Sales Tax Information (Canada)
Last updated: July 2025
At Lumenco, we collect and remit sales tax in compliance with federal and provincial regulations. The applicable sales tax is calculated based on the shipping destination within Canada. Below you'll find a breakdown of the tax rates by province and territory.
Federal Tax
-
GST (Goods and Services Tax) – 5%
Applied to most goods and services across Canada unless HST applies.
Province & Territory Tax Rates
| Province / Territory | Tax Type | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta (AB) | GST only | 5% |
| British Columbia (BC) | GST | 5% |
| Manitoba (MB) | GST | 5% |
| New Brunswick (NB) | HST | 15% |
| Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) | HST | 15% |
| Northwest Territories (NT) | GST only | 5% |
| Nova Scotia (NS) | HST | 15% |
| Nunavut (NU) | GST only | 5% |
| Ontario (ON) | HST | 13% |
| Prince Edward Island (PE) | HST | 15% |
| Quebec (QC) | GST + QST | 5% GST + 9.975% QST = 14.975% |
| Saskatchewan (SK) | GST | 5% |
| Yukon (YT) | GST only | 5% |
How Sales Tax Is Calculated
- The sales tax is calculated based on the shipping address of your order.
- If your order ships to a province that uses HST, the combined HST rate applies.
Tax-Exempt Customers
If you are a tax-exempt customer (e.g., certain government agencies, Indigenous groups with tax exemption certificates, or resellers with valid exemption documents), please email your exemption certificate to support@lumenco.ca before placing your order. We will update your account accordingly.
Questions?
If you have any questions about sales tax or need assistance with an order:
- Email: support@lumenco.ca
- Phone: 1-888-372-9989 (Mon–Fri, 7 AM – 5 PM EST)
Thank you for shopping with Lumenco. We appreciate your business and comply fully with all Canadian tax regulations.
Sales Tax
Sales tax on your order is calculated from the province or territory we ship it to — not from where we're located. Here's the current rate everywhere in Canada, what tax applies to, and what to do if you think your purchase is exempt.
Lumenco charges Canadian sales tax on every order, calculated from the shipping destination. Because each province and territory sets its own rate, two identical orders can total differently — the tax you pay is the tax that applies where your order is delivered. Everything is calculated and displayed at checkout before you confirm payment.
How Sales Tax Is Calculated on Your Order
Canadian sales tax is destination-based. Our system reads the shipping address on your order and applies the federal and provincial taxes in force at that address. Depending on the province, that means one of three things:
One Combined Tax (HST)
Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island charge a single Harmonized Sales Tax that already includes the federal portion. You'll see one tax line.
Federal + Provincial, Separately
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec charge 5% federal GST plus their own provincial tax (PST, RST or QST). You'll see two tax lines on your invoice.
Federal Tax Only
Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon have no provincial or territorial sales tax. Orders shipped there are charged 5% GST and nothing more.
Tax Follows the Shipping Address, Not the Billing Address
If you live in Ontario but ship a job-site order to Alberta, the order is taxed at Alberta's rate. Shipping to multiple provinces? Place a separate order per destination so each one is taxed correctly.
Sales Tax Rates by Province & Territory
The combined rate below is what an order shipped to that province is taxed at. Rates are set by the federal and provincial governments and can change — the figures shown are the rates in force at the date noted under the table.
| Province / Territory | GST / HST | PST / RST / QST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 5% GST | — | 5% |
| British Columbia | 5% GST | 7% PST | 12% |
| Manitoba | 5% GST | 7% RST | 12% |
| New Brunswick | 15% HST | — | 15% |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | 15% HST | — | 15% |
| Northwest Territories | 5% GST | — | 5% |
| Nova Scotia | 14% HST | — | 14% |
| Nunavut | 5% GST | — | 5% |
| Ontario | 13% HST | — | 13% |
| Prince Edward Island | 15% HST | — | 15% |
| Quebec | 5% GST | 9.975% QST | 14.975% |
| Saskatchewan | 5% GST | 6% PST | 11% |
| Yukon | 5% GST | — | 5% |
Rates verified August 2026. Nova Scotia's HST decreased from 15% to 14% on 1 April 2025. Rates are published by the Canada Revenue Agency and the provincial revenue authorities; if a rate changes between updates to this page, the rate applied at checkout is the one that governs.
Scroll the table sideways on a phone to see all four columns.
What Sales Tax Is Applied To
Tax is calculated on the full taxable value of your order, not just the product subtotal. Here's what goes into that number:
- ✓ Products — all lighting, electrical, ventilation, EV charging and smart-home products in our catalogue are taxable goods.
- ✓ Shipping & Handling — delivery charges on a taxable order are themselves taxable, at the same rate as the goods. An order that qualifies for free shipping has no shipping charge to tax.
- ✓ Surcharges — remote-area, oversize or special-handling fees are treated the same way as shipping and are included in the taxable amount. See Shipping Rates for when these apply.
- ✓ After Discounts — promotional discounts and coupon codes are applied first, then tax is calculated on the reduced amount. You are never taxed on a price you didn't pay.
- ✓ Refunds Include Tax — when we refund a returned item, the tax you paid on it is refunded with it. Restocking fees, where they apply, are deducted per our Returns Policy.
