Ontario Retail Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate Ontario retail sales tax including HST, GST, and PST with our free online calculator. Understand tax rates, exemptions, and how to apply them to your transactions.

How to Use This Calculator

This Ontario retail sales tax calculator helps you determine the total sales tax for a transaction by applying the appropriate tax rates based on the product type and location.

Enter the pre-tax price of the item in the "Price before tax" field
Select whether the item is taxable (most retail items are)
Choose the applicable tax rate based on the product type and location
Click "Calculate" to see the total sales tax amount
Review the breakdown of the calculation

The calculator will show you the total sales tax amount and the final price including tax. You can also see a breakdown of how the tax was calculated.

Types of Ontario Sales Tax

Ontario has several types of sales tax that apply to different types of products and services:

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)

The HST is a combined federal and provincial sales tax that applies to most retail goods and services in Ontario. The current HST rate is 13%.

Provincial Sales Tax (PST)

The PST is an additional tax that applies to specific types of products in Ontario. The PST rate varies by product type and can be up to 10%.

GST/HST Exemptions

Some products and services are exempt from the HST or PST. Common exemptions include:

Basic food and groceries
Prescription drugs
Medical devices
Certain agricultural products
Newspapers and periodicals

Calculation Method

The Ontario retail sales tax is calculated by applying the appropriate tax rate to the pre-tax price of the item. The formula used is:

Sales Tax = Price × Tax Rate Total Price = Price + Sales Tax

For example, if you purchase a $100 item with a 13% HST rate, the sales tax would be $13 and the total price would be $113.

The calculator automatically applies the correct tax rate based on the product type and location. If the item is exempt from tax, the calculator will show a sales tax of $0.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Taxable Item in Toronto

Price before tax: $75.00

Tax rate: 13% (HST)

Sales tax: $9.75

Total price: $84.75

Example 2: Exempt Item in Ottawa

Price before tax: $50.00

Tax rate: 0% (exempt)

Sales tax: $0.00

Total price: $50.00

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current Ontario sales tax rate?

The current Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) rate in Ontario is 13%. Additional Provincial Sales Tax (PST) rates may apply to specific products.

Which items are exempt from Ontario sales tax?

Basic food and groceries, prescription drugs, medical devices, certain agricultural products, and newspapers and periodicals are exempt from the HST or PST.

How do I calculate Ontario sales tax manually?

Multiply the pre-tax price by the applicable tax rate (13% for HST) and add the result to the original price. For example, $100 × 13% = $13 sales tax, totaling $113.