Ontario vs BC Tax Calculator 2025
Compare your 2025 income tax side-by-side between Ontario and British Columbia. See federal tax, provincial tax, CPP, EI, net take-home pay, and which province keeps more money in your pocket.
How Ontario vs BC Tax Calculator Works
Compare Ontario vs BC provincial income tax side-by-side for 2025. See take-home pay, effective rates, and which province saves more. Enter your values into the form above and the calculator processes them instantly in your browser — no data is sent to any server.
How Ontario and BC Income Tax Compare in 2025
Ontario and British Columbia both use progressive provincial tax systems layered on top of the same federal income tax. The key difference lies in their provincial brackets and rates. Ontario has five provincial brackets topping out at 13.16%, but it also levies a surtax — an extra charge on provincial tax itself — that significantly raises the effective rate for incomes above roughly $80,000. BC uses seven brackets reaching up to 20.5% on income over $240,716, but has no surtax, making it more predictable for high earners. Based on 2025 rates from the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial revenue ministries, this calculator gives you an accurate side-by-side breakdown including federal tax, provincial tax, CPP, EI, total deductions, and net take-home. Last updated: March 2026.
Ontario Provincial Tax: Brackets and Surtax Explained
Ontario's provincial income tax starts at 5.05% on income up to $51,446, rising to 9.15% on the next band, then 11.16%, 12.16%, and 13.16% on income over $220,000. After calculating the base provincial tax, Ontario applies a surtax: 20% on any provincial tax above $5,461, plus an additional 36% on provincial tax above $6,943. This surtax is added on top of the regular provincial tax, not on income. The combined effect means an Ontario taxpayer earning $100,000 pays considerably more provincial tax than the headline rate suggests. The Ontario basic personal amount for 2025 is $11,865 (provincial) and $15,705 (federal), meaning the first $11,865 of income is tax-free at the provincial level.
BC Provincial Tax: Seven Brackets, No Surtax
British Columbia's provincial tax is structured around seven brackets for 2025: 5.06% on income up to $45,654, then 7.70%, 10.50%, 12.29%, 14.70%, 16.80%, and 20.50% on income over $240,716. Crucially, BC has no provincial surtax, so the rate you calculate from the brackets is exactly what you pay. BC's basic personal amount is $11,981 — slightly higher than Ontario's. For incomes between $50,000 and $130,000, Ontario and BC are competitive. However, once income climbs above $130,000, Ontario's surtax takes a growing bite, and BC typically becomes the lower-tax province by a measurable margin.
CPP, EI and Federal Tax: What Both Provinces Share
Federal income tax is identical regardless of province: 15% on income up to $57,375, 20.5% on the next band up to $114,750, 26% up to $158,519, 29% up to $220,000, and 33% above that. The federal basic personal amount is $15,705. Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions for 2025 are 5.95% on employment income between $3,500 and $68,500, capped at $3,867 per year. Employment Insurance (EI) premiums are 1.66% on insurable earnings up to $63,200, capped at $1,049. These figures are the same for all provinces, so the only variable in this comparison is the provincial component. Both CPP and EI reduce your federal taxable income through non-refundable tax credits at the 15% federal rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which province has lower income tax, Ontario or BC?
It depends on your income level. For lower incomes (under $45,000), Ontario and BC are very close. From roughly $50,000 to $90,000, BC tends to be slightly lower. At higher incomes above $150,000, Ontario's surtax makes it significantly more expensive than BC. At $200,000 income, BC residents typically keep $3,000-$5,000 more per year than Ontario residents.
What is Ontario's provincial surtax?
Ontario charges an additional surtax on top of regular provincial tax. If your Ontario provincial tax exceeds $5,461, you pay an additional 20% on the excess. If it exceeds $6,943, you pay an additional 36% on that further excess. This surtax primarily affects earners above roughly $80,000 and makes Ontario's effective provincial rate significantly higher for high-income earners compared to other provinces.
Are CPP and EI contributions the same in Ontario and BC?
Yes. CPP (Canada Pension Plan) and EI (Employment Insurance) are federal programs and are identical regardless of which province you live in. For 2025, CPP is 5.95% on employment income between $3,500 and $68,500, for a maximum contribution of $3,867. EI is 1.66% on insurable earnings up to $63,200, for a maximum of $1,049.
Does moving from Ontario to BC save money on taxes?
For most income levels above $80,000, BC has a lower combined tax burden than Ontario due to Ontario's provincial surtax. At $100,000, the difference might be $1,000-$2,000 per year. At $200,000+, it can be $4,000-$6,000 per year in BC's favour. However, consider the full picture: BC has higher property costs in Metro Vancouver, and cost-of-living differences may outweigh tax savings.
What is the basic personal amount for Ontario and BC in 2025?
For 2025, Ontario's basic personal amount (provincial) is $11,865 and BC's is $11,981. The federal basic personal amount is $15,705 for both provinces. These amounts reduce your taxable income before calculating the tax owing, so you pay no provincial or federal income tax on earnings up to these thresholds.
How is effective tax rate calculated in this tool?
The effective tax rate shown is total income tax (federal + provincial) divided by gross income, expressed as a percentage. It does not include CPP and EI contributions, which are not taxes but rather social insurance premiums. The effective rate tells you what fraction of your total income goes to income tax after applying basic personal amounts and the appropriate brackets.
Does this calculator include the Ontario Health Premium?
This calculator focuses on income tax and mandatory payroll deductions (CPP and EI). The Ontario Health Premium is a separate levy charged on Ontario residents earning over $20,000. It ranges from $0 to $900 per year depending on income. It is not included in this comparison as BC does not have an equivalent premium, but Ontario residents should factor it into their full financial picture.