Canadian GST/HST Tax Calculator
Use this quick calculator to add tax to a subtotal or to reverse-calculate the tax portion from a tax-included total.
How this GST tax calculator helps in Canada
Whether you are shopping, invoicing clients, or reconciling receipts, a GST tax calculator can save time and reduce mistakes. In Canada, sales tax can be simple in some places and more complex in others, because rates vary by province and by tax model (GST, HST, or GST + provincial tax). This calculator lets you handle the two most common scenarios:
- Add tax: You have a pre-tax amount and need the final amount including tax.
- Extract tax: You have a tax-included amount and need to know the pre-tax value and tax portion.
GST, HST, and provincial tax in Canada
Canada’s federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) is 5%. Some provinces combine federal and provincial tax into HST, while others apply separate provincial sales taxes. For practical budgeting, many people calculate using the combined total rate.
| Region | Typical Combined Rate | Common Label |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta, Yukon, NWT, Nunavut | 5% | GST only |
| Ontario | 13% | HST |
| New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI | 15% | HST |
| Quebec | 14.975% | GST + QST |
| British Columbia | 12% | GST + PST |
| Manitoba | 12% | GST + RST |
| Saskatchewan | 11% | GST + PST |
Important note
Tax rules and rates can change. Always verify current rates and taxability with CRA guidance or your accountant, especially for business use, cross-border transactions, and industry-specific exemptions.
How to use this calculator step by step
1) Add tax to a subtotal
- Enter your pre-tax amount.
- Select Add tax to subtotal.
- Choose your tax rate or enter a custom rate.
- Click Calculate to see subtotal, tax, and total.
2) Extract tax from a total
- Enter the amount that already includes tax.
- Select Extract tax from tax-included total.
- Choose the relevant rate.
- Click Calculate to separate tax from the pre-tax amount.
Example calculations
Example A: Ontario purchase
If your subtotal is $200.00 and the HST rate is 13%, tax is $26.00 and your total is $226.00.
Example B: Reverse tax at GST 5%
If a receipt total is $105.00 and it includes 5% GST, the pre-tax amount is $100.00 and tax is $5.00.
Who should use a GST tax calculator?
- Freelancers creating client invoices
- Small business owners checking POS totals
- Contractors estimating project costs
- Consumers verifying receipts and purchase totals
- Bookkeepers reviewing tax-inclusive expenses
Frequently asked questions
Is GST always 5% in Canada?
The federal GST rate is 5%, but many provinces apply additional provincial taxes or use HST. Your effective checkout rate may be higher than 5% depending on location.
Can I use this for business accounting?
Yes for quick estimates and checks. For filing returns, use your accounting records and CRA-compliant methods, especially for input tax credits and mixed tax treatments.
What if I need a different rate?
Select Custom tax rate and enter any percentage. This is useful for special cases, historical rates, or internal pricing scenarios.
Final thoughts
A dependable GST tax calculator for Canada helps you avoid overcharging, undercharging, and invoice confusion. Keep this page bookmarked for fast tax checks whenever you buy, sell, bill, or budget.