Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Sales Tax rebate on tax paid by mistake on a vehicle purchase

Easy application

Tax filing not required

If you paid Nova Scotia Sales Tax (NSST) by mistake, you can apply for a refund.

You might pay Nova Scotia Sales Tax by mistake if:

  • a vehicle appraisal provides a lower value than the red book value assessed on the sale.
  • the sale is cancelled after you pay the tax.
  • your Indian status isn’t confirmed until after you pay the tax.

You can apply for a refund if you paid Nova Scotia Sales Tax by mistake on these vehicles:

  • cars
  • trucks
  • trailers

There is no cost to apply for a refund.

You can apply for a Nova Scotia Sales Tax refund if you bought a vehicle and paid Nova Scotia Sales Tax by mistake.

Before you start your applications, make sure you have:

  • copy of receipt or invoice for the vehicle you bought, showing total purchase price, name of the seller and buyer, vehicle identification number (VIN) and the make, model and year
  • copy of the Registry of Motor Vehicles receipt showing the Nova Scotia Sales Tax paid for the purchase of the car or truck
  • receipt issued by Service Nova Scotia for the purchase of vehicles like trailers

Follow these three steps to apply for the Nova Scotia Sales Tax refund:

  • Complete the Nova Scotia Sales Tax refund application (pdf).
  • Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
  • Send your completed application and supporting documents by mail. Or visit the Vehicle Tax Unit.

It should take 3 to 6 weeks to get the rebate. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application hasn’t been filled in correctly.

Last updated: May 13, 2021