What Is GST and QST in Canada?
If you have ever stared at a receipt in Montréal and wondered why the total does not match the shelf price, you already know why a GST QST Calculator is handy. Canada charges sales tax in layers, and the layers change depending on where you are standing.
GST stands for Goods and Services Tax. It is the federal tax, collected on most goods and services sold anywhere in the country. QST is the Quebec Sales Tax, a provincial tax run by Revenu Québec. In Quebec both appear on the same invoice, which is why people look for a GST QST calculator when they price a job or check a bill.
Other provinces do things differently. British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba add their own provincial sales tax on top of GST, so a calculator GST PST setup is what a shop owner in Kelowna or Regina really needs. Alberta and the territories charge GST only. Ontario and the Atlantic provinces use HST, a single blended rate. You can enter that blended rate under custom rates.
Current GST and QST Rates
The federal GST rate is 5%. It has not moved since 2008, and the Canada Revenue Agency publishes the rules at canada.ca. Quebec's QST is 9.975%, and the official details sit with Revenu Québec.
Since 2013, QST is worked out on the price before GST, not on the price with GST already added. That small change matters. Both taxes are applied to the same base, so the combined Quebec rate is simply 5% + 9.975% = 14.975%.
For the other provinces this tool uses 7% PST in British Columbia, 6% PST in Saskatchewan and 7% RST in Manitoba. Provincial rules and exemptions do change, so confirm the rate with your provincial tax office before filing anything.
How to Calculate GST When You Add Tax
Most people ask the same thing: how to calculate GST on a price that has no tax yet. The method is short. Take the pre-tax price, multiply by 0.05 and add the answer back. That is how GST is calculated at its simplest.
For Quebec, you run the same maths twice on the same net price. QST = net × 0.09975. Then gross = net + GST + QST, which is the same as net × 1.14975. If you want to calculate GST and QST together, multiply once by 1.14975 and you are done.
How can I calculate GST on a quote with several items? Add the items first, then apply 5% once. Round each tax to the nearest cent. Half a cent or more rounds up. That is what this GST calculator does, using whole cents so no floating-point surprises sneak in.
How to Calculate Backwards and Remove Tax
Sometimes all you have is the final total, such as a till receipt or a card statement. Then you need to work backwards. Divide the total by one plus the rate. For GST only, that means gross ÷ 1.05. For Quebec, gross ÷ 1.14975.
A very common error is to take 5% off the total. That is wrong, because 5% of the total is slightly bigger than 5% of the original price. Dividing is the only correct way to calculate GST backwards. How do you calculate GST on a refund? The same way: divide the refund total by 1.05.
Tax-Inclusive vs Tax-Exclusive Prices
An exclusive price is shown before tax. Think of a contractor quote of C$3,000 plus taxes. An inclusive price already contains tax, like a restaurant menu in a few tourist areas or a B2C online price.
Retail shelf prices in Canada are normally exclusive. Tax is added at the till. Some small vendors, farmers' markets and food trucks quote inclusive prices to keep change simple, so always ask. How is GST calculated on an inclusive price? You divide, you do not multiply. Use "Add tax" for exclusive prices and "Remove tax" for inclusive ones.
Step-by-Step Worked Examples
Example 1: GST at 5% on a freelance job
A Calgary designer bills C$1,200 for a logo. GST is 1,200 × 0.05 = C$60.00. The client pays C$1,260.00.
Example 2: QST at 9.975% on a dinner
A team dinner in Montréal costs C$250 before tax. QST is 250 × 0.09975 = 24.9375, which rounds to C$24.94. GST is C$12.50. The total comes to 250 + 12.50 + 24.94 = C$287.44.
Example 3: removing tax from a Quebec receipt
You hold a receipt for C$1,149.75 from a Laval hardware store. Divide by 1.14975 and you get C$1,000.00. GST was C$50.00 and QST was C$99.75.
Example 4: GST plus PST in British Columbia
A Vancouver desk costs C$800. GST is C$40.00 and PST is C$56.00. The total is C$896.00. Anyone who searches for a GST PST calculator is usually after exactly this kind of answer, and a calculator GST PST mode saves you from adding two rates by hand.
Example 5: a small café bill
A latte and a croissant in Québec City come to C$18.50. GST is 0.925, rounded to C$0.93. QST is 1.845375, rounded to C$1.85. The total is C$21.28.
