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Visitors to Canada

Canadian Sales Taxes

In Canada, sales taxes are added to the cost of most purchases of goods and services. Only certain basic commodities such as food purchased in a grocery store is not taxable.

Taxes will also be added to the cost of rail tickets. When you request a fare from our Schedules, fares and reservations section, the fare shown will be before taxes, followed by an indication of applicable taxes and the total amount payable.

Canada's national goods and services tax (GST in English, TPS in French) is fixed at 6%. In most provinces, a provincial sales tax of between 6% and 10% (PST) is also added to the cost of various goods and services. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, the national and provincial sales taxes have been replaced by a harmonized tax of 14% known as HST in English, and TVH in French.

Tax Refunds for non-Canadians

Visitors from abroad are eligible for GST and HST refunds on various products taken out of the country with them, as well as on the cost of short term lodging. To claim a refund, you must fill out an Application for Visitor Tax Refund, attach all receipts for applicable purchases made in Canada, and submit to any Canada Customs Office. Some tourist information centres and hotels also process visitor tax refunds. In Québec and Manitoba, visitors may also request a refund for provincial sales tax (PST) paid. For further information, click on Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.


Various links appearing on this page provide access to web-based material which is not a part of the VIA Rail website. As it is possible these other sites may be managed by organizations not subject to Canada's Official Languages Act, users will understand that all such material is made available to the public in the language of origin of these other sites only.


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Choose one of our "all-inclusive" packages for an ideal, worry-free vacation with everything included! Let a Canadian-travel professional take care of organizing your vacation: hotel reservations, choice of route, and so on. We offer packages designed for you to discover Canada's different regions:

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