Your order confirmation and invoice break out each tax line separately, so you can see exactly which taxes were charged and at what rate.
If You Believe Your Purchase Is Tax Exempt
Canadian tax law provides full or partial sales tax relief in a limited number of situations. Eligibility depends on who is buying, what is being bought, and where it is delivered — and in every case it has to be documented before the sale is completed.
Contact Us Before You Place the Order
Our online checkout calculates tax automatically and cannot be set to zero after the fact. Once an order is paid, we are required to remit the tax that was collected — so tax cannot be removed or refunded retroactively. If you believe you qualify, reach out first and we'll confirm what's possible and what documentation is needed.
What to Send Us
- 1 The Basis for the Exemption — tell us which exemption you're claiming and under which federal or provincial program.
- 2 Supporting Documentation — the certificate, registration number, permit or identification the relevant tax authority requires for that exemption.
- 3 The Delivery Address — several exemptions depend on where the goods are physically delivered, so we need the exact ship-to address up front.
- 4 What You're Ordering — the products and quantities, so we can confirm whether the exemption covers them.
Email info@lumenco.ca or call 1-888-372-9989 and we'll review it with you. If the exemption is valid and we're able to honour it, we'll set the order up manually so the correct amount is charged from the start.
We can't confirm whether you qualify for a particular exemption — that determination rests with the CRA or your provincial revenue authority, and with your own accountant or tax advisor. What we can do is apply an exemption correctly once it's properly documented.
Business, Contractor & Reseller Purchases
Buying for a business, a job site or a client project doesn't make an order tax-free — but registered businesses generally recover the federal portion through their own tax filings rather than at the point of sale.
Every Order Comes With a Tax Invoice
Your invoice itemizes each tax charged and its rate. That's the document your bookkeeper or accountant needs to claim input tax credits or input tax refunds where your business is entitled to them. Invoices are available in your Lumenco account and are emailed with your order confirmation.
Trade Accounts & Bulk Orders
If you buy regularly for contracting, property management, renovation or resale, a Lumenco Pro account gives you trade pricing, project quotes and a single point of contact. Tax still applies, but our team can structure larger orders and multi-site deliveries so each destination is taxed correctly.
Nothing on this page is tax advice. How your business treats sales tax paid on purchases depends on your registration status and how the goods are used — confirm the details with your accountant or the relevant revenue authority.
Sales Tax FAQ
Why is my tax different from a friend's on the same product?
Because tax is calculated from the shipping destination. The same fixture shipped to Alberta is taxed at 5%, in Ontario at 13%, and in Nova Scotia at 14%. Nothing about the product changed — only the province it was delivered to.
Do you charge tax based on my billing address or my shipping address?
The shipping address. If you're in Quebec but shipping to a job site in Alberta, the order is taxed at Alberta's 5% GST. If you need products delivered to more than one province, place a separate order for each destination so every shipment is taxed at the right rate.
Are the prices on the site tax-included?
No. Product prices are shown before tax, which is standard practice in Canada. Sales tax is added at checkout once your shipping province is known, and the full breakdown — subtotal, shipping, each tax line and the total — is displayed before you confirm payment.
Is shipping taxable?
Yes. When the goods being shipped are taxable, the delivery charge is taxable too, at the same rate. Orders that qualify for free shipping have no shipping charge, so there's nothing extra to tax — see Shipping Rates for the current thresholds.
Is tax calculated before or after my discount code?
After. Promotions and coupon codes reduce the price first, and tax is then calculated on that lower amount. You're only ever taxed on what you actually pay.
I'm a contractor buying for a client. Can I order tax-free?
Buying on behalf of a client doesn't by itself make an order exempt — contractors normally pay tax on materials and recover the federal portion through their own filings, where they're entitled to. If you hold a specific exemption or resale authorization, contact us before ordering with your documentation and we'll confirm what we can apply. Your invoice always itemizes each tax charged for your bookkeeping.
I placed the order already. Can you refund the tax?
No. Once an order is paid, the tax collected has to be remitted to the tax authorities, so it can't be removed after the fact. Exemptions have to be set up before the order is placed — email info@lumenco.ca first and we'll arrange the order manually if your exemption is valid.
If I return something, do I get the tax back?
Yes. A refund includes the tax you paid on the returned item. If a restocking fee applies under our Returns Policy, it's deducted from the refund. Original shipping charges, where they were paid, are generally not refunded.
Where do I find a tax invoice for my order?
In your Lumenco account under your order history, and attached to the confirmation email sent when your order was placed. The invoice itemizes each tax and its rate. Can't find it? Contact us with your order number and we'll resend it.
The rate on this page doesn't match what I was charged.
Governments change rates from time to time, and our checkout applies the rate in force on the day you order — that's the rate that governs, even if this page hasn't been updated yet. If the difference still doesn't look right, send us your order number and we'll review the calculation with you.
Do you ship outside Canada?
We serve customers across Canada. Canadian sales tax as described on this page applies to Canadian destinations only — if you have a requirement outside the country, talk to our team before ordering so we can confirm what's possible and how duties and taxes would be handled.
Questions About Tax on Your Order?
Tell us your province, what you're ordering, and whether you're claiming an exemption — we'll confirm exactly what will be charged before you place the order.
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