Who Uses This Tool?
Freelancers and consultants use the GST QST Calculator before they send an invoice. Restaurant and café owners check menu pricing against the till. Bookkeepers confirm that a supplier bill adds up before it goes into the accounting file.
Renovators and tradespeople quote jobs in Gatineau, Surrey and Winnipeg and need the right provincial tax on every line. Students and newcomers use it to understand why the total at a Sherbrooke grocery store is higher than expected. A quick GST calculator also helps shoppers who want to check a total before they pay. Online sellers on Etsy or Shopify use it to compare tax-in and tax-out prices.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Stacking QST on GST. Quebec calculates both on the net price. Do not charge QST on a price that already includes GST.
- Subtracting 5% to remove tax. Divide instead.
- Using Quebec rates in Ontario. Ontario uses HST, not QST.
- Rounding too early. Keep the full numbers until the final cent.
- Forgetting zero-rated goods. Basic groceries, prescription drugs and exports are taxed at 0%, which is different from exempt.
- Ignoring registration. Once your worldwide taxable sales pass C$30,000 across four calendar quarters, you generally must register for GST.
How do I calculate GST for a special product? Check the CRA guide first. Rules for food, children's clothing and digital services can be surprising.
Important Notes
This page gives estimates based on the standard rates. It does not know about your exemptions, rebates, input tax credits or special rules. Real invoices may differ by a cent because different accounting systems round at different points.
Always keep your own records and confirm anything unusual with an accountant or the tax authority.
Summary
To add tax, multiply the net price by one plus the rate. To remove it, divide. In Quebec, GST and QST both sit on the net price, so the combined factor is 1.14975. In BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, add the PST rate to GST instead.
A good GST QST Calculator saves time and cuts down on errors. A basic GST calculator beats mental arithmetic every time. Try the examples above, check your own numbers, and use the print button if you need a paper copy for your files.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is GST calculated in Canada?
GST is 5% of the pre-tax price. Multiply the net amount by 0.05 to get the tax, then add it to the price. A C$200 purchase carries C$10 of GST, so the buyer pays C$210. In Quebec, QST is added separately on the same net price.
How do I calculate GST on a purchase?
Take the price before tax and multiply it by 0.05. That number is the GST. Add it to the original price for the total. For C$80, the GST is C$4.00 and the total is C$84.00. This calculator does the same steps instantly and rounds to the nearest cent.
How do you calculate GST backwards from a total?
Divide the total by 1.05 to find the pre-tax price, then subtract that price from the total to get the GST. For C$105 you get C$100 net and C$5 GST. Do not simply take 5% off the total, because that gives a slightly wrong answer.
How can I calculate GST and QST together in Quebec?
Multiply the pre-tax price by 1.14975. This combines 5% GST and 9.975% QST, both applied to the same net amount. On C$1,000 you pay C$50 GST and C$99.75 QST, so the final total is C$1,149.75. Choose Quebec in the calculator to see each line.
What is QST and who has to charge it?
QST is Quebec's provincial sales tax, set at 9.975% and administered by Revenu Québec. Businesses that sell taxable goods or services in Quebec generally charge it once their sales pass the small supplier limit of C$30,000. Buyers pay it on most purchases made in the province.
Is QST charged on top of GST?
No. Since 2013 QST is calculated on the price before GST, not on a price that already includes GST. Both taxes use the same net amount. That is why the combined Quebec rate is simply 14.975%, which equals 5% plus 9.975%, and no extra compounding is needed.
Can I use this as a GST PST calculator for British Columbia?
Yes. Select British Columbia to apply 5% GST plus 7% PST to the same pre-tax price. Saskatchewan (6%) and Manitoba (7%) are also included. For any other combination of rates, pick custom rates and enter the percentages yourself. The result card shows net, each tax and the total.
Do I need to charge GST if I earn under C$30,000?
Usually not. Small suppliers whose taxable sales stay under C$30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters do not have to register or charge GST. You can still register voluntarily to claim input tax credits. Check the Canada Revenue Agency for your exact situation.
Does this calculator save the amounts I enter?
No. Every calculation runs inside your browser and nothing is sent to a server. The only item kept is your light or dark mode choice, which stays in your own device storage. Closing or refreshing the page clears the amounts you typed.