GST/QST Calculator Canada: All Provinces & Territories

What Is the Canada GST/QST Calculator?

The Canada GST/QST Calculator instantly calculates Canadian federal and provincial sales taxes for all 13 provinces and territories. Whether you need to add GST and QST to a Quebec invoice, calculate Ontario’s 13% HST, work out BC’s separate GST and PST, or reverse-extract taxes from a GST-inclusive total — this calculator handles every Canadian jurisdiction with current 2025 rates.

Canada does not have a single national sales tax. Instead, each province and territory has its own approach: some harmonize their provincial tax with the federal GST into a single HST, Quebec administers its own QST separately, BC and Saskatchewan maintain separate PST systems, and Alberta charges no provincial sales tax at all. For Canadian businesses, freelancers, and consumers, knowing the correct combined rate and calculation method for each province is essential for accurate invoicing and expense tracking.

This calculator shows the breakdown clearly: the federal GST component, the provincial tax component (labelled QST, PST, RST, or HST provincial as appropriate), the total tax amount, and the net pre-tax amount. For international GST comparisons beyond Canada, the GST Calculator covers Australia, New Zealand, and India alongside Canadian federal GST.

This calculator is useful for:

• Quebec freelancers calculating GST + QST on client invoices
• Ontario businesses verifying HST on purchase receipts
• Accountants reconciling input tax credits across multiple provinces
• Consumers comparing the total cost of a purchase in different provinces
• Businesses expanding into new provinces and learning the local tax rules

How to Use the Canada Tax Calculator

Step 1 — Enter the amount. Type your dollar figure into the Amount (CAD $) field. If adding taxes, this is your pre-tax (net) price. If removing taxes, this is the total tax-inclusive amount you have.

Step 2 — Choose the calculation type:

• Add Taxes — you know the net price and want to calculate taxes and the total amount the customer pays
• Remove Taxes — you have a tax-inclusive total and want to extract the net price and the tax amounts

Step 3 — Select your province or territory. The dropdown shows all 13 provinces and territories with their applicable rates displayed. The calculator uses the correct rate structure automatically for each jurisdiction.

Step 4 — Click Calculate Taxes. The results show:

• GST (Federal 5%): The federal Goods and Services Tax component
• Provincial Tax: The QST, PST, RST, or provincial HST portion (or $0 for Alberta and territories)
• Total Tax: The combined federal + provincial tax
• Total Amount: What the customer pays including all taxes
• Net Amount (Pre-Tax): The base price before any tax is applied

Use Reset to clear the calculator for a new calculation. For payroll and income tax calculations related to employment compensation in Canada, the Payroll Tax Calculator handles federal income tax deductions alongside employment insurance and CPP contributions.

Understanding Canadian Sales Taxes by Province

Canada’s sales tax system is one of the most varied among developed nations. Understanding the structure in each region is essential before using any Canadian tax calculator.

Federal GST (5%) applies in all provinces and territories. The Canada Revenue Agency administers GST and requires businesses with annual taxable revenues above CAD 30,000 to register, charge, and remit GST. Most goods and services are taxable; basic groceries, prescription drugs, and residential rent are among the zero-rated or exempt categories.

HST Provinces have harmonized their provincial sales tax with the federal GST, resulting in a single combined tax collected and administered by the CRA. Ontario’s 13% HST combines the 5% federal rate with an 8% Ontario provincial component. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland & Labrador all use 15% HST (5% + 10%). For businesses, the input tax credit (ITC) system applies to the full HST amount.

Quebec operates its own dual-tax system. The 5% federal GST is administered by the CRA, while Revenu Québec administers the 9.975% QST separately. Businesses operating in Quebec must register with both authorities and file separate returns. The combined Quebec tax burden is 14.975% — the highest of any Canadian province. Since 2013, QST is calculated on the pre-tax amount, not on the GST-inclusive amount, so both taxes are applied to the same base.

BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba each charge a separate provincial sales tax alongside the federal GST. British Columbia’s 7% PST is administered by the BC Ministry of Finance. Saskatchewan’s 6% PST and Manitoba’s 7% Retail Sales Tax (RST) are administered by their respective provincial governments. These provinces have separate registration requirements for GST (CRA) and PST/RST (provincial ministry).

Alberta and the Territories (NT, NU, YT) charge only the 5% federal GST with no provincial component — the simplest tax situation in Canada.

Province / Territory	GST	Provincial Tax	Tax Type	Total Rate
Alberta (AB)	5%	0%	—	5%
British Columbia (BC)	5%	7%	PST	12%
Manitoba (MB)	5%	7%	RST	12%
New Brunswick (NB)	5%	10%	HST	15%
Newfoundland & Labrador (NL)	5%	10%	HST	15%
Northwest Territories (NT)	5%	0%	—	5%
Nova Scotia (NS)	5%	10%	HST	15%
Nunavut (NU)	5%	0%	—	5%
Ontario (ON)	5%	8%	HST	13%
Prince Edward Island (PE)	5%	10%	HST	15%
Quebec (QC)	5%	9.975%	QST	14.975%
Saskatchewan (SK)	5%	6%	PST	11%
Yukon (YT)	5%	0%	—	5%

Source: Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec, 2025.

