Canada PST Calculator: Provincial Sales Tax on a Purchase
Work out the Canadian Provincial Sales Tax (PST) added to a purchase and the total — the provincial portion of sales tax in provinces that charge GST and PST separately.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | PST | Price with PST |
|---|---|---|
| 7% of $100 (BC, $7) | $7.00 | $107.00 |
| 6% of $250 (Saskatchewan) | $15.00 | $265.00 |
| 9.975% of $500 (Quebec QST) | $49.88 | $549.88 |
| 7% of $1,200 (Manitoba) | $84.00 | $1,284.00 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the pre-tax price and your province's PST rate. The calculator returns the PST and the price including it. Note this is PST only — in PST provinces you also pay the 5% federal GST on top, so your all-in tax is GST + PST.
The Formula
Percentage Add-On
Rate is the tax or tip percentage applied to the amount
Worked Example
At a 7% PST rate (e.g. British Columbia), a $100 purchase has $7 of PST, for a $107 total before GST. Canada's sales tax varies by province: some provinces charge GST (5% federal) and PST (provincial) separately — BC (7% PST), Saskatchewan (6%), Manitoba (7%), and Quebec (QST 9.975%, calculated on the pre-tax price) — while others use a single Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) that combines both. Alberta and the territories charge GST only (no PST). This calculator isolates the PST portion.
Key Insight
Canadian sales tax is a patchwork that confuses many shoppers and businesses, so knowing your province's system matters. There are three models: (1) GST + PST charged separately — British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba add a provincial PST on top of the 5% federal GST, and Quebec adds the QST (9.975%) on top of GST; (2) HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) — Ontario and the Atlantic provinces combine federal and provincial into one rate (e.g. 13% in Ontario, 15% in several others); and (3) GST only — Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon charge just the 5% GST with no provincial sales tax. This calculator shows the PST (or QST) portion; in a GST+PST province your total tax is GST + PST (and historically in Quebec the QST is calculated on the pre-tax amount, not on the GST-included amount, after a rule change years ago). A few practical points: PST rules and exemptions differ by province (some goods and services — basic groceries, certain essentials — are exempt or zero-rated), PST is generally not recoverable by businesses the way GST input tax credits are (PST is often a true cost to businesses, unlike GST), and online/cross-province purchases follow destination rules that have tightened. For an accurate all-in price in a PST province, calculate GST and PST separately and add both to the pre-tax price; in an HST province, use the single HST rate instead. Verify current provincial rates and exemptions, as they change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is PST calculated?
Multiply the pre-tax price by your province's PST rate and add it. At 7% PST, a $100 purchase has $7 of PST, for $107 before GST. In PST provinces you also pay the 5% federal GST on top, so total tax is GST + PST.
Which provinces charge PST?
British Columbia (7%), Saskatchewan (6%), and Manitoba (7%) charge PST on top of the 5% GST; Quebec charges QST (9.975%). Ontario and the Atlantic provinces use a combined HST instead, and Alberta plus the territories charge GST only — no provincial sales tax.
What's the difference between PST, GST, and HST?
GST is the 5% federal tax. PST (or QST in Quebec) is a separate provincial tax added on top in some provinces. HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) combines the federal and provincial portions into one rate (e.g. 13% Ontario). So you pay GST+PST in PST provinces, a single HST in HST provinces, or GST only in Alberta and the territories.
Is PST charged on everything?
No — exemptions vary by province. Basic groceries and certain essentials are commonly exempt or zero-rated, and rules differ between provinces on what's taxable (some services are PST-exempt in one province but taxed in another). Check your province's rules for specific goods and services.
Can businesses recover PST?
Generally not the way they recover GST. Registered businesses claim input tax credits for GST/HST paid on inputs, but PST is often a true cost that isn't recoverable (with some exemptions for goods bought for resale). This is a key difference from GST and affects business pricing in PST provinces.
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
The tax is the PST rate applied to the pre-tax price; the total is the price plus PST. It models PST only — it does not add the federal GST (or HST in provinces that use a harmonized tax) and does not handle PST-exempt goods or services.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 22, 2026.