{"id":397958,"date":"2022-02-28T18:30:51","date_gmt":"2022-02-28T17:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/?p=397958"},"modified":"2025-09-26T13:59:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T11:59:25","slug":"canadian-sales-tax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/canadian-sales-tax\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian Sales Tax 101 (GST, PST, HST)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Picture this. You have $2.75 left in your pocket and you feel like grabbing a drink. Perfect, a can of Coke is $2.75, lucky you!<br \/>\n\u201cThat will be $3.10!\u201d<br \/>\nWait, what? How?<br \/>\nAnd this is why you should be reading this article!<\/p>\n<h4>Federal and provincial value-added taxes in Canada<\/h4>\n<p>In Canada, two value-added taxes are added to the price of most products and services\u2014a federal tax and a provincial tax.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The\u00a0goods and services tax<\/strong> (the \u201c<strong>GST<\/strong>,\u201d \u201cTaxe sur les produits et services\u201d or \u201cTPS\u201d in French) is a 5%\u00a0value-added tax\u00a0collected and administered by the federal government.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Separate\u00a0provincial sales taxes<\/strong>\u00a0(\u201c<strong>PST<\/strong>\u201d) are collected in British Columbia,\u00a0Saskatchewan,\u00a0Manitoba\u00a0and\u00a0Quebec\u00a0(\u201cTaxe de vente du Qu\u00e9bec\u201d).\u00a0Each province has a different tax rate and a different list of products and services to which the PST applies.<\/p>\n<p>In five provinces,\u00a0Nova Scotia,\u00a0New Brunswick,\u00a0Newfoundland and Labrador,\u00a0Ontario\u00a0and\u00a0Prince Edward Island, GST is combined with\u00a0provincial sales tax\u00a0(PST) into a\u00a0<strong>harmonized sales tax<\/strong>\u00a0(<strong>HST<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<h4>Sales tax rate by province and territory<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-dossier-article__table c-dossier-article__table-nowrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<table>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<thead>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvince \/ Territory\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Type\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t PST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t HST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Total Tax Rate<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/thead>\n\t\t\t\t\t<tbody>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlberta\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t GST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0 -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBritish Colombia\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t GST + PST 5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0\u00a07%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 12%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrince-Edward Island\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t HTS\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0-\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 15%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tManitoba\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t GST + PST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 7%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 12%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNew Brunswick\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0HTS\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0 -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 15%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNova Scotia\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHTS\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0 -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 15%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNunavut\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t GST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOntario\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t HST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a013%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tQu\u00e9bec\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t GST + QST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 9.975%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a014.975%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSaskatchewan\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t GST + PST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a06%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 11%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNewfoundland and Labrador\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHTS\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 15%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNorthwest Territories\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t GST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYukon\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t GST\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t -\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 5%\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\n\t\t\t\t<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n<h4>Sales taxes in daily life<\/h4>\n<p>The main thing to remember is that in Canada, sales taxes (GST+PST or HST) are NOT included on the sticker price. You\u2019re basically \u201cdiscovering\u201d how much you will pay at the cash register, and it may make a difference, especially for bigger purchases. For instance, your $880 laptop is actually $994.40 in Ontario and $985.60 in British Columbia. You can use this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/tax\/businesses\/topics\/gst-hst-businesses\/charge-collect-which-rate\/calculator.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">useful calculator<\/a> to get the final \u201cafter taxes\u201d price.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBasic groceries\u201d are not taxable or \u201czero rated,\u201d so your $3.25 loaf of bread is actually $3.25. However, the definition of \u201cbasic groceries\u201d is rather complex\u2014we\u2019re talking pages and pages of categories and exemptions. For instance, cooking wines are zero rated, but taxes apply for wine. Snack food is taxable, but milk, meat, produce or eggs aren\u2019t. For fun, check out \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/forms-publications\/publications\/4-3\/basic-groceries.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">basic groceries<\/a>\u201d and enjoy the long section on \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/forms-publications\/publications\/4-3\/basic-groceries.html#_Toc155586129\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">salt<\/a>\u201d!<\/p>\n<p>Oh, and by the way, provinces and territories have their own list of taxable items, so it may get even more confusing if you\u2019re travelling around Canada.<br \/>\nBottom line is, carry extra cash or a <a href=\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/dossiers\/bank-account-canada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">debit\/credit card<\/a>.<br \/>\nThe same rule applies in <a href=\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/stories\/restaurant-montreal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">restaurants<\/a>, all prices are without tax\u2014budget for taxes plus tip if applicable. Note that taxes aren\u2019t charged on tips.<br \/>\nClothing, furniture, etc., are also taxable. Gas too, but taxes are included for once!<\/p>\n<h4>How about services?<\/h4>\n<p>Services are taxable too! So (mentally) add taxes to your phone and Internet plan, hotel room or haircut.<br \/>\nBank fees are not taxable. Transit pass prices can be with or without taxes added, depending on the province.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Picture this. You have $2.75 left in your pocket and you feel like grabbing a drink. Perfect, a can of Coke is $2.75, lucky you! \u201cThat will be $3.10!\u201d Wait, what? How? And this is why you should be reading this article! Federal and provincial value-added taxes in Canada In Canada, two value-added taxes are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":372113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[899],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-397958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultureactivities","pays-canada-en"],"acf":[],"comments_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=397958"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":449602,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/397958\/revisions\/449602"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/372113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=397958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=397958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=397958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}