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A price of $9.99 plus tax costs $11.29 in Ontario, $10.49 in Alberta and $11.49 in Quebec. The tag says $9.99, but what leaves your account depends on the province where you buy.
What does $9.99 plus tax come to in each province?
“Plus tax” means the tax gets added at the till, after the price you saw. So you multiply by the combined rate, and round to the cent. The table uses 2026 rates for a taxable item, and the last column is the total you’d pay.
| Where you buy | Combined rate | Tax on $9.99 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | 5% | $0.50 | $10.49 |
| Saskatchewan | 11% | $1.10 | $11.09 |
| British Columbia, Manitoba | 12% | $1.20 | $11.19 |
| Ontario | 13% | $1.30 | $11.29 |
| Nova Scotia | 14% | $1.40 | $11.39 |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island | 15% | $1.50 | $11.49 |
| Quebec | 14.975% | $1.50 | $11.49 |
Ontario and the four Atlantic provinces use one blended HST, so the receipt shows a single tax line. Elsewhere you pay 5% GST with a separate provincial tax on top, which is why receipts in BC or Saskatchewan show two lines and why a quick mental 13% is wrong for half the country.
Why isn’t the tax the same everywhere?
Because each province decides for itself. The federal GST is 5% across the country. Some provinces fold their own tax into it (that’s the HST), and others run a separate sales tax next to it. Alberta and the territories charge no provincial tax at all, so they sit at the bottom.
Quebec is the odd one. Its QST of 9.975% is worked out on the price before GST, not on the price with GST added. The calculator follows that rule, and it’s why $9.99 gives $1.50 in tax there, the same as New Brunswick despite a slightly lower rate.
What if the $9.99 already includes tax?
Then you divide instead of multiply. In Ontario, $9.99 with tax included is $8.84 before tax and $1.15 of HST. In Alberta it’s $9.51 plus $0.48 of GST. Dividing by 1.13 is the step people get wrong, since taking 13% off $9.99 leaves $8.69 and misses the point.
The HST reverse calculator does the division for you, and the GST and HST calculator adds tax the normal way. Shops in Quebec can use the GST and QST calculator.
What does a $9.99 subscription cost over a year?
This is where the small number stops being small. Twelve months at $9.99 is $119.88 before tax. In Ontario that grows to $135.46 if it’s charged in one go. Billed monthly, each payment is $11.29 and twelve of them add up to $135.48, because every charge is rounded on its own.
In Alberta the same year costs $125.87. The gap between the two provinces is under ten dollars for the whole year. That’s worth remembering when you compare two plans, because a plan that’s a dollar cheaper before tax will still be cheaper after it, whichever province you live in.
Mistakes to avoid with plus tax prices
- Not every item is taxed. Some goods and services carry no tax or a lower one, so the table only fits a regular taxable item.
- The GST and PST tool for BC applies 12% to everything, which overstates the tax on things BC treats differently, restaurant meals included.
- Online sellers usually charge the rate of the province you live in. It isn’t the rate where the company sits.
- A total you calculate can differ by a cent from the receipt, since shops round in their own order.
Manitoba’s 7% sales tax and Quebec’s 9.975% QST match the provinces’ own pages. Rates change, so check the receipt in those two provinces if the cent matters.
Where do these rates come from?
The GST, HST and provincial rates follow the Canada Revenue Agency’s table of rates by province, checked in September 2026 against the provinces’ finance departments where they were reachable. This website has no connection with the CRA or any other government body.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $9.99 plus tax in Ontario?
It is $11.29. HST of 13% adds $1.30 to the $9.99 price.
Which province charges the least tax on $9.99?
Alberta and the territories charge only the 5% GST, so the total is $10.49.
How do I take tax out of $9.99?
Divide by one plus the rate. In Ontario that means $9.99 divided by 1.13, which gives $8.84 before tax.
Does the tax change on a monthly subscription?
Each charge is taxed and rounded on its own, so twelve payments of $11.29 in Ontario come to $135.48 for the year.
Is everything taxed at the same rate?
No. Some items are taxed at a lower rate or not at all, so the totals here suit an ordinary taxable purchase.
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Information only. This page is general information, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns or offer tax services, and we have no connection with the CRA, Revenu Québec, any government or any company named on this page. Check the figures that matter with an official source or a qualified professional.