Guides

58 plain-language explainers on the Canadian tax rules that trip investors up. Free for everyone, no account needed.

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What is adjusted cost base?

The pooled average-cost number every capital gain depends on.

The superficial loss rule

Canada's 30-day rule: when losses are denied and how to avoid the trap.

How RSUs are taxed in Canada

Vest value as income, cost base, and the double-tax trap.

Phantom distributions explained

Taxable distributions with no cash and the ACB bump they trigger.

All 58 guides by topic

Every guide we publish, organized by category. New guides are added regularly.

Adjusted cost base

5 guides

What is adjusted cost base?

The pooled average-cost number every capital gain depends on.

ACB for ETFs

Why reinvested distributions and return of capital move your cost base.

Same stock at two brokers

The single-pool rule across accounts, transfers, and spouses.

DRIP and adjusted cost base

Every reinvested dividend is a new purchase that raises your ACB — miss it and you overpay at sale.

In-kind transfers and ACB

Deemed dispositions to TFSA/RRSP, and ACB continuity in broker-to-broker moves.

Capital gains

3 guides

Capital gains tax in Canada

How gains are calculated, taxed, and reported end to end.

The inclusion rate, explained

Why only part of a gain is taxable, and how the math works.

Capital gains in a TFSA or RRSP

What’s sheltered, what losses vanish, and the cross-account trap.

Income tax & brackets

4 guides

2026 Canadian income tax brackets

Every federal and provincial bracket for 2026, the 14% lowest rate, and combined top rates.

FHSA: rules, contribution room & tax benefits

The First Home Savings Account combines the RRSP deduction with TFSA-style tax-free withdrawal.

RRSP vs TFSA: which is better?

The full comparison: when each account wins, the math behind the decision, and common mistakes.

Which account to use: RRSP vs TFSA vs FHSA vs taxable

A decision tree for every life stage — open the right account first and every dollar works harder.

Losses & tax-loss selling

4 guides

The superficial loss rule

The 30-day trap that can deny your capital loss.

Tax-loss selling in Canada

Cut a gains bill before year-end without voiding the loss.

Wash sale vs. superficial loss

The Canadian rule and how it differs from the US one.

Substitute ETFs for tax-loss harvesting

Complete swap list: sell XIC buy VCN, sell XEQT buy VEQT — maintain exposure without the superficial loss rule.

Tax slips

3 guides

Why your T5008 might be wrong

What brokers report, and the cost-base gaps you must fix.

The T3 slip and capital gains

Reading box 21 gains and box 42 return of capital.

Return of capital and box 42

The non-taxable distribution that quietly cuts your ACB.

ETFs & funds

3 guides

Phantom distributions explained

Taxable distributions with no cash — and the ACB bump they trigger.

How ETFs are taxed in Canada

One distribution, several tax treatments, two ACB adjustments.

ETF tax efficiency: XEQT vs VEQT, Canadian vs US-listed

How ETF structure, withholding tax layers, and distribution types affect your after-tax return.

Equity compensation

4 guides

How RSUs are taxed in Canada

Vest value as income, cost base, and the sale.

The RSU double-tax trap

The $0-cost-base mistake that taxes you twice.

ESPP tax in Canada

The discount as income, and why cost base is market value.

Stock options tax in Canada

The exercise benefit, the deduction, and CCPC timing.

Crypto

3 guides

How crypto is taxed in Canada

Property, not money — so nearly everything is a disposition.

Crypto-to-crypto swaps

The most-missed taxable event, valued in CAD.

Business income vs. capital

When active crypto activity is taxed as a business.

Corporate actions

3 guides

Stock splits and your cost base

Same total ACB, new per-share number — plus cash-in-lieu.

Spin-off tax and allocation

Splitting one cost base across two stocks, and section 86.1.

Merger, amalgamation & takeover ACB

Section 85.1 rollover for share-for-share exchanges and the allocation formula for mixed deals.

Currency & FX

2 guides

Reporting USD trades on your Canadian return

The BoC rate, settlement date, and per-trade CAD conversion the CRA expects.

Norbit's Gambit: how it works and how it's taxed

Convert CAD to USD cheaply via DLR/DLR.U — and the small gain you must report.

Filing & reporting

4 guides

How to fill out Schedule 3

Section by section, to line 12700 of your T1.

How to report stock sales to the CRA

From messy slips to a correct capital gain.

T1135: reporting foreign property over $100K

When you must file, what counts, penalties, and the simplified vs. detailed method.

Importing broker data

CSV export steps to get your history in cleanly.

Situational & advanced

11 guides

US stocks and Canadian tax

FX on every trade, dividend withholding, and CAD cost base.

Dividend tax in Canada

Eligible, non-eligible, and foreign dividends compared.

Foreign withholding tax

Why the account you hold a foreign dividend in changes the tax.

How day trading is taxed

When the CRA sees a business instead of an investor.

Day trading in a TFSA

How active trading can cost you the shelter entirely.

Departure tax when leaving Canada

The deemed disposition of your assets on emigration.

Asset location: which account for which investment

US dividends in RRSP, Canadian dividends in taxable, growth in TFSA — the framework.

The Smith Manoeuvre

Converting non-deductible mortgage interest to tax-deductible investment loan interest.

Deemed disposition on death: inheritance ACB

How the estate is taxed, what ACB the beneficiary inherits, and the spousal rollover.

Covered call ETFs and return of capital

High yields from option premiums — but ROC reduces ACB and defers a capital gain to sale.

Donating appreciated securities

The 0% capital gains inclusion rate for in-kind donations to registered charities.

By broker

9 guides

Questrade tax guide

Slips, exports, and cost base for Questrade accounts.

Wealthsimple tax guide

Managed and self-directed reporting for Wealthsimple.

Interactive Brokers tax guide

Multi-currency reporting and CAD conversion for IBKR.

Qtrade tax guide

Statements, transfers, and cost base for Qtrade.

RBC Direct Investing tax guide

Slips and pooled cost base for RBC Direct.

TD Direct Investing tax guide

Book cost vs. true ACB for TD Direct.

CIBC Investor’s Edge tax guide

Reconciling book value at Investor’s Edge.

National Bank Direct Brokerage tax guide

Tax slips, USD handling, and ACB for NBDB accounts.

Webull Canada tax guide

Commission-free trading and tax reporting for Webull accounts.

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Not tax or legal advice. Always confirm capital gains reporting with a qualified accountant. · Made with love in Canada 🇨🇦