What are GST and HST?
GST is Canada's 5% federal sales tax; HST is the single harmonized tax that replaces GST and provincial sales tax in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is charged on most goods and services sold in Canada. Five provinces have combined it with their provincial tax into one Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), collected and remitted the same way. Elsewhere you charge 5% GST, plus provincial sales tax where the province has one.
As of 2026, GST alone (5%) applies in Alberta and the three territories. HST is 13% in Ontario, 14% in Nova Scotia and 15% in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba charge 5% GST plus a separate PST, and Quebec charges 5% GST plus QST. Rates do change, so confirm them with the CRA before you set up your POS.
You must register for GST/HST once your taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters (the small supplier threshold), and many businesses register earlier so they can claim input tax credits on what they buy. Some items are zero-rated (taxable at 0%, such as basic groceries) and some are exempt. You charge the rate of the province where the sale is made; for in-store sales that is your store's province.
In SeroPOS, tax rates and tax groups are set in the back office under Settings, then Tax Rates, or in the app under Admin, then Taxes. Set up GST 5%, or HST at your province's rate, and make it the default tax. A 0% rate marks items as exempt. Business Settings, then Tax holds your tax name and GST/HST number for receipts. The Tax Report and Daily Sales Report show tax collected for remittance.
A Halifax gift shop sells a $40.00 mug. At 14% HST the tax is $5.60 and the total is $45.60. The same mug sold in Calgary carries 5% GST, $2.00, for $42.00. In Toronto, 13% HST gives $5.20 and $45.20.