The GST and HST calculator helps Canadians quickly determine the tax amount and total price for purchases across different provinces, since sales tax rates vary significantly depending on where you buy. Understanding Canadian sales tax rates is essential for budgeting, expense reporting, and cross-provincial comparison shopping. How HST Works in Ontario: Ontario uses the Harmonized Sales Tax, combining the federal 5% GST and the provincial 8% sales tax into a single 13% HST rate applied at point of sale. The single rate simplifies tax calculation. For Ontario businesses, HST registration is required when annual revenues exceed $30,000, and registered businesses charge HST on taxable goods while claiming input tax credits on HST paid for business purchases. GST and PST Rates Across Canadian Provinces: British Columbia applies 5% GST plus 7% PST for 12% combined. Alberta charges only the federal 5% GST with no provincial sales tax, making it the lowest sales tax jurisdiction in Canada. Manitoba charges 5% GST plus 7% PST for 12%. Saskatchewan charges 5% GST plus 6% PST for 11%. Quebec charges 5% GST plus 9.975% QST for approximately 15% combined. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and PEI all use HST at 15% to 16%. What Is and Is Not Taxable in Canada: Basic groceries including most food items are zero-rated for GST purposes. Prescription drugs and most medical devices are zero-rated. Long-term residential rent, most financial services, and most healthcare services are HST-exempt. This distinction matters because businesses can claim input tax credits on zero-rated supplies but not on exempt ones. Cross-Border Shopping and Canadian Sales Tax: When purchasing goods online from American retailers and importing them into Canada, GST and HST apply on the total value including purchase price, shipping, and customs duties. Canada Post and courier companies collect these taxes at the border for packages above the low-value shipment threshold. This calculator instantly computes both the tax amount and total price for any price and Canadian tax rate combination, making it useful for budgeting, expense reports, and understanding cross-provincial price differences. This calculator is particularly useful for Ontario small business owners who need to quickly determine the HST component of any invoice or receipt, for employees submitting expense reports that require separating the tax component from total amounts, and for consumers comparing the true total cost of purchasing goods in different Canadian provinces where different sales tax rates apply to the same purchase price.