Ontario restaurant bills and liquor rules: HST, the $4 rebate, bringing wine and tipping

Ontario's rules on restaurant bills and alcohol are simpler than people expect, but a few details surprise visitors and newcomers. The Ontario government and the Canada Revenue Agency publish the current rules, so go to them for the final word.

How much tax is added to a meal in Ontario?

Ontario uses the Harmonized Sales Tax, HST, at 13 percent. It combines the federal GST of 5 percent with an Ontario part of 8 percent. HST applies to restaurant meals, takeout and drinks. A restaurant menu price does not usually include it, so, for example, a meal that looks like 40 dollars before tax will be 45 dollars and 20 cents after.

That differs from British Columbia, where food carries only the 5 percent GST and alcohol carries a further PST, and from Alberta, which has no provincial sales tax.

What is the rebate on small items?

There is a point-of-sale rebate of the 8 percent Ontario part of the HST when the total price, before HST, of the qualifying prepared food and beverages sold to one person at one time is 4 dollars or less. That means a cheap coffee or muffin may carry only the federal 5 percent. The 4 dollars is a total for the purchase, not a limit per item, and alcohol does not qualify. If you notice the tax is lower on a small purchase, that is the reason. The Canada Revenue Agency sets the rule, so check its guidance for the current wording.

How should you tip in Ontario?

The usual range is 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill at a table with service. Many card machines now suggest percentages, and some calculate them on the taxed total, which increases the amount slightly. To tip on the subtotal, use the custom option. At a counter, a tip is optional. Check your bill for an automatic gratuity on large groups.

Can you bring your own wine to an Ontario restaurant?

Only if the restaurant has chosen to allow it. Ontario changed its liquor rules years ago to let a restaurant with the right endorsement serve wine that the diner brings. The decision belongs to the restaurant, which also sets a corkage fee. Phone ahead, ask the corkage fee, ask whether you can take a partly drunk bottle home, and do not assume.

How old do you have to be to drink in Ontario?

The legal age is 19. Servers can ask for photo ID. Bars and restaurants must refuse service to anyone who appears intoxicated.

Can you drink in a park or on a patio?

Drinking outdoors is covered by municipal and provincial rules, and they change. A restaurant patio licensed for alcohol is fine, provided you stay within the licensed area. Whether you can drink in a park depends on whether it is a city or a provincial park and on the current rules, so check the city's or Ontario Parks' rules before you bring a drink. If in doubt, ask.

What about service charges?

Some Ontario restaurants add an automatic service charge for large groups. The charge should be clearly shown on the menu or the bill. Under Ontario's tip law, tips belong to the staff, but a service charge is not necessarily a tip, so ask how it is distributed if you want to know. If you see a charge you did not expect, ask the server.

What about credit card fees?

Some restaurants have started to add a charge for paying by credit card. The rules in Canada are covered in a separate guide, but in short, the restaurant must tell you before you pay and show the charge on the receipt.

What should you do about a mistake on the bill?

Check the totals before you pay. Look for double charges, items you did not order and the correct tax. Raise it politely, and if you cannot resolve it, ask the manager. If a charge is wrong on your card, contact the card issuer.

What if you have a complaint about alcohol service?

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regulates liquor licences and takes complaints. For most diners, though, a quick conversation with the manager settles the matter.

A quick checklist before you pay

• HST of 13 percent is added to the menu price.
• Tip 15 to 20 percent before tax.
• Ask before you bring your own wine.
• Bring photo ID in case you are asked.
• Check for a service charge on groups.

How do you remember which places were clear on the bill?

The best defence against a surprise at the till is a place that tells you everything up front. After a meal, rate the dish in the Mosey app and add a line in your note such as "tax and tip clear on the card machine" or "service charge shown on the menu". Add the Great Value tag when the bill matched what you expected, and keep a private list called Straightforward bills.

Share that list with a friend through the invite link, and follow friends whose taste you trust, so their rated and saved places sit next to yours when you plan a night out.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Little Portugal food guide: custard tarts, bifanas and Portuguese bakeries on Dundas West
• North York food guide: Persian, Korean and Chinese food along Yonge Street

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.

After your next dinner, open the Mosey app and rate the dish before you pay the bill.