What is 🇨🇦 Canada Sales Tax Calculator (GST / HST / PST / QST)?
A 🇨🇦 Canada Sales Tax Calculator (GST / HST / PST / QST) computes the tax owed on a given income. It applies the standard formula to the values you enter and returns the result instantly, without sending any data to a server. Taxpayers use it to estimate their liability before filing.
🇨🇦 Canada Sales Tax Calculator (GST / HST / PST / QST)
Calculate the GST, HST, PST, or QST on any pre-tax amount for any Canadian province. Shows federal-vs-provincial breakdown and total. Updated for 2025 rates.
Federal GST is 5% everywhere. Five provinces (ON, NB, NS, NL, PEI) bundle it as HST. Three (BC, SK, MB) add provincial PST on top. Alberta and the three territories charge GST only. Quebec uses QST (9.975%) on top of GST. Pick a province and the tool shows the breakdown.
Total amount with tax
$113.00
Source: CRA + provincial finance department rate tables, current 2025. Most goods and services are taxable, but groceries, prescription drugs, and many financial services are exempt or zero-rated.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the pre-tax amount (the price as listed before tax).
- Pick the province or territory where the sale takes place.
- Switch the mode to "strip" if your number already includes tax and you want to back out the original price.
- Read the GST, PST/QST, and HST breakdown plus the combined rate and total.
About this tool
Canada has three layers of consumption tax: the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST, 5%), provincial sales taxes (PST in BC, SK, MB; QST in Quebec), and the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) which combines GST plus a provincial portion in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and PEI. Alberta and the three territories charge only GST. Each province sets its own rate; this tool uses the 2025 figures.
Many goods and services are zero-rated (taxable at 0%) or exempt. Common zero-rated supplies include basic groceries, prescription drugs, and most medical devices. Common exempt supplies include long-term residential rent, most financial services, daycare, and many health and dental services. The breakdown returned by this tool assumes the supply IS taxable - if you are unsure, check the CRA or your provincial finance department.
The math
When to use this
Pricing for invoicing
Generate an invoice for a client and need to add the right tax. Pick their province and the breakdown is ready to copy onto the bill.
Cross-border online buying
Bought something from a US site. Use this to back into the pre-tax amount when reconciling against a credit card statement that shows total only.
Out-of-province business travel
Submit expense reports across provinces and need to break out GST/HST recoverable for input tax credits (ITCs).
Restaurant or retail price comparison
A $50 listing in Alberta vs Quebec vs Nova Scotia. The tool shows you the all-in price difference at a glance.
What the tool does and does NOT handle
Does handle
- All 13 provinces and territories with their 2025 combined rates
- Both add-tax and strip-tax modes
- Federal vs provincial breakdown for accounting / ITC purposes
- Quebec QST shown separately from federal GST
Does NOT handle
- Item-by-item exemptions (groceries, drugs, etc.) - assumes the supply is taxable
- Place-of-supply rules for cross-border services - HST/GST may apply differently for digital services and services delivered remotely
- Input tax credits (ITCs) for businesses - that is a different recovery calculation
- Liquor, gas, tobacco, and other excise duties on top of GST/HST
Common mistakes
- Assuming Quebec uses HST. Quebec administers its own QST (9.975%) on top of federal GST. The QST is technically separate, not harmonized.
- Forgetting Saskatchewan changed PST. SK PST is 6% (since 2017). Some older guides still show 5% or 7%.
- Using BC PST on a service. BC PST applies to most goods but is more limited on services. Software-as-a-service and digital goods rules in BC change occasionally.
- Ignoring place of supply. For B2B services, HST/GST is generally based on the customer's address - not the supplier's. Cross-province billing requires care.
- Mixing tax-included and pre-tax in invoices. Always state on the invoice whether prices are pre-tax or tax-included. Auditors check this for HST input tax credit eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
Which provinces use HST in 2025?
Ontario (13%), Nova Scotia (14%), and New Brunswick / Newfoundland and Labrador / Prince Edward Island (15% each).
Why does Quebec have QST instead of HST?
Quebec opted out of harmonization. The QST (9.975%) is administered by Revenu Quebec, not the CRA.
Is GST only 5%?
Yes, the federal GST has been 5% since 2008. The federal portion of HST is also 5%, with the rest being the provincial share.
Are groceries taxed?
Basic groceries (bread, milk, vegetables, etc.) are zero-rated. Restaurant meals, snack foods, and prepared foods are usually taxable.
What about Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut?
All three territories charge only the 5% federal GST - no PST.
Did Nova Scotia HST change in 2025?
Nova Scotia moved from 15% to 14% HST effective April 1, 2025.
How do I claim back GST/HST as a business?
Register for GST/HST (mandatory if revenue exceeds $30,000/year), then claim Input Tax Credits on your GST/HST return for tax paid on business inputs.
Does this work for digital purchases?
Place-of-supply rules apply. Most foreign digital service providers selling to Canadian consumers must register and charge GST/HST.