Tax-free guide · Americas
Is there tax-free shopping in Canada?
No, not any more. Canada withdrew its tourist refund scheme. The GST Visitor Rebate Program for goods was cancelled effective 1 Apr 2007 and replaced by the Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program (conventions and tour packages only). standardRate is the federal GST; HST provinces charge 13-15% combined and others add PST at the till.
Canada at a glance
- StatusWithdrawn
- SchemeVisitor Rebate Program (cancelled)
- Tax in the priceGST/HST (+ provincial sales tax), standard rate 5%
Not yet checked against an official source - Prices on tagsShelf prices exclude tax, which is added at the till
Not yet checked against an official source
Want the real cost of a price tag here? Try the refund calculator, and read why you should always pay in local currency.
Questions
Can tourists get a tax refund in Canada?
No. The GST Visitor Rebate Program for goods was cancelled effective 1 Apr 2007 and replaced by the Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program (conventions and tour packages only). standardRate is the federal GST; HST provinces charge 13-15% combined and others add PST at the till. Priceglot shows no refund estimate for Canada. Last checked 2 November 2026.
Is it cheaper to buy things in Canada?
Only if the price on your card, after any tax refund you'll actually get, beats the price at home. Convert the tag at the mid-market rate, add your card's foreign transaction fee (often around 3% on bank cards, 0% on travel cards), and compare. Always pay in the local currency, because the shop's conversion costs more. Priceglot does this for every tag you point it at.
Sources
- CRA GI-028 - Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program (checked 2 November 2026)
- Finance Canada - Report on Federal Tax Expenditures 2023 part 5 (checked 2 November 2026)
Point at the tag. Get the real price.
Priceglot converts every price in view, adds your card fee and estimates the tax refund.
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