Barber tax estimator (Canada, 2026)
Self-employed and not sure how much to put aside? Enter your sales and expenses and get a rough estimate of your income tax, CPP, and the safe amount to park for tax time — plus whether you’ve hit the GST/HST threshold. Works for every province and territory.
Net income (what you’re taxed on): $48,000
Set aside for taxes + CPP
$14,400
about 30% of your net income
Self-employed: file by June 15, but pay any balance owing by April 30 to avoid interest.
How much should a barber set aside for taxes?
As a rule of thumb, a self-employed barber should set aside roughly 25–30% of net income for income tax and CPP — more as you earn more. Because you pay both halves of CPP (about 11.9%) on top of income tax, your bill is higher than an employee’s on the same pay. The calculator above does this per province so you get a number that fits where you work.
When do barbers have to register for GST/HST?
Once your total sales pass $30,000 in a rolling 12 months, you must register for GST/HST, then charge and remit it. Under that, it’s optional. Note the threshold is on your sales, not your profit.
Key dates for self-employed barbers
Your return is due June 15, but any tax you owe has to be paid by April 30 or interest starts adding up. Keep your set-aside in a separate account so it’s there when the bill comes.
ClipWise tracks every dollar for you
Payments, tips and totals land in one place, so at tax time your numbers are already added up — no shoebox of receipts.
Start free — 21 daysRough estimate for planning only — not tax advice. Based on 2026 federal, provincial and CPP rates and simplified credits; your actual tax depends on your full situation. Confirm with an accountant or CRA.