# What do Canadian trades actually owe in tax?

Free 2026 tax calculators built for self-employed contractors — not generic freelancers. Federal tax and CPP are the same across the country; your provincial tax isn't. Pick your province to get the real number.

Every figure is for the 2026 tax year, sourced to the CRA or the province, and verified 2026-08-02. [How the numbers are checked →](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/about/)

Province:[British Columbia](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/bc/)[Alberta](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/alberta/)[Saskatchewan](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/saskatchewan/)[Manitoba](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/manitoba/)[Ontario](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/ontario/)[New Brunswick](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/new-brunswick/)[Nova Scotia](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/nova-scotia/)[Prince Edward Island](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/pei/)[Newfoundland & Labrador](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/newfoundland/)[Yukon](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/yukon/)[Northwest Territories](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/nwt/)[Nunavut](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/nunavut/)
- [British Columbia contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WorkSafeBC, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/bc/)
- [Alberta contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WCB-Alberta, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/alberta/)
- [Saskatchewan contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WCB Saskatchewan, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/saskatchewan/)
- [Manitoba contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WCB Manitoba, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/manitoba/)
- [Ontario contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WSIB, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/ontario/)
- [New Brunswick contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WorkSafeNB, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/new-brunswick/)
- [Nova Scotia contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WCB Nova Scotia, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/nova-scotia/)
- [Prince Edward Island contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WCB Prince Edward Island, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/pei/)
- [Newfoundland & Labrador contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and WorkplaceNL, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/newfoundland/)
- [Yukon contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board, with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/yukon/)
- [Northwest Territories contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC), with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/nwt/)
- [Nunavut contractor tax calculatorIncome tax, CPP and the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC), with the write-offs a generic tool misses.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/nunavut/)**Going out on your own — what should you charge?** Most trades price off their old wage and quietly go broke. Our rate calculator runs the tax backwards: tell it the take-home you want, it tells you the hourly rate to charge after tax, CPP, unpaid hours and overhead.

[Work out your rate →](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/hourly-rate-calculator/)

## The same everywhere in Canada

Some of this doesn't change by province — it's federal. These guides apply whether you're in Ontario, Alberta or BC:

- [The 11.9% CPP surpriseWhy your first year self-employed costs more than you planned.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/cpp-self-employed/)
- [Employee vs self-employedWhich really pays more — and the income you'd need to match a salary.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/employee-vs-self-employed/)
- [The $30,000 HST decisionWhen you must register, and when to do it early on purpose.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/gst-hst-threshold/)
- [The GST/HST Quick MethodEvery province: remit less tax than you collect, and keep the difference.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/hst-quick-method/)
- [Writing off your work truckCCA Class 10 vs 10.1 — federal, applies nationwide.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/deductions/vehicle-write-off/)
- [Tools and equipmentClass 12 vs Class 8: the $500 line that changes everything.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/deductions/tools-equipment/)
- [Quarterly tax installmentsThe $3,000 rule and the four dates that catch year-two contractors.](https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/tax-installments/)

## Common questions

### How much tax does a self-employed contractor pay in Canada?

It depends on your province, because provincial income tax rates differ — but everyone pays the same federal income tax and the same CPP. The self-employed pay both halves of CPP, 11.9% up to the 2026 maximum, which is the single biggest surprise in a contractor's first solo tax bill. Pick your province above for the exact numbers.

### How much should I set aside for taxes as a contractor?

A safe rule for most self-employed trades is 25–30% of net income (after expenses), set aside monthly. The per-province calculators give you the exact monthly figure for your numbers.

### Do I have to charge HST?

You must register for and charge GST/HST once your gross revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. This is a federal rule and applies the same in every province.

### Do self-employed contractors pay tax quarterly?

Once your net tax owing tops $3,000 in the current year and one of the two previous years, the CRA requires quarterly installments — due March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. Because nothing is withheld from self-employment income, most established contractors end up paying by installments.

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Source: https://tradestaxcalculator.ca/