Canada HST / GST Calculator
Calculate precise sales tax (HST, GST, PST) or reverse engineer totals for any Canadian province.
Total Amount (Including Tax)
Comprehensive Guide to Canada HST, GST, and PST
Understanding the Canadian sales tax system is essential for both consumers and business owners. Canada operates on a varying sales tax framework determined by the province or territory where the transaction takes place. Depending on your location, you may encounter the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Provincial Sales Tax (PST), or a combined Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
Our straightforward tax calculator is designed to help you quickly determine exact tax liabilities, generate accurate invoice breakdowns, and perform reverse calculations to extract base amounts from final receipts.
Understanding Canadian Sales Taxes
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) oversees the federal portion of sales tax, while provinces manage their respective provincial taxes. Here is a breakdown of the three primary types of sales tax in Canada:
- GST (Goods and Services Tax): A 5% federal tax applied to most goods and services supplied in Canada.
- PST (Provincial Sales Tax): A provincial tax added on top of the GST in certain provinces. It is also known as Retail Sales Tax (RST) in Manitoba and Quebec Sales Tax (QST) in Quebec. Rates vary by province.
- HST (Harmonized Sales Tax): A single, blended tax rate that combines both the federal GST and the provincial PST. Participating provinces include Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
Current 2026 Sales Tax Rates by Province
When calculating invoices or business expenses, it is crucial to use the correct rate for the specific jurisdiction. Below is the updated table of sales tax rates across Canada:
| Province / Territory | GST Rate | PST / QST / RST | Total Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 5% | 0% | 5% |
| British Columbia | 5% | 7% | 12% |
| Manitoba | 5% | 7% | 12% |
| New Brunswick | 0% | 0% | 15% (HST) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0% | 0% | 15% (HST) |
| Northwest Territories | 5% | 0% | 5% |
| Nova Scotia | 0% | 0% | 15% (HST) |
| Nunavut | 5% | 0% | 5% |
| Ontario | 0% | 0% | 13% (HST) |
| Prince Edward Island | 0% | 0% | 15% (HST) |
| Quebec | 5% | 9.975% | 14.975% |
| Saskatchewan | 5% | 6% | 11% |
| Yukon | 5% | 0% | 5% |
How to Use the Reverse Tax Calculation Feature
For business accounting, you often receive a receipt displaying only the final total, leaving you to determine the base amount and the exact tax paid. This process is known as reverse tax calculation or extracting tax.
To manually reverse calculate the HST in Ontario (13%):
- Formula: Total Amount / 1.13 = Base Amount
- Example: If your total is $113.00, dividing by 1.13 gives you a base amount of $100.00. The tax paid is the difference ($13.00).
Our tool's "Remove Tax (Inclusive)" toggle handles this mathematical extraction automatically for all provincial rates, including complex ones like Quebec's 14.975% combined rate.
Input Tax Credits (ITCs) for Small Businesses
If your business is registered for GST/HST with the CRA, you can generally recover the GST/HST paid or payable on business expenses. This recovery is done by claiming an Input Tax Credit (ITC) on your GST/HST return. Using a precise calculator ensures you are recording the exact tax amount eligible for an ITC, keeping your bookkeeping compliant and accurate.
Zero-Rated vs. Tax-Exempt Supplies
It is important to note that not all goods and services are subject to the standard tax rates. The CRA classifies certain items differently:
- Zero-Rated Supplies: These are goods and services taxable at a rate of 0%. Examples include basic groceries, agricultural products, and prescription drugs. While you do not charge tax on these items, your business can still claim ITCs for expenses related to producing them.
- Tax-Exempt Supplies: These are not subject to GST/HST. Examples include long-term residential rent, health care services, and educational services. Businesses cannot claim ITCs on expenses incurred to provide exempt supplies.