Quebec GST & QST Rate History
Quebec has maintained its own provincial sales tax — the Quebec Sales Tax (QST) — alongside the federal GST since 1992. Unlike most provinces, Quebec never adopted HST. This page documents every major rate change, the tax-on-tax era that ended in 2013, and the reverse-calculation formulas that apply in each period.
Rate Milestones
| Effective Date | Tax | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 1991 | GST | 7% | GST introduced federally |
| Jul 1, 1992 | QST | 8% on goods / 4% on services | QST introduced; applied on GST-included price (tax-on-tax era) |
| Jan 1, 1994 | QST | 6.5% (blended) | Rate increase |
| Jan 1, 1995 | QST | 7.5% | Rate increase |
| Jan 1, 1998 | QST | 8% | Rate increase |
| Jul 1, 2006 | GST | 6% | Federal GST reduced 1 point |
| Jan 1, 2008 | GST | 5% | Federal GST reduced a further 1 point |
| Jan 1, 2011 | QST | 8.5% | Rate increase |
| Jan 1, 2012 | QST | 9.5% | Rate increase |
| Jan 1, 2013 | QST | 9.975% | QST harmonized — base changed from GST-included to pre-GST amount; tax-on-tax era ended; financial services became exempt (aligned with GST); ITR rules aligned with federal ITC rules |
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Historical Context
The Tax-on-Tax Era (1992–2012)
When QST was introduced on July 1, 1992, it was calculated on the GST-inclusive selling price — meaning consumers effectively paid tax on tax. A business would add 7% GST to the pre-tax price, then calculate QST on that GST-inclusive amount. This compounding structure made reverse calculations more complex than a simple combined-rate divisor, and the effective tax burden was higher than the nominal GST and QST rates suggested. QST rates rose several times during this period, from the initial 8%/4% split to a blended 6.5%, then 7.5%, then 8%, and finally 8.5% and 9.5% in 2011–2012.
2013 Harmonization
Effective January 1, 2013, Quebec restructured QST so it applies directly to the pre-GST selling price at 9.975%, not on the GST-inclusive amount. The rate increase from 9.5% to 9.975% was designed so the overall tax burden on consumers stayed roughly the same after the base change. Financial services became exempt from QST, aligned with GST treatment, and Input Tax Refund (ITR) rules were aligned with federal Input Tax Credit (ITC) rules. Quebec remains a separate provincial tax — it is not HST, and Quebec is not a participating harmonized province. Businesses still file GST returns with the CRA and QST returns with Revenu Québec.
Why This Matters for Accountants
Pre-2013 reverse calculations require a different formula than post-2013 calculations because QST was levied on the GST-inclusive price during the tax-on-tax era. Auditing historical transactions, reconciling old invoices, or preparing amended returns for periods before 2013 cannot use the current divide-by-1.14975 method. Always confirm the transaction date and apply the formula that was in effect at that time.
Reverse Calculation by Era
Post-2013 (Current)
Since January 1, 2013, GST and QST both apply directly to the same pre-tax base:
GST = Pre-tax × 0.05
QST = Pre-tax × 0.09975
Equivalently: GST = Total ÷ 1.14975 × 0.05; QST = Total ÷ 1.14975 × 0.09975.
Pre-2013 Tax-on-Tax Era
Before January 1, 2013, QST was calculated on the GST-inclusive price, producing a compounding effect that varies by the QST rate in effect at the time. There is no single universal divisor for this era. For historical filings and audit work, consult CRA and Revenu Québec archives for the rates and calculation methods applicable to the specific transaction date.
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Calculations are arithmetic estimations only and do not constitute formal tax or corporate auditing advice. All figures must be verified against current CRA and Revenu Québec guidelines before filing.