2026 Canadian income tax brackets and rates

Every federal and provincial bracket for the 2026 tax year, the basic personal amounts, and what the new 14% lowest rate means for your return.

Updated July 2026 · 7 min read

2026 federal tax brackets

For 2026, all federal thresholds are indexed by 2.0% and the lowest rate has dropped to 14% (from 15%, via the July 2025 reduction that is now fully in effect):

Taxable incomeFederal rate
$0 – $58,52314%
$58,523 – $117,04520.5%
$117,045 – $181,44026%
$181,440 – $258,48229%
Over $258,48233%

The basic personal amount (BPA) is $16,452 for most taxpayers (phasing down to $14,829 for income above $258,482). The BPA generates a non-refundable tax credit of $16,452 × 14% = $2,303, effectively making the first $16,452 of income tax-free at the federal level.

The 14% lowest rate — what changed?

The federal government reduced the lowest bracket from 15% to 14% as part of Bill C-4 ("Legislation to make life more affordable"). The change took effect July 1, 2025, creating a blended rate of 14.5% for the 2025 tax year. For 2026 and all subsequent years, the full 14% applies.

What this means in practice: on income up to $58,523, you save 1 percentage point compared to 2024. On a full first bracket, that is a savings of about $585 per year.

The BPA credit also uses 14%: Because the basic personal amount credit is calculated at the lowest bracket rate, it is now 14% × $16,452 = $2,303 (vs. 15% × $15,705 = $2,356 in 2024). The slightly lower credit rate is offset by the higher BPA threshold and the lower bracket rate on your actual income.

Provincial and territorial brackets (2026)

Each province and territory sets its own income tax brackets that apply in addition to federal tax. Your province is determined by where you reside on December 31 of the tax year.

Ontario

Taxable incomeRate
$0 – $53,8915.05%
$53,891 – $107,7859.15%
$107,785 – $150,00011.16%
$150,000 – $220,00012.16%
Over $220,00013.16%

Ontario also applies a surtax of 20% on provincial tax exceeding $5,818 and an additional 36% (total 56%) on provincial tax exceeding $7,446. This effectively pushes the top marginal provincial rate to about 20.53%.

British Columbia

Taxable incomeRate
$0 – $50,3635.60%
$50,363 – $100,7287.70%
$100,728 – $115,64810.50%
$115,648 – $140,43012.29%
$140,430 – $190,40514.70%
$190,405 – $265,54516.80%
Over $265,54520.50%

Alberta

Taxable incomeRate
$0 – $61,2008%
$61,200 – $154,25910%
$154,259 – $185,11112%
$185,111 – $246,81313%
$246,813 – $370,22014%
Over $370,22015%

Quebec

Taxable incomeRate
$0 – $54,34514%
$54,345 – $108,68019%
$108,680 – $132,24524%
Over $132,24525.75%

Quebec residents file a separate provincial return with Revenu Québec and receive a 16.5% federal tax abatement.

Saskatchewan

Taxable incomeRate
$0 – $54,53210.50%
$54,532 – $155,80512.50%
Over $155,80514.50%

Manitoba

Taxable incomeRate
$0 – $47,56410.80%
$47,564 – $101,20012.75%
Over $101,20017.40%

For full interactive calculations and all remaining provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut), use our income tax calculator which covers all 13 jurisdictions.

Combined top marginal rates by province

The combined top marginal rate is the federal top rate (33%) plus the provincial top rate. For Ontario, the surtax further increases the effective rate. Here are the 2026 combined top rates:

ProvinceTop provincial rateCombined top rate
Alberta15.00%48.00%
British Columbia20.50%53.50%
Manitoba17.40%50.40%
New Brunswick19.50%52.50%
Newfoundland & Labrador21.80%54.80%
Nova Scotia21.00%54.00%
Ontario~20.53%*~53.53%
Prince Edward Island20.00%53.00%
Quebec25.75%53.31%**
Saskatchewan14.50%47.50%
Yukon15.00%48.00%
NWT14.05%47.05%
Nunavut11.50%44.50%

*Ontario effective rate after surtax. **Quebec after federal abatement.

Marginal rate vs. average rate

A common misconception is "if I earn $60,000, all of it is taxed at 20.5%." That is not how progressive brackets work:

  • Marginal rate — the rate on the next dollar you earn. It determines the tax impact of a raise, a bonus, or an additional RRSP contribution.
  • Average (effective) rate — total tax divided by total income. It reflects what you actually pay overall.

For example, on $100,000 of employment income in Ontario (2026), the marginal rate is about 29.65% but the average rate is only about 19.3%. The difference exists because your first $58,523 was taxed at just 14% federally, not 20.5%.

Practical use: Use your marginal rate to evaluate tax decisions (RRSP contributions, capital gains timing, income splitting). Use your average rate to understand your overall tax burden.

Tax on capital gains and dividends

Not all income is taxed the same:

  • Capital gains: Only the taxable portion (50% of gains up to $250,000, 66.67% above that) is added to income. A $100,000 gain adds only $50,000 to your taxable income.
  • Eligible dividends: Grossed up by 38%, then you receive a dividend tax credit. The effective rate on eligible dividends is significantly lower than on the same amount of employment income.
  • Ineligible (small business) dividends: Grossed up by 15%, with a smaller credit.

Our income tax calculator handles all three types automatically and shows you the combined tax.

How inflation indexing works

Each year, the CRA adjusts bracket thresholds and the BPA by the federal indexation factor, which is based on the average Consumer Price Index from October to September of the prior year. For 2026, the factor is 2.0% (down from 2.7% in 2025 and 4.7% in 2024 as inflation has moderated).

Provinces use similar formulas but may apply their own provincial CPI figure — Ontario used 1.9% for 2026, Quebec used 2.05%, BC used 2.2%. This is why provincial brackets do not move in perfect lockstep with federal ones.

Frequently asked

What is the lowest federal tax rate in 2026?

The lowest federal tax rate for 2026 is 14%, reduced from 15% as of July 2025. It applies to taxable income up to $58,523.

Which province has the lowest income tax?

Nunavut has the lowest top combined rate (44.50%), while Alberta and Saskatchewan also have relatively low rates. However, the lowest overall tax burden depends on your income level since provinces have different bracket thresholds.

What is the basic personal amount for 2026?

The federal basic personal amount is $16,452 for 2026. This means the first $16,452 of income is effectively tax-free at the federal level (generating a tax credit of $2,303). Each province also has its own personal amount.

How do RRSP contributions affect my tax bracket?

RRSP contributions reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar, up to your contribution limit. This can push you into a lower bracket, saving tax at your current marginal rate. The tax savings are most impactful when you contribute while in a high bracket and withdraw in retirement at a lower bracket.

Keep reading
Capital gains tax in CanadaRRSP, TFSA, and capital gainsAsset location: which account for which investmentDividend tax in CanadaIncome tax calculator (2026)RRSP vs TFSA calculator

Educational information, not tax advice. Rules summarized here can change and may not fit your situation — always confirm your capital gains reporting with a qualified Canadian accountant.

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