Manitoba PST (RST): 7% Rate and Registration
Manitoba’s sales tax is the 7% retail sales tax (RST), usually called Manitoba PST, plus the 5% federal GST, for 12% on most taxable sales. RST is run by Manitoba Finance, separately from the GST, and comes with a catch for online sellers: the province’s $30,000 small-business exception is closed to most of them, so registration often starts with the first sale.
| Manitoba sales tax (2026) | Rate | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| GST | 5% | Canada Revenue Agency |
| Manitoba RST (PST) | 7% | Manitoba Finance, Taxation Division |
| Total on most goods | 12% |
RST and GST both apply to the pre-tax price. Rates confirmed against the CRA rates page on 1 November 2026. Try any price in our GST/HST calculator.
Short answer: most online businesses that sell taxable goods to Manitoba customers need an RST number from TAXcess, whether they’re based in Winnipeg or Vancouver. Manitoba businesses also register for GST/HST with the CRA once they pass $30,000 in sales.
Manitoba RST quick facts
Section titled “Manitoba RST quick facts”| Manitoba | |
|---|---|
| Rate | 5% GST + 7% RST (12% combined) |
| Administered by | GST: CRA. RST: Manitoba Finance, Taxation Division |
| RST registration | TAXcess (online), free |
| Small-business exception | Annual taxable sales under $30,000, but not if you buy from out-of-province suppliers that don’t charge RST |
| Out-of-province sellers | Register if you deliver into Manitoba, solicit orders and accept Manitoba orders, or hold stock there |
| RST return | Monthly, quarterly or annually, based on average RST collected per month |
| Marketplaces | Platform operators collect RST on sales through their platforms |
Who has to register for Manitoba RST
Section titled “Who has to register for Manitoba RST”| Your situation | Register? |
|---|---|
| Manitoba business, taxable sales under $30,000, buys all stock and supplies from vendors that charge Manitoba RST | No. You pay RST on purchases and don’t charge it |
| Manitoba business, under $30,000, buys stock from out-of-province or overseas suppliers that don’t charge RST | Yes |
| Manitoba business, over $30,000 | Yes, within one month of passing the threshold |
| Business outside Manitoba selling taxable goods online and delivering to Manitoba | Yes, in most cases from the first sale |
| Business holding inventory in a Manitoba warehouse | Yes |
| Selling to Manitoba only through Etsy, Amazon or another platform that collects RST | No |
| Selling only non-taxable goods (for example books) | No |
Why the $30,000 exception rarely helps online sellers
Section titled “Why the $30,000 exception rarely helps online sellers”Manitoba’s exception was raised from $10,000 to $30,000 and sits in Bulletin 004 (revised June 2024). It lets a small business skip registration and pay RST on its purchases instead of charging it on its sales. But it’s only open to businesses that:
- buy their taxable goods and services from suppliers that collect Manitoba RST, and
- have paid RST on goods bought for resale in Manitoba,
and it’s closed to businesses selling tobacco or liquor. A Shopify store that orders stock from a supplier in Ontario, the US or China, or a seller based outside Manitoba entirely, almost never meets those conditions. So for most e-commerce businesses, the real rule is: if you sell taxable goods to Manitoba customers through your own store, register.
What it means for businesses based in Manitoba
Section titled “What it means for businesses based in Manitoba”Two registrations
Section titled “Two registrations”- RST through TAXcess, unless you genuinely qualify for the small-business exception.
- GST/HST with the CRA once your worldwide taxable sales pass $30,000 (small supplier rule, registration steps).
Selling to Manitoba customers
Section titled “Selling to Manitoba customers”Charge 5% GST and 7% RST on taxable goods and services. Your RST number lets you buy goods for resale without paying RST to your supplier.
Selling to other provinces and the US
Section titled “Selling to other provinces and the US”RST applies to goods for use in Manitoba. When you ship out of the province, don’t charge RST, and keep proof that you delivered the goods out of Manitoba or used a common carrier to do it. Charge the destination’s GST or HST instead: 13% to Ontario, 5% to Alberta, 15% to New Brunswick. Exports to the US are zero-rated for GST and outside RST. See selling across Canada and shipping to the US from Canada.
What it means for sellers outside Manitoba
Section titled “What it means for sellers outside Manitoba”Bulletin 004 says an out-of-province business must register and collect RST when it sells taxable goods to Manitoba buyers for their own use and it:
- causes the goods to be delivered in Manitoba, by its own delivery or by a common carrier it arranges, whether or not it charges for shipping,
- solicits orders in Manitoba, directly or through an agent, by advertising or any other means, including online, email and social media, and
- accepts orders that originate in Manitoba, by phone, internet, email or any other means,
or it holds inventory of taxable goods in Manitoba for sale to Manitoba customers. A typical online store does all three. Once you’re over the threshold, Manitoba gives you one month to register and set up collection, but as explained above, most remote sellers don’t qualify for the threshold at all.
Manitoba RST exemptions
Section titled “Manitoba RST exemptions”| Exempt from RST | Notes |
|---|---|
| Children’s clothing, footwear and accessories | Within children’s size ranges (up to girls’ size 16, boys’ size 20, footwear up to size 6) and $150 or less per item. Larger sizes qualify for a child 14 or under with a written certificate from the buyer |
| Used clothing and footwear | $100 or less |
| Books | Including paperbacks and student yearbooks |
| Basic groceries | Prepared food can be taxable |
| Prescription drugs |
Manitoba Finance’s Bulletin 030 lists taxable and exempt goods in full. GST applies separately and doesn’t follow the RST exemptions: children’s clothing still pays 5% GST.
Worked example: a Winnipeg yarn shop
Section titled “Worked example: a Winnipeg yarn shop”Forks Fibre Co. sells yarn and hand-knit garments from Winnipeg through Shopify. It buys yarn from a mill in Ontario that doesn’t charge Manitoba RST, so it can’t use the small-business exception and holds an RST number. It’s also GST/HST-registered. One Manitoba order:
| Item | Price | GST (5%) | RST (7%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult wool sweater | $180.00 | $9.00 | $12.60 |
| Child-size mittens | $35.00 | $1.75 | $0 (children’s item under $150) |
| Yarn bundle | $48.00 | $2.40 | $3.36 |
| Total | $263.00 | $13.15 | $15.96 |
The customer pays $292.11. The same order shipped to Thunder Bay, Ontario would carry $34.19 of HST (13%) and no RST.
The other side: an Edmonton phone accessories store
Section titled “The other side: an Edmonton phone accessories store”Whyte Ave Gadgets sells phone cases from Edmonton through WooCommerce and runs Instagram ads across Western Canada. It buys its stock from an overseas supplier, so it’s not eligible for the $30,000 exception, and its ads mean it solicits Manitoba orders. It registers for RST on TAXcess and charges 7% RST plus 5% GST on cases shipped to Manitoba. Its Amazon sales to Manitoba stay with Amazon, which collects RST on them.
Filing Manitoba RST
Section titled “Filing Manitoba RST”File RST returns and pay through TAXcess. How often depends on the average RST you collect each month: larger collectors file monthly, smaller ones quarterly or annually. Your GST goes on a separate GST/HST return to the CRA.
Edge cases
Section titled “Edge cases”- Goods you use yourself: Manitoba businesses that bring in taxable goods from outside the province for their own use, without paying RST, must self-assess.
- Charged RST by mistake? If you collect RST on an exempt item, you still have to remit it. Fix your product tax settings rather than absorbing the error.
- Cancelling: a registered business that falls under $30,000 and meets the exception can cancel its RST number, but must self-assess RST on stock it bought tax-free for resale.