How the Northwest Territories Sales Tax Calculator Works
This calculator applies only the 5% federal GST to Northwest Territories purchases. With no territorial retail sales tax, this is a complete, single-rate calculation. There is no NWT tax body to register with for retail sales — the CRA is the sole relevant authority for consumer transactions.
- Standard calculation: Enter the before-tax amount. Whether you are buying goods in Yellowknife or Inuvik, the calculator simply applies the flat 5% GST to show your final checkout price.
- Reverse calculation (tax included): Turn on “Amount includes tax?”. Enter the final total you paid, and the calculator works backward to cleanly separate the 5% GST from the pre-tax base amount.
Understanding GST in the Northwest Territories
Consumers in Yellowknife and across the territory pay only the 5% federal GST. There is no PST or HST added to retail goods. While you may notice a 2% territorial payroll tax on your pay stub, this does not apply at the cash register.
The NWT's 2% Payroll Tax is deducted at source on employment income earned in the territory and filed annually — it never appears on a retail receipt. For retailers operating in the NWT, only one tax authority matters for sales: the CRA. There is no territorial sales tax body to register with, unlike BC, Manitoba, or Saskatchewan where a separate provincial registration is mandatory.
- GST (Federal): 5%
- Territorial Tax: 0%
- Total: 5%
Retail sticker prices in the NWT do not include the 5% GST, so you must always account for this addition at checkout. If you want to know exactly how much federal tax was included in your final purchase, simply 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.
Tied with the other territories and Alberta, the NWT has the lowest retail sales tax rate in Canada at just 5%.
| 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 Northwest Territories (before tax and tax included)
The formula for the Northwest Territories is: Total = Amount × 1.05. Example: a $1,000 snowmobile in Yellowknife costs $1,050 after tax — compared to $1,130 in Ontario (13% HST) or $1,120 in BC (12% GST/PST). To reverse any NWT receipt, divide the total by 1.05.
Total including tax = Before-tax amount × (1 + 5%)
Before-tax amount = Total including tax ÷ (1 + 5%)
Rules & Exemptions
- No sales tax on vehicles or clothing. Only the 5% GST applies.
- Specific taxes apply to fuel and tobacco. In addition, a 2% Payroll Tax is deducted from income but does not affect retail purchases.
FAQ - NWT 2026
Why is stuff so expensive if tax is only 5%
The high cost of goods in NWT is due to shipping and logistics, not sales tax.
What is the 2% tax on my pay stub?
That is the NWT Payroll Tax. It is an income tax levied on all employees working in the territory, not a retail sales tax.
Do I pay tax on Amazon Prime orders?
You pay the 5% GST on the goods, but you generally do not pay provincial taxes from the seller's location.
