% |
| Nova Scotia | HST | 14% |
| Nunavut | GST only | 5% |
| Ontario | HST | 13% |
| Prince Edward Island | HST | 15% |
| Quebec | 5% GST + 9.975% QST | 14.975% |
| Saskatchewan | 5% GST + 6% PST | 11% |
| Yukon | GST only | 5% |
Rates are current for 2026, including Nova Scotia’s reduction from 15% to 14% effective April 1, 2025. The calculator always applies the latest rates.
How Sales Tax Is Calculated
To add tax to a price, multiply the pre-tax amount by the combined rate. A $1,000 purchase in Ontario (13% HST) works out to $130 in tax and a $1,130 total. In provinces with separate taxes, each is applied to the pre-tax price — a $1,000 item in British Columbia carries $50 GST plus $70 PST, for $1,120 in total.
Reverse calculation: finding the pre-tax price
To work backward from a tax-included total, divide by one plus the combined rate. If a receipt in Ontario shows $1,130 all-in, dividing by 1.13 gives the $1,000 pre-tax price, and the difference is the $130 tax. This is useful for expense reports, invoices that show only totals, and business bookkeeping. The calculator does the reverse math for you — just enter the tax-included amount.
Shopping Online? Tax Follows the Delivery Address
For goods shipped within Canada, sales tax is charged based on where the item is delivered, not where the seller is located. An Ontario resident ordering from a British Columbia retailer pays 13% Ontario HST, not BC’s 12%. The same destination principle applies to most major foreign e-commerce platforms, which are required to register for and collect GST/HST on sales to Canadian customers.
What’s Not Taxed: Zero-Rated vs. Exempt
Not everything on your receipt carries tax, and the CRA distinguishes two categories:
- Zero-rated supplies are taxable at 0% — basic groceries, prescription drugs, and most medical devices. You pay no tax, and businesses selling them can still recover the GST/HST on their own costs.
- Exempt supplies carry no GST/HST at all — most residential rent, health care and dental services, child care, and most financial services.
The line can be surprisingly specific: a plain bagel is a zero-rated grocery, but prepared restaurant meals and snack foods are fully taxable. Provinces also layer on their own exemptions — for example, children’s clothing is exempt from PST in British Columbia.
The GST/HST Credit: Getting Some of It Back
Lower- and modest-income Canadians receive the GST/HST credit — a tax-free quarterly payment from the CRA that offsets the sales tax they pay through the year. There’s no separate application: filing your tax return automatically determines your eligibility, with payments issued in July, October, January, and April. Amounts depend on family income and number of children.
Running a Business? When You Must Charge Sales Tax
If your business (including freelancing and side income) earns more than $30,000 in worldwide taxable revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters, you must register for GST/HST and start charging it. Below that “small supplier” threshold, registration is optional — but voluntary registration lets you claim input tax credits to recover the GST/HST you pay on business expenses. Businesses in BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba may also need separate provincial PST/RST registration, and Quebec businesses register for QST with Revenu Québec.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which provinces have the lowest sales tax?
Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon charge only the 5% federal GST, with no provincial sales tax — the lowest in Canada.
Which provinces have the highest sales tax?
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island are highest at 15% HST, with Quebec close behind at 14.975%.
How much is sales tax in Ontario?
Ontario applies 13% HST, so a $100 purchase costs $113 in total.
How do I calculate the price before tax?
Divide the tax-included total by one plus the combined rate. In Ontario, divide by 1.13; in Quebec, divide by 1.14975; in Alberta, divide by 1.05. The calculator’s reverse mode handles this automatically.
Do I pay my own province’s tax when I shop online?
Yes — for goods delivered within Canada, the rate is based on your delivery address, regardless of where the seller is located. Registered foreign platforms collect Canadian GST/HST the same way.
Are all goods and services taxed?
No. Basic groceries, prescription drugs, and most medical devices are zero-rated federally, while residential rent, health care, and child care are exempt. Individual provinces exempt further items. Prepared restaurant meals, by contrast, are fully taxable.
What is the GST/HST credit and who gets it?
It’s a tax-free quarterly payment that offsets sales tax for lower- and modest-income Canadians. Eligibility is assessed automatically when you file your tax return — no application needed.
When does a small business have to charge GST/HST?
Once taxable revenue exceeds $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, registration and collection become mandatory. Below that, you’re a “small supplier” and registration is optional but can be worthwhile for the input tax credits.
More Free Canadian Calculators
- Payroll Calculator — your per-paycheque take-home pay after all deductions.
- Canada Income Tax Calculator — full-year federal and provincial tax estimates.
- RRSP Calculator — contribution amounts and tax savings.
- Tax Brackets & Marginal Rates — federal plus all 13 provinces and territories.
All rates on this page are verified against official Canada Revenue Agency and provincial government publications.
Last updated: July 19, 2026