Canada GST/HST Calculator 2023
Overview of sales tax in Canada
- The Harmonized Sales Tax, or HST, is a sales tax that is applied to most goods and services in a number of Canadian provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island.
- Other provinces in Canada do not use the HST and instead use a distinct Goods and Services Tax (GST) and/or Provincial Sales Tax (PST). Provinces with both a GST and PST or PST-equivalent include British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Manitoba.
- Quebec and Manitoba use the QST and RST respectively in lieu of a PST. Some provinces such as Alberta and also all territories do not charge a PST.
Find your GST/HST rebate for a new homeSales Tax Rates for All Provinces in Canada
Sales Taxes Across Canada for $1000
Sales Tax Structure of Canadian Provinces and Territories
HST-only Provinces
New BrunswickHST
Newfoundland and LabradorHST
Nova ScotiaHST
OntarioHST
Prince Edward IslandHSTGST+PST Provinces
British ColumbiaGST + PST
ManitobaGST + RST
QuébecGST + QST
SaskatchewanGST + PSTGST-only Provinces/Territories
AlbertaGST
Northwest TerritoriesGST
NunavutGST
YukonGSTHarmonized Sales Tax (HST)
The Harmonized Sales Tax, or HST, is a sales tax that is applied to most goods and services in a number of Canadian provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. It ranges from 13% in Ontario to 15% in other provinces and is composed of a provincial tax and a federal tax.
Exemptions to the HST
There are two types of exemptions for HST: direct exemptions and zero-rated goods and services. The difference is related to how businesses handle costs related to the exemptions, but as a consumer, you would not have to pay HST on items from either category.
Goods and services that are zero-rated from HST include:
- Basic groceries, including meats, fish, cereals, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, coffee, tea. Some foods including snack foods, liquor, and carbonated beverages are charged HST.
- Prescription drugs, but not any drugs available over-the-counter (OTC).
- Medical devices
- Feminine hygiene products
Goods and services that are directly exempt from HST include:
- Residential resales of property that has been previously owned and used
- Rental accommodations of longer than a month
- Educational services that lead to a certificate or diploma or are required for a certain practice
- Medical and dental services
- Financial services such as bank fees
- Legal aid services
- Day-care services
There are special cases that are exempt from HST but are still taxed a provincial sales tax.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Provincial Sales Tax (PST)
Other provinces in Canada do not use the HST and instead use a distinct Goods and Services Tax (GST) and/or Provincial Sales Tax (PST). Provinces with both a GST and PST or PST-equivalent include British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Manitoba. Quebec and Manitoba use the QST and RST respectively in lieu of a PST.
Some provinces and territories do not charge a PST. These include Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
History of Sales Taxes in Canada
To finance the First World War, Canada first introduced the Manufacturers’ Sales Tax (MST) along with other sales taxes in 1920. The MST was charged at every stage of the manufacturing process, causing a negative cascading effect. In 1991, the government replaced the MST with a consumption value-added tax known as the GST. The series of reforms included a provision to prevent double-taxation with the ability of individuals to claim input tax credits (ITCs) on purchases. This change to the GST was done with the exception of Quebec, who introduced their own form of value-added tax (QST). The GST rate was decreased from 7% to 5% between 2006 to 2008.
After 1996, several provinces adopted HST, a combination of PST and GST into a single value-added tax. Currently, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia have adopted the HST. British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, and Saskatchewan still pay separate GSTs and HSTs, and Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon do not have a provincial sales tax.