How the Alberta Sales Tax Calculator Works
This calculator applies Alberta's flat 5% GST to any purchase amount. Alberta is the only province with no retail sales tax beyond the federal GST, so the result is a single-rate, single-authority calculation: one CRA return, one tax line on every receipt.
- Standard calculation: Enter your before-tax amount. Whether you are shopping in Calgary, Edmonton, or Banff, the calculator only applies the 5% federal GST rate to determine your final after-tax total.
- Reverse calculation (tax included): Turn on “Amount includes tax?”. If you have a total price from an Alberta retailer, the tool works backward to separate the 5% GST from the base price.
Understanding GST in Alberta
Unlike the rest of Canada, Alberta relies on resource revenues rather than a retail sales tax. This means consumers pay significantly less at the register compared to provinces with HST or PST. Only the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) is added to taxable transactions.
For businesses registered in Alberta, this single-tax environment means only one federal GST return filed with the CRA — no separate provincial body to register with. Note that the federal Luxury Tax (in force since 2022) does apply nationwide, including Alberta, on passenger vehicles over $100,000 and boats over $250,000: this federal surcharge is separate from and on top of the 5% GST, so a $150,000 car purchase in Alberta is not entirely tax-free beyond GST.
- GST (Federal): 5%
- PST (Provincial): 0%
- Total: 5%
While international travelers may be used to tax-included pricing, Alberta stores show prices before the 5% GST. You should always expect this small addition at the checkout register. To see the original price from a receipt, use the 'Amount includes tax?' toggle.
This table provides an overview of Canada's sales tax rates for 2026, broken down by province and
territory. It shows how the GST combines with provincial taxes - including
HST, PST, and QST - to determine the total sales tax rate applied to purchases across Canada.
The Total column reflects the combined tax rate consumers typically pay at checkout, helping
individuals and
businesses quickly estimate the final cost of goods and services depending on location.
Alberta has the lowest tax burden on retail goods in Canada, being the only province (alongside the territories) with no local sales tax.
| Province / territory |
GST / HST |
PST |
QST |
Total |
| Alberta (AB) |
5% |
0% |
- |
5% |
| British Columbia (BC) |
5% |
7% |
- |
12% |
| Manitoba (MB) |
5% |
7% |
- |
12% |
| New Brunswick (NB) |
15% |
- |
- |
15% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) |
15% |
- |
- |
15% |
| Nova Scotia (NS) |
14% |
- |
- |
14% |
| Northwest Territories (NT) |
5% |
0% |
- |
5% |
| Nunavut (NU) |
5% |
0% |
- |
5% |
| Ontario (ON) |
13% |
- |
- |
13% |
| Prince Edward Island (PE) |
15% |
- |
- |
15% |
| Quebec (QC) |
5% |
- |
9.975% |
14.975% |
| Saskatchewan (SK) |
5% |
6% |
- |
11% |
| Yukon (YT) |
5% |
0% |
- |
5% |
Rates shown are based
on the most commonly applied public tax rates and may vary for certain goods, services,
or tax-exempt situations.
How to calculate sales tax in Alberta (before tax and tax included)
The exact formula used in Alberta is: Total = Amount × 1.05. Example: a $200 electronics purchase in Calgary costs $210 after tax (200 × 1.05). To reverse any Alberta receipt, divide the total by 1.05 — $210 ÷ 1.05 = $200.00 before tax.
Total including tax = Before-tax amount × (1 + 5%)
Before-tax amount = Total including tax ÷ (1 + 5%)
Rules & Exemptions
- Although there is no PST on consumer goods (0% on vehicles, clothing, and electronics), specific taxes apply to tourism (lodging tax) and fuel.
- Online orders from outside the province are only subject to the 5% GST (sellers should not charge their local PST).
