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Ontario has no PST. If a shop, a website or an invoice shows “PST Ontario”, it’s a mistake, because the province charges 13% HST on most taxable sales. That rate is 5% federal and 8% provincial, and the 8% is the part people sometimes call the Ontario PST.
Why do people search for PST in Ontario?
Because it’s a tax most Canadians do pay somewhere. Three provinces charge a separate provincial sales tax beside the GST: British Columbia at 7%, Saskatchewan at 6% and Manitoba at 7%, where it’s called retail sales tax. Quebec has its own QST at 9.975%. Move between provinces, or shop online from one, and the wording follows you.
Ontario used to have its own retail sales tax at 8%. The government’s HST page says it was replaced on 1 July 2010, along with the 5% GST, by a single 13% tax collected by the CRA. The 8% is still there in spirit, but it is paid into one line.
What would PST look like next to Ontario HST?
On a $1,000 taxable purchase, here’s what each system charges, using the same maths as our calculators.
| Where | Tax on $1,000 | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario (13% HST) | $130 | $1,130 |
| British Columbia (5% GST + 7% PST) | $120 | $1,120 |
| Alberta (5% GST) | $50 | $1,050 |
Ontario is the priciest of the three, by $10 against BC and by $80 against Alberta. You can check any other province in the GST and HST calculator. For a PST province, the GST and PST calculator covers British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
What if a supplier charges me PST in Ontario?
Ask what they mean. There are two honest answers. One is that the invoice is from a business in another province that charges its local PST, and whether that applies to you depends on where the sale is treated as happening. We haven’t got a clear CRA rule to quote for every online case, so don’t rely on this page for it. The other is a labelling error, where the line is really HST. A line for 8% on an Ontario invoice is a sign of that.
Either way, compare the amount with the expected 13%. If a $500 sale to an Ontario address shows $65, that’s HST. If it shows $35 or $75 and the company isn’t in Ontario, ask for a breakdown in writing.
Can an Ontario business skip the tax?
Small suppliers can. A business doesn’t need to register for GST/HST while its taxable sales stay at or under $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, says the CRA. Past that, you register within 29 days. Until then you don’t have to charge the tax. The CRA also lets small suppliers register voluntarily if they make taxable sales in Canada, so a new seller can choose to start early. Taxi and rideshare drivers are the exception and must register from day one.
The reverse case matters for buyers. If the price on the tag already contains the tax, the reverse HST calculator shows what it was before. A $1,130 total in Ontario is $1,000 plus $130.
What does Ontario still call a separate sales tax?
Ontario says retail sales tax continues to apply to certain insurance products and to private purchases of vehicles. That may be what lies behind a “PST” you’ve heard about. It’s a narrow piece, and we haven’t checked its rates, so look at the Ontario finance page first if either applies to you.
Where the numbers come from
The HST rate and its history come from Ontario’s HST page. The PST rates for British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the QST are from our 2026 sales tax data. Manitoba’s 7% and Quebec’s rate should be confirmed before you use them for filing. The site has no connection to any government.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ontario have PST?
No. Most taxable sales carry 13% HST, which includes an 8% provincial part.
Which provinces charge PST?
British Columbia at 7%, Saskatchewan at 6%, and Manitoba charges a 7% retail sales tax. Quebec has QST.
What did HST replace in Ontario?
The 5% GST and the 8% retail sales tax, from 1 July 2010.
Is HST cheaper than PST plus GST?
On a taxable $1,000, Ontario HST is $130 and BC GST plus PST is $120.
Who collects HST in Ontario?
The Canada Revenue Agency, on behalf of the province.
- GST, HST, PST and QST explained for every province
Which GST, HST, PST or QST applies where you shop or sell in Canada, the 2026 rates for every province, who must register and how to add or remove tax
- Ontario income tax and sales tax in 2026
How Ontario income tax works in 2026: the five brackets, the surtax and health premium, the 13% HST, and the calculators that switch to Ontario
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.