A $250 purchase costs $282.50 in Ontario, $280.00 in British Columbia and $262.50 in Alberta. Type any price below, pick a province and the calculator adds the sales tax, or takes it back out of a total.
Which sales tax do you pay where?
Canada has one federal sales tax, the 5% GST, and every province decides what to put on top. Five provinces merged the two into a single harmonized tax, the HST. Four provinces charge their own tax next to the GST, and four places charge GST only.
| Where | What you pay | Rate on the price |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | HST | 13% |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island | HST | 15% |
| Nova Scotia | HST | 14% |
| British Columbia and Manitoba | GST plus 7% PST | 12% |
| Saskatchewan | GST plus 6% PST | 11% |
| Quebec | GST plus 9.975% QST | 14.975% |
| Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | GST only | 5% |
Where the sale happens usually decides the rate. If you order online and have it shipped, you’ll normally pay the rate of the place it’s delivered to.
How do you take the tax out of a total?
Say your receipt shows only the final amount. You’ll want to work backwards with the combined rate. In Ontario the total is 1.13 times the base price, so $113 is a $100 item plus $13 of HST. Taking 13% of $113 gives $14.69, and that’s wrong, because the tax was charged on the smaller base. Choose the option for an amount that already includes tax and the calculator does the division for you. The reverse HST calculator is built for just this job.
Why is Quebec different?
Quebec applies the QST to the base price alone, and GST is never part of what the QST is charged on. A $100 item carries $5.00 of GST and $9.98 of QST, so it costs $114.98. The GST and QST calculator shows both lines. In British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba the provincial tax is billed on its own line, so the GST and PST calculator is more direct there.
What isn’t taxed, or is taxed less?
Some goods and services carry a 0% rate. Think unprepared food, prescription drugs and exports. Others are exempt, like most health care and long-term rent. Businesses care about the difference, because a zero-rated sale lets them claim back the tax they paid on their costs, while an exempt sale doesn’t, and that can change what a seller charges you in the end. The calculator always applies the full rate, so it’ll overstate the tax on bread, milk or a prescribed medical device.
A seller needs a GST/HST number once taxable sales pass $30,000 across four calendar quarters in a row. After that it collects the tax on each sale and remits it. Below the limit you don’t have to register. It’s your call.
What about a new home?
A new home carries the full tax on a big price, though rebates cover part of it. The new home rebate calculator works out the federal rebate, the first-time buyer rebate and the Ontario share. Add land transfer tax and you have the full cost at closing, which the land transfer tax calculator shows.
Where do the rates come from?
GST and HST rates come from the federal rate table, and PST and QST from the finance departments of the provinces that charge them. Nova Scotia cut its HST from 15% to 14% on 1 April 2025. Store systems round each line on its own, so your receipt can land a cent away from the figure here. This website has no connection with any tax authority.
Frequently asked questions
How much HST goes on a price in Ontario?
13% of the price, made up of 5% federal and 8% provincial. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island use 15%, and Nova Scotia 14%.
How do I get back to the price before tax?
Divide what you paid by 1 plus the tax rate as a decimal. In Ontario, $113 divided by 1.13 gives $100.
Where is only the 5% federal tax charged?
Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. None of them has a provincial sales tax.
Is there tax on food?
Unprepared groceries carry 0% tax. Restaurant meals, snacks and hot food are taxed.
When does a business need a GST number?
Once its taxable sales pass $30,000 over four calendar quarters in a row.
Sources and updates
Updated: . How we check rates · Editorial team · Updates
Estimate only. These figures are a planning estimate, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns, and we don't offer tax, legal or accounting services. We have no connection with the Canada Revenue Agency, Revenu Québec or any provincial government. Your real amounts depend on details this tool cannot see, so confirm them with an official source or a qualified professional before you act.