How the Formula Works

The Canadian sales tax calculator uses one unified mathematical approach that handles all province types consistently. Both the forward (adding tax) and reverse (removing tax) calculations are based on the same proportional relationship.

Forward Calculation — Adding Tax to a Net Price

GST Amount          = Net Price × (GST Rate ÷ 100)
Provincial Tax      = Net Price × (Provincial Rate ÷ 100)
Total Tax           = GST Amount + Provincial Tax
Total Price         = Net Price + Total Tax
                    = Net Price × (1 + Combined Rate ÷ 100)

Variable definitions:

• Net Price: The pre-tax amount the seller charges (your input when adding taxes)
• GST Rate: Always 5% for the federal component
• Provincial Rate: QST (9.975%), PST (7% or 6%), RST (7%), HST provincial (8% or 10%), or 0%
• Combined Rate: GST Rate + Provincial Rate

Worked example — Quebec freelancer ($2,500 net):

A Montreal web developer charges a client $2,500 for a project (net, pre-tax).

1. GST Amount = $2,500 × (5 ÷ 100) = $2,500 × 0.05 = $125.00
2. QST Amount = $2,500 × (9.975 ÷ 100) = $2,500 × 0.09975 = $249.38
3. Total Tax = $125.00 + $249.38 = $374.38
4. Total Invoice = $2,500.00 + $374.38 = $2,874.38

The invoice would show: Net $2,500 + GST $125 + QST $249.38 = Total $2,874.38.

Reverse Calculation — Extracting Tax from an Inclusive Total

Combined Rate       = GST Rate + Provincial Rate
Net Amount          = Total Price ÷ (1 + Combined Rate ÷ 100)
GST Amount          = Net Amount × (GST Rate ÷ 100)
Provincial Tax      = Net Amount × (Provincial Rate ÷ 100)

Worked example — Ontario receipt ($1,130 HST-inclusive):

A Toronto business receives a supplier invoice showing $1,130 total. Ontario HST is 13% (5% + 8%).

1. Net Amount = $1,130 ÷ (1 + 13 ÷ 100) = $1,130 ÷ 1.13 = $1,000.00
2. GST portion (5%) = $1,000 × 0.05 = $50.00
3. Ontario HST provincial (8%) = $1,000 × 0.08 = $80.00
4. Total HST = $50 + $80 = $130.00

The input tax credit (ITC) claimable on this invoice is $130.00.

Why both taxes apply to the net amount in Quebec: The Canada Revenue Agency confirms that GST and QST are each calculated on the consideration paid for the supply (the pre-tax amount). Since Revenu Québec’s 2013 QST reform, QST no longer applies to the GST-inclusive amount, making the combined rate a simple additive 14.975%.

Special edge cases:

• Zero amount: All outputs are $0 regardless of province
• Alberta / territories: Provincial tax shows $0 and labels “None”; GST-only calculation applies
• Rounding: The calculator carries full floating-point precision; round final figures to two decimal places for invoice presentation

Detailed Examples

Example 1: Quebec Freelancer — GST + QST Invoice

A Quebec-registered graphic designer quotes $3,800 net for a branding project. The client is in Montreal and both GST and QST apply.

• Net price: $3,800.00
• GST (5%): $190.00
• QST (9.975%): $379.05
• Total invoice: $4,369.05

The designer must remit $190 to the CRA (GST return) and $379.05 to Revenu Québec (QST return), minus input tax credits/refunds on business expenses.

Example 2: Ontario Business — HST Invoice

A Toronto IT consultant invoices an Ontario corporate client $5,500 for consulting services. Ontario HST at 13% applies.

• Net price: $5,500.00
• HST (13%): $715.00 (of which $275 is federal GST component, $440 is provincial)
• Total invoice: $6,215.00

The corporate client, being HST-registered, can claim a $715 input tax credit. The consultant remits the HST minus any ITCs on their business expenses.

Example 3: Alberta Purchase — GST Only

A Calgary resident buys $2,000 of home appliances. Alberta has no provincial sales tax — only 5% federal GST applies.

• Net price: $2,000.00
• GST (5%): $100.00
• Provincial tax: $0.00 (Alberta has no PST)
• Total: $2,100.00

At $100 total tax versus $299.50 in Quebec for the same purchase, the tax difference between provinces is significant for high-value items. For income-related calculations alongside sales tax planning, the Annual Income Calculator can model total compensation scenarios.

Example 4: British Columbia — GST + PST

A Vancouver restaurant buys $1,500 in catering equipment. BC applies 5% GST and 7% PST separately.

• Net price: $1,500.00
• GST (5%): $75.00 (claimable as ITC for GST purposes)
• PST (7%): $105.00 (generally not refundable for business purchases in BC)
• Total: $1,680.00

Note that BC PST on most business equipment is not refundable — unlike GST input tax credits. The GST portion is tracked separately for CRA remittance.

