What are PST and QST?
PST and QST are provincial sales taxes charged on top of the 5% GST in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec.
Four provinces did not harmonize with the federal GST and run their own sales tax alongside it. British Columbia and Saskatchewan call theirs PST (provincial sales tax). Manitoba calls it RST (retail sales tax). Quebec charges QST (Quebec sales tax, or TVQ in French). In each, a sale carries two separate taxes: 5% GST and the provincial tax.
As of 2026 the general rates are 7% PST in British Columbia, 6% PST in Saskatchewan, 7% RST in Manitoba and 9.975% QST in Quebec, making combined rates of 12%, 11%, 12% and 14.975%. Each province has its own list of exemptions and special rates; in BC, for example, restaurant food is exempt from PST while liquor carries 10% PST. Check the province's own guidance, because the rules differ more than the rates.
Provincial tax is registered and remitted separately from GST. PST in BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba is filed with the province; QST is filed with Revenu Quebec, which also administers GST for most Quebec businesses. Receipts should show GST and the provincial tax as separate lines, with your registration numbers.
In SeroPOS you build a tax group that combines two rates, for example 'BC TAX = GST 5% + PST 7%' in the app's Admin, then Taxes, or under Tax Groups in the back office. Products carry the group, or a single rate for items exempt from one of the taxes. Receipts list each tax, and the back office Daily Sales Report and Tax Report show GST and PST separately for remittance.
A Vancouver bike shop sells a $600.00 bike: GST 5% is $30.00 and PST 7% is $42.00, so the total is $672.00. A Montreal bookshop sells a $30.00 gift item: GST $1.50 and QST $2.99 (9.975%), for $34.49. Each tax prints on its own line.