🍁 Canada GST/HST Calculator

Calculate prices including or excluding Canadian sales tax. Supports GST 5% (federal) and HST 13% (Ontario, harmonized rate).

After-tax Amount

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Pre-tax Amount — Tax Amount — After-tax Amount —

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Understanding Canada's GST/HST System

Unlike the EU's single-rate VAT model, Canada layers a federal Goods and Services Tax (GST, 5%) with province-specific rules. Provinces that harmonize their sales tax with GST use the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST): Ontario at 13%, and the Atlantic provinces — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island — at 15% (Nova Scotia reduced its HST to 14% effective April 1, 2025; confirm current provincial rate before relying on it for filings). Provinces that charge GST only, plus their own separate provincial sales tax, include Alberta (GST only, no PST), British Columbia (GST 5% + PST 7%), Manitoba (GST 5% + RST 7%), Saskatchewan (GST 5% + PST 6%), and Quebec (GST 5% + QST/TVQ 9.975%, administered by Revenu Québec). Because of this patchwork, "Canada VAT" is really a per-province calculation rather than one national rate.

Tax Calculation Methods

Adding tax to a pre-tax price: multiply the pre-tax price by (1 + tax rate). Example: a CA$100 pre-tax price at 13% HST becomes CA$100 × 1.13 = CA$113 after-tax. The tax amount is CA$13. Removing tax from an after-tax price: divide the after-tax price by (1 + tax rate). Example: a CA$113 after-tax price at 13% HST yields CA$113 ÷ 1.13 = CA$100 pre-tax. Tax amount directly: Tax = After-tax price × (rate ÷ (1 + rate)). For CA$113 at 13%: Tax = CA$113 × (0.13 ÷ 1.13) = CA$13.

GST/HST Registration for Businesses

Businesses with total taxable revenues (worldwide) exceeding CA$30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters (or in a single quarter) must register for a GST/HST account with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and start charging tax. Businesses below this "small supplier" threshold may register voluntarily to claim Input Tax Credits (ITCs) on their own purchases. Once registered, businesses charge GST or HST based on the place-of-supply rules (generally the customer's province for goods delivered within Canada), collect the tax, and remit it to the CRA — Quebec administers its own GST/QST jointly through Revenu Québec.

Filing GST/HST Returns

Registered businesses file GST/HST returns monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on their revenue (annual filers with revenue below CA$1.5M, quarterly up to CA$6M, monthly above that, though smaller businesses can elect more frequent filing). The return nets output tax collected against Input Tax Credits (GST/HST paid on business expenses); a positive balance is remitted to the CRA, and a negative balance triggers a refund. Late filing and remittance incur interest and penalties.

Interprovincial and Online Sales

For goods and services sold to customers in other provinces, GST/HST generally applies based on the destination (the customer's province), not the seller's location — a business in Alberta (GST-only) shipping to Ontario generally must charge Ontario's 13% HST on that sale. Digital and cross-border e-commerce sellers meeting the revenue threshold must also register and collect the correct provincial rate for each customer's location, similar in spirit to the EU's destination-based digital VAT rules but administered separately by the CRA (and Revenu Québec for Quebec-bound sales).

Using This Calculator Effectively

For Ontario sales: select HST 13% and "Add Tax" to see the price to charge, including tax. For federal-only estimates (e.g., Alberta, which has no provincial sales tax): select GST 5%. For other provinces with HST at 15% (Atlantic Canada) or GST + separate PST/QST (BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec), add the provincial component manually until a province selector is available — this tool currently supports two representative rates (GST 5% federal, HST 13% Ontario) rather than every provincial combination.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between GST and HST?

GST is the 5% federal tax applied across Canada. HST is a combined rate that some provinces (Ontario, and the Atlantic provinces) use to merge GST with their own provincial sales tax into a single harmonized rate, so it is really the same federal tax plus a provincial layer.

Why is the rate different if I buy from Alberta vs. British Columbia?

Alberta charges GST only (5%, no provincial sales tax), while BC charges GST 5% plus a separate PST of 7%. This calculator only supports GST 5% and Ontario HST 13%, so for other provinces you need to add the provincial tax separately.

Can this calculator handle Quebec's QST?

No. Quebec charges GST 5% plus a separate QST of 9.975%, which is not built into this tool. You would need to calculate GST and QST separately and add them together for an accurate total.

When does a business need to register for GST/HST?

Registration is mandatory once a business's taxable revenue exceeds CA$30,000 over four consecutive quarters (or in a single quarter). Below that "small supplier" threshold, registering is optional but lets the business claim Input Tax Credits (ITCs) on its own purchases.

Are results shown in Canadian dollars (CA$)?

Yes. Based on the price you enter and the rate you select (GST 5% or HST 13%), the pre-tax, tax, and after-tax amounts are all calculated and displayed in CA$.