Example 5: Nova Scotia — Reverse HST Calculation

A business in Halifax receives a hotel invoice for $1,380 total. Nova Scotia HST is 15%. What was the pre-tax amount?

• Total (HST-inclusive): $1,380.00
• Net amount: $1,380 ÷ 1.15 = $1,200.00
• Total HST (15%): $180.00
  • GST portion (5% of $1,200): $60.00
  • Provincial HST component (10% of $1,200): $120.00

The ITC claimable on this business expense is $180.00 (the full HST amount). The gross-to-net calculation for employee expenses follows a similar logic — see the Gross to Net Calculator for payroll scenarios.

Example 6: Saskatchewan — GST + PST Comparison

A Saskatoon retailer receives an invoice for office supplies totalling $660 (GST + PST inclusive). Saskatchewan rates: 5% GST + 6% PST = 11% combined.

• Total: $660.00
• Net amount: $660 ÷ 1.11 = $594.59
• GST (5% of $594.59): $29.73 (claimable as ITC)
• PST (6% of $594.59): $35.68 (typically not claimable for most businesses)
• Total tax: $65.41

Common Use Cases for the Canadian Tax Calculator

Freelancers and sole proprietors registered for GST and/or QST must add the correct taxes to every taxable invoice. A Quebec-based consultant forgetting QST absorbs 9.975% out of their own revenue. This calculator ensures every invoice amount is correct before it goes out.

Small business owners filing quarterly or annual GST/HST or QST returns need to reconcile every purchase receipt. The reverse calculation extracts the tax component from any GST-inclusive receipt, whether it is a utility bill, office rent, or business travel expense. Tracking these figures correctly is essential for claiming all eligible input tax credits.

Accountants and bookkeepers processing accounts payable must split every tax-inclusive supplier invoice into its pre-tax and tax components before posting to ledger accounts. The reverse formula handles this precisely and consistently across all provinces.

E-commerce businesses selling to customers across Canada must apply the tax rules of the customer’s province. A seller in Alberta shipping to an Ontario customer charges Ontario HST at 13%. This calculator lets operators quickly verify the tax for any province-to-province sale. For international sales tax comparisons, the VAT/GST Calculator covers European VAT, Australian GST, and other global consumption tax systems.

Consumers comparing prices across provinces — especially for large purchases like electronics, vehicles, or furniture — use this calculator to understand how much of the sticker price goes to tax. The difference between buying in Alberta (5% only) and Quebec (14.975%) on a $20,000 purchase is nearly $2,000 in tax.

Tips for Accurate Canadian Tax Calculations

Verify whether you are GST/HST registered before charging the tax. In Canada, you must be registered with the CRA to collect and remit GST/HST. Charging GST when unregistered is a compliance violation; failing to charge when registration is required results in the business owing the tax from its own revenue. The registration threshold is CAD 30,000 in annual taxable revenues.

Know that Quebec requires dual registration. Businesses operating in Quebec must register separately with the CRA for GST and with Revenu Québec for QST. Some out-of-province businesses selling digital services to Quebec consumers must also register for QST even if below the GST threshold. The Revenu Québec website provides full guidance on QST registration requirements.

Use the correct base for reverse calculations. A common error is multiplying a GST-inclusive total by the rate to find the tax. For a $113 Ontario receipt, 13% of $113 = $14.69 (wrong). The correct approach: $113 ÷ 1.13 = $100 net; tax = $13.00. This calculator applies the correct reverse formula every time.

Track GST and provincial tax separately for input tax credit purposes. In BC, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, the provincial PST or RST is generally not refundable for business purchases (unlike GST ITCs). Keeping the two amounts separate — as this calculator does — ensures you claim only eligible credits on your GST return.

Check zero-rated and exempt categories. Not all goods and services attract GST/HST. Basic groceries, prescription drugs, most health services, and exports are zero-rated or exempt. Applying GST to an exempt supply, or failing to apply it to a taxable supply, creates liability and potential penalties. For complex supply classification, consult the CRA’s GST/HST information for businesses.

For Manitoba RST, be aware of specific exemptions. Manitoba’s 7% Retail Sales Tax has a number of exemptions not found in other PST provinces. Farm machinery, certain manufacturing equipment, and some services are exempt from RST. Always verify the Manitoba Finance RST schedule for your specific product or service category.

Limitations of This Calculator

This calculator provides accurate results based on the published 2025 federal and provincial sales tax rates from the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial tax authorities. It does not model:

• Small supplier exemptions — businesses below the CAD 30,000 GST registration threshold are not required to charge GST
• Zero-rated and exempt supplies — basic groceries, health services, educational services, and some other categories are not taxable
• Import duties and customs taxes — additional charges may apply to goods imported into Canada
• Provincial HST input credit rules — ITC eligibility rules vary for partially commercial use
• QST small supplier thresholds — Quebec has its own registration threshold rules for non-resident digital service providers
• Municipal taxes — some jurisdictions levy additional accommodation or other local taxes not covered here

For formal compliance or tax return preparation, always verify the current rates and rules with the Canada Revenue Agency or Revenu Québec. Do not use this calculator as the sole basis for a GST/HST or QST return or formal audit position.