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Sales Tax Calculator Canada
Calculate sales tax on a purchase and work backwards from a tax-inclusive price.
Use the calculator
Enter your own assumptions in the related tool. This page explains what to consider before interpreting the result.
Open Gst Hst Calculator →What to consider
Start with the numbers you actually know. For income questions, distinguish gross pay from net pay. For borrowing questions, consider the rate, term, fees, taxes and insurance that apply to your situation. For savings questions, treat the rate of return as an assumption rather than a guarantee.
For Canadian tax, payroll, registered-account and lending questions, rules can change and personal circumstances matter. Use official government, employer, lender or account records to confirm important figures.
The same $1,000 basket in three provinces
Canada has no single sales tax — a $1,000 purchase costs different amounts by province. The two models are HST (combined, one line) and separate GST plus PST:
| Province | Sales tax model | Tax on $1,000 | Total you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 13% HST | $130.00 | $1,130.00 |
| British Columbia | 5% GST + 7% PST | $120.00 | $1,120.00 |
| Alberta | 5% GST only | $50.00 | $1,050.00 |
The same $1,000 item costs $1,130 in Toronto but $1,050 in Calgary — an $80 difference that is pure tax. Quebec is its own case with the QST, a combined equivalent of 14.975% calculated on the GST-included price.
Cross-province online shopping: the tax follows the buyer
Order a $1,000 camera from a BC retailer while living in Ontario, and you pay Ontario's 13% HST — not BC's 12%. Sellers must charge the tax of the province where the goods are delivered, the place of supply. The reverse holds too: an Ontario store shipping to Alberta charges only the 5% GST. A Toronto shopper cannot save $10 by ordering from Vancouver.
The $30,000 small supplier threshold
Not every seller charges GST/HST. A business with taxable supplies under $30,000 across four consecutive calendar quarters is a small supplier and generally need not register — so a craft seller or consultant earning $25,000 a year can sell without adding 13% to invoices. Cross the threshold and registration becomes mandatory. Voluntary registration below $30,000 is allowed, and lets the business claim input tax credits on the GST/HST it pays on expenses.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this sales tax calculator canada?
It is an educational estimate. Results depend on the assumptions you enter and may not match a payroll statement, lender decision, tax assessment or account statement.
What should I enter?
Use your own income, price, balance, rate, payment or contribution assumptions. For tax and payroll questions, verify important figures with official sources.
Can I use this for a final financial decision?
Use it as a planning tool. Confirm final amounts with the relevant employer, lender, financial institution or government source.
I'm in Ontario ordering from a BC website — which sales tax do I pay?
Ontario's 13% HST. The tax follows the buyer's province under the place-of-supply rule, so the BC retailer charges the Ontario rate on shipments to Ontario — not BC's 12%.
Why do BC receipts show GST and PST on separate lines?
BC never harmonized: the 5% federal GST and 7% provincial PST are listed and remitted separately. The total ($120 on $1,000) equals a single 12% line — the split just looks different from Ontario's one-line HST.
I'm a freelancer earning about $25,000 a year — must I charge GST/HST?
Generally no — you are under the $30,000 small supplier threshold. Voluntary registration is an option: it lets you claim input tax credits on the GST/HST you pay on business expenses.