Sales tax in Nova Scotia (2026)
Verified against CRA rate tables on .
Quick Answer
Sales tax in Nova Scotia is 14% — a single blended HST of 14%. On a $100.00 purchase that adds $14.00. Nova Scotia ranks 5 of 13 in Canada, where rates run from 5% to 15%.
Combined rate in Nova Scotia
14%
HST (single blended tax)
14%
Nova Scotia cut the provincial portion to 9% on April 1, 2025, bringing the HST to 14%.
What 14% adds to a purchase
| Price before tax | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $20.00 | $2.80 | $22.80 |
| $100.00 | $14.00 | $114.00 |
| $1,000.00 | $140.00 | $1,140.00 |
| $5,000.00 | $700.00 | $5,700.00 |
| $35,000.00 | $4,900.00 | $39,900.00 |
To work backwards from a tax-included price, divide by 1.14.
How Nova Scotia compares
| Province / Territory | Structure | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | HST 15% | 15% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | HST 15% | 15% |
| Prince Edward Island | HST 15% | 15% |
| Quebec | GST 5% + QST 9.975% | 14.975% |
| Nova Scotia | HST 14% | 14% |
| Ontario | HST 13% | 13% |
| British Columbia | GST 5% + PST 7% | 12% |
| Manitoba | GST 5% + RST 7% | 12% |
| Saskatchewan | GST 5% + PST 6% | 11% |
| Alberta | GST 5% only | 5% |
| Northwest Territories | GST 5% only | 5% |
| Nunavut | GST 5% only | 5% |
| Yukon | GST 5% only | 5% |
Which sales tax applies when you buy from another province?
For goods shipped to you, the rate of the province where the goods are delivered applies — so ordering online from an Alberta retailer to an address in Nova Scotia still means 14%. Buying in person while travelling means you pay the rate of the province you are standing in, with no rebate on the way home. Businesses registered for GST/HST claim the tax back as input tax credits; consumers cannot.
Related
- Sales tax calculator — add or remove tax for any province
- Salary after tax in Nova Scotia
- Minimum wage in Nova Scotia
- 2026 key numbers