Is GST added to the price of roofing work in Alberta?

Yes, GST at 5% applies to roofing work in Alberta. It should appear as a separate line item on any written quote or invoice, not buried in the total.

Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so GST is the only tax you will see on a roofing contract. On a typical Calgary asphalt shingle replacement running $10,000 to $24,000, that adds $500 to $1,200 to the final bill. On a smaller repair in the $300 to $1,000 range, the GST is $15 to $50.

A few practical points worth knowing before you sign anything:

• A legitimate written contract must show the total price and payment terms including taxes. If a quote gives you a lump sum with no tax line, ask the contractor to break it out before you agree to anything.
• If a contractor is doing enough business to be GST-registered (which any active roofing company should be), they are required to collect and remit it. A contractor who tells you they can skip the GST to give you a better deal is a warning sign, not a bargain.
• If your roof replacement is part of an approved insurance claim, the insurer typically covers GST on the approved scope of work, but confirm that with your adjuster in writing. Depreciation holdbacks and how GST is handled on them vary by policy.

The price ranges quoted on this site, roughly $5 to $8.50 per square foot for a standard architectural shingle tear-off and replacement, are before GST. Factor in that 5% when you are comparing quotes or budgeting for a claim.