Tax Rates By Province

Written by Priyanka Correia
Fact-checked by Caitlin Wood

Updated May 5, 2021

Tax Rates By Province

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Tax Tax Rates

Taxes maintain the quality of life we enjoy as Canadians. Taxes collected by the federal and provincial government helps provide funding for a number of programs and services we use and rely on such as health care, education, roads, waste collection, and other economic and cultural activities.  

In the majority of Canada, when you purchase an item you’ll notice your receipts have a Goods and Services Tax (GST) and a Provincial Sales Tax (PST). These two taxes reflect the taxes collected by the federal and provincial governments when you make a purchase. In addition to that, we pay taxes on our income. But how much are you paying? Do you know? Well, the amount you pay depends on your tax rate and the province you live in. 

Should you file my income tax return early?

What Are Tax Rates? 

In Canada, every year all individuals and businesses must report their income for tax purposes. As mentioned, the amount you pay is dependent on your tax rate, also known as your tax bracket, which corresponds to your income level and the province you live in. To understand this you need to understand the tax system used in Canada. 

Canada uses a marginal tax rate system to determine how much taxes you will have to pay. The way this system works is the higher your income is, the more you will be taxed. However, it is important to note that your entire income isn’t taxed at one rate but multiple rates depending on your income level. 

The main advantage of a marginal tax system is that it relies on the affluent to support the government more than those who have a lower income. This ensures that the taxes collected from low-income earners are not affecting their quality of life and that the amount of taxes collected is affordable for everyone. 

Are you having trouble paying your taxes? Check this out. 

How Does The Tax Rate Work? 

In Canada, there are 5 tax brackets you can fall in at a federal level. Depending on how high your income is you can fall in one or more of the tax brackets. However, only a portion of your income is subject to each bracket. So, while a portion of your income will always be taxed at the lowest rate, you’ll only be subject to the higher tax rate if your income meets that tax bracket. The marginal tax system may be hard to comprehend, but it’s easy to understand when seen as an example. 

For example, if you make $100,000 in 2019, you’d be subject to 3 of the 5 tax brackets seen below. 

As seen in the table, only a portion of your income is taxed at each tax bracket. The total taxes owed by this person would equal $18,141. Don’t forget, this accounts for just the federal taxes, you’ll have to check your province’s tax rates to see how much provincial taxes you owe. In total, you can end up paying up to 30% within the first tier. 

Check out how you can lower your tax debt. 

It is incredibly advantageous to know which tax bracket you fall in, especially as a contract or gig worker. Understanding which tax bracket you fall in can help you calculate your tax bill and plan how you can reduce the amount you owe. Of course, for employees, this tax amount is deducted from your paycheque. 

Tax Rates 

While the federal tax rates are the same for everybody in Canada, provincial tax rates differ by province. Below, we’ve depicted the rates you’ll have to pay based on your income. Of course, as mentioned above, this amount is usually deducted from your paycheque, but if you’re a gig worker or contract worker, you’ll want to put this money aside for tax season.

Federal Tax Rate

Provincial Tax Rate

Why Are The Tax Rates Different By Province?

Due to the division of legislative powers between the federal and provincial governments, each province in Canada manages its own finances. As such, each province has its own financial priorities, responsibilities, and problems. Depending on your province’s budget and economic plans, the province can adjust their provincial tax to match their needs. For example, in Canada, Quebec has the highest tax rates, but as a result, it has cheaper tuition, affordable daycares, and extra tax credits like the solidarity tax credit. 

Bottom Line

As Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr said “taxes are the price we pay for civilization”. The roads, education, health care, and all other public services we have access to are all funded by the taxes we pay. Besides paying your taxes, understanding the tax system is also important because it will help you save money during tax season.