Alberta
5%
5% GST · rank #1
- System
- GST only (no provincial sales tax)
- Tax on $1,000
- $50.00
- After tax
- $1,050.00
2026Alberta vs Quebec GST/HST
Alberta is lower by 9.975% — about $99.75 less tax on $1,000 taxable purchase (before tax). Compare combined sales tax on taxable purchases using CRA rates.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Lower combined sales tax
Alberta is lower
5% vs 14.975% — about $99.75 less on $1,000 taxable purchase (before tax).
Side-by-side scoreboard
Quebec
14.975%
5% GST + 9.975% QST · rank #10
- System
- GST + Quebec Sales Tax (QST)
- Tax on $1,000
- $149.75
- After tax
- $1,149.75
Tax by purchase amount
| Pre-tax | Alberta | Quebec | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50.00 | $2.50 | $7.49 | $4.99 |
| $100.00 | $5.00 | $14.98 | $9.98 |
| $250.00 | $12.50 | $37.44 | $24.94 |
| $1,000.00 | $50.00 | $149.75 | $99.75 |
| $5,000.00 | $250.00 | $748.75 | $498.75 |
| $10,000.00 | $500.00 | $1,497.50 | $997.50 |
Key takeaways
- Alberta is lower by 9.975% — about $99.75 less tax on $1,000 taxable purchase (before tax).
- Alberta: 5% GST (GST only (no provincial sales tax)). Quebec: 5% GST + 9.975% QST (GST + Quebec Sales Tax (QST)).
- Quebec collects more on the same pre-tax taxable price under the CRA general rates.
- This compares general taxable rates — not income tax, property tax, or land transfer tax.
- Confirm zero-rated/exempt treatment and place of supply before quoting a customer.
- Small-supplier registration for most businesses still turns on the $30,000 four-quarter threshold — not which province has the lower shelf rate.
How to read Alberta vs Quebec
Both columns use CRA general taxable combined rates on the same pre-tax amount. HST provinces show one rate; GST+PST/QST/RST provinces add federal and provincial layers on that same base.
Alberta keeps more of each taxable dollar on this vignette. Scale the gap with the purchase ladder — it grows linearly with pre-tax price at these flat rates.
Where GST + provincial tax apply, CRA calculates GST on the price without the provincial retail tax.
What this compare does not include
Income tax, CPP/QPP, property tax, and land transfer / welcome tax.
Zero-rated and exempt supplies (e.g. basic groceries at 0% GST/HST nationwide).
Special excise or product-specific levies. Personalize any amount in the GST/HST calculator.
Place of supply still matters
Rate follows place of supply
CRA sets the GST/HST rate from where the sale, lease, or other supply is considered made — not automatically from your business address.
Goods delivered to another province
CRA example: a Vancouver furniture store delivers a mattress to Toronto and charges 13% HST because the place of supply is Ontario.
Delivery vs customer pickup
CRA example: a Winnipeg store sells a $1,000 laptop. Delivered to Halifax → 14% HST. Customer picks up in Winnipeg → 5% GST + 7% RST (GST + Manitoba RST).
Common myths vs CRA rules
“Alberta has no sales tax at all.”
Alberta has no provincial sales tax, but the 5% federal GST still applies on taxable supplies — the combined rate is 5%, not 0%.
“I always charge my home province’s rate.”
CRA place-of-supply rules decide the rate. Example: a Vancouver furniture store delivering a mattress to Toronto charges Ontario’s 13% HST, not BC’s GST+PST.
“HST and GST+PST are calculated differently on the same price.”
For standard taxable goods, CRA applies GST on the price without PST; HST is a single combined rate on the same pre-tax consideration. QST has used the GST base since 2013.
“Nova Scotia is still 15% HST.”
As of April 1, 2025, Nova Scotia HST is 14% HST (provincial portion 9%). Older 15% figures are outdated for post-cut supplies — see Notices 342 and 343.
Glossary
- GST
- Goods and Services Tax — federal 5% tax on most taxable supplies across Canada.
- HST
- Harmonized Sales Tax — single combined federal+provincial rate in participating provinces (ON, NB, NL, NS, PE).
- PST / RST / QST
- Provincial retail taxes charged with GST outside HST provinces (PST in BC/SK, RST in Manitoba, QST in Quebec).
- Combined rate
- Total percent applied to the pre-tax price for a general taxable supply (HST rate, or GST + provincial rate).
- Place of supply
- Where CRA considers a sale, lease, or other supply made — it determines which province’s GST/HST (and PST) rate applies.
- Zero-rated supply
- Taxable at 0% GST/HST everywhere in Canada (e.g. basic groceries). Still a taxable supply for registration and ITC purposes.
- Exempt supply
- Not subject to GST/HST (and generally no ITCs on related inputs). Examples can include certain health, education, and financial services — confirm on CRA.
- Small supplier
- Most businesses stay small suppliers while taxable supplies stay at or under $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters (special rules for charities, taxi/ride-sharing, and some events).
- Input tax credit (ITC)
- GST/HST registrants can generally recover GST/HST paid on eligible business purchases, with supporting invoices. Provincial PST/RST recovery rules differ.
Compare another pair
Compare any two provinces
Combined GST/HST/PST rates and tax on a $1,000 taxable purchase.
Related comparisons
FAQs
Alberta is lower by 9.975% ($99.75 less tax on $1,000 taxable purchase (before tax)). Alberta: 5% GST. Quebec: 5% GST + 9.975% QST.
Alberta uses GST only (no provincial sales tax). Quebec uses GST + Quebec Sales Tax (QST).
About $9.98 — $5.00 in Alberta vs $14.98 in Quebec.
No. Rankings use the general taxable combined rate from the CRA table. Basic groceries are zero-rated (0% GST/HST) nationwide; other exempt/zero-rated supplies follow CRA type-of-supply rules.
No. CRA place-of-supply rules decide the rate. Example: a Vancouver store delivering a mattress to Toronto charges Ontario’s 13% HST, not BC’s GST+PST.
If HST applies, show the total HST rate. Do not show the federal and provincial parts separately (CRA receipts and invoices guidance).
Calculate any amount
Add or remove GST/HST for Alberta or Quebec in the calculator.