How to reverse calculate sales tax in Canada
To find the tax in a total, divide by 1 plus the rate. How to reverse calculate GST, HST, PST and QST, with worked examples for Ontario, BC and Quebec.
Sales tax, explained once.
Short, plain-language notes on how Canadian sales tax actually works — written for the people who charge it, pay it, and have to reconcile it later.
Do I need to charge GST/HST? The $30,000 threshold
Do I need to charge GST/HST? Freelancers and side businesses must register once taxable sales pass $30,000 in four calendar quarters or in one.
Tip before or after tax? What it costs in Canada
Should you tip before or after tax? No rule requires either. Compare the dollar difference in Ontario, BC and Quebec, and see how GST/HST applies to tips.
BC PST changes on 1 October 2026: what's paused
BC paused PST on accounting, engineering and other professional services. PST still applies to basic cable, landlines and clothing repairs from 1 October.
Canadian sales tax rates by province (2026)
GST, HST, PST and QST rates for every province and territory as of September 2026, with the combined rate and what tax adds to a $100 sale.
GST vs HST vs PST vs QST: which one applies?
What GST, HST, PST, RST and QST mean, which provinces charge each one, and how to tell which tax applies when you sell into another province.
How to quote a tax-included price in Canada
A client wants to pay $500 all in. How to find the pre-tax price that lands on that total, and what $500 all in means in each province.