Break-Even Point

Canada runs three systems. The federal GST is 5% for 2026 and applies nationally. Five participating provinces fold a provincial share into one harmonised rate: 13% in Ontario, 15% in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, and 14% in Nova Scotia since 1 April 2025. Others add their own tax to the 5% GST, giving 12% in British Columbia and Manitoba, 11% in Saskatchewan and 14.975% in Quebec. Alberta and the territories charge 5% only.

Canada uses a progressive system, so only the income falling inside a bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. Moving into a higher bracket never raises the tax on the income below it. You face a federal set of brackets plus a provincial or territorial set, and both are indexed most years. Credits, starting with the basic personal amount, then reduce the calculated tax. Look up the brackets for the specific tax year before planning around them.

The participating provinces that use the HST are Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Quebec charges the federal GST plus its own QST, administered by Revenu Quebec. British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba charge the federal tax plus a separate provincial sales tax. Alberta and the territories charge the federal tax only. The tax you bill follows the place of supply, not the province your business operates from.

The lowest federal bracket applies to the first band of taxable income. Its upper limit is indexed to inflation each year, while the rate itself changes only when Parliament legislates a change, so check the CRA rate table for the year you are filing. Each province and territory adds its own lowest bracket on top, so the combined rate depends on where you lived on 31 December. The basic personal amount, a non-refundable credit, eliminates federal tax only for someone whose income is at or under that amount.