Calculate the GST, HST, PST, or QST on a sale in any Canadian province or territory. Enter your amount and province to see the tax breakdown and total.
Result
Final price to be paid.
Fill in the details to see the result.
Indicative result, calculated from the details and the rules listed below. It does not replace an official calculation or advice from a professional.
With the result already worked out, you can fill in the document right away.
The editor opens with the calculator details already entered.
Canada's sales tax landscape is a combination of federal and provincial levies. The federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) applies nationwide at a rate of 5%. Provinces then add their own taxes, which take one of three forms: a separate Provincial Sales Tax (PST), a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) that combines the GST and provincial portion into a single rate, or, in the case of Quebec, the Quebec Sales Tax (QST). Understanding which taxes apply in your province is essential for accurate pricing, invoicing, and compliance.
The calculation depends on your province and whether you start with a net (before-tax) or gross (including-tax) amount.
To find the total tax from a gross amount, you must first work backwards to determine the net amount before applying the tax rates.
Let's calculate the tax on a $1,000 service in Ontario, a province that uses HST.
If a customer paid $1,130 and you needed to find the tax component, you would divide the total by (1 + 13%) to find the net amount of $1,000, and then subtract to find the tax of $130.
While most goods and services are taxable, significant exemptions exist. Basic groceries, prescription drugs, most medical devices, and certain educational services are zero-rated for GST/HST (taxed at 0%). Some provinces also exempt specific items like children's clothing and books from PST. It is crucial for businesses to correctly identify the tax status of their products and services to avoid over- or under-charging.
After calculating the correct tax amounts, you should clearly itemize them on receipts and invoices. This transparency is important for your customers' records and for audit purposes. For formal transactions, such as service contracts or sales agreements, the total fee and applicable taxes should be explicitly stated within the document's payment terms.
Using a General Receipt is an excellent way to provide proof of payment and a clear breakdown of taxes for any sale. For ongoing work, a Services Agreement should define the scope and total fees, making it clear whether quoted prices are before or after tax.
GST is the federal 5% tax. PST is a separate provincial sales tax in BC, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. HST is a single, combined tax used in several provinces (like Ontario and Nova Scotia) that includes both the federal and provincial portions.
Select "Amount Including Tax" in the calculator. Enter the total price and your province. The tool will automatically calculate the original price before tax and show you the exact tax amount that was included.
No, the total sales tax rate varies significantly. For example, Alberta has only the 5% GST, Ontario has a 13% HST, and Quebec has a combined GST and QST effective rate of approximately 14.975%. Always check the rate for your specific province.
In Quebec, the QST is calculated on the price that includes the federal GST. This is different from PST provinces, where PST is calculated on the base price before GST. This results in a slightly higher effective tax rate, which our calculator handles correctly.
Basic groceries, prescription drugs, most health and dental care services, and residential rent are generally exempt from GST/HST. Some provinces also exempt items like books and children's clothing from PST. Specific rules can be complex, so consult the CRA or your provincial revenue agency.
Yes, this calculator provides accurate tax amounts suitable for creating receipts and invoices. For a professional record, we recommend using a formal General Receipt document which can be prefilled with the calculated amounts.
