Tax Guide · Canada
2026 Canadian Income Tax Brackets: Federal & Provincial
Canada uses a progressive tax system: only the income that falls inside a bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. Here's what the 2026 federal brackets look like, how provincial tax stacks on top, and how to read your marginal vs. average rate.
Federal tax brackets (2026)
Indexed to inflation by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
| Taxable income | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $57,375 | 15% |
| $57,375 – $114,750 | 20.5% |
| $114,750 – $177,882 | 26% |
| $177,882 – $253,414 | 29% |
| Over $253,414 | 33% |
Provincial brackets — Ontario example (2026)
Every province sets its own brackets. Ontario is shown below; rates for BC, Alberta, Quebec and the rest follow the same stacking idea.
| Taxable income | Ontario rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $52,886 | 5.05% |
| $52,886 – $105,775 | 9.15% |
| $105,775 – $150,000 | 11.16% |
| $150,000 – $220,000 | 12.16% |
| Over $220,000 | 13.16% |
Ontario also applies a health-premium surtax on higher incomes — your combined marginal rate can exceed the federal + Ontario sum above $200,000.
Marginal vs. average rate
Your marginal rate is the tax on the next dollar you earn — the top bracket your income reaches. Your average rate is total tax ÷ total income, and it is always lower, because the first dollars are taxed at the lowest brackets.
Example — $90,000 Ontario resident
- Federal: 15% on first $57,375 + 20.5% on next $32,625 ≈ $15,294
- Ontario: 5.05% on first $52,886 + 9.15% on next $37,114 ≈ $6,067
- Total tax ≈ $21,361 — average rate ≈ 23.7%, marginal rate ≈ 29.65%
Planning tips
- RRSP contributions reduce taxable income — most valuable when they pull you out of a higher bracket.
- TFSA doesn't reduce taxable income but shelters growth. Use it after the bracket-shifting RRSP room.
- Income splitting with a lower-earning spouse (pension splitting, spousal RRSPs) can reduce the household's top marginal rate.
- Capital gains are 50% includable below $250,000 of gains per year — effectively half your marginal rate.
Want a personal walkthrough?
Book a paid session and we'll run your numbers, identify the brackets you should manage around, and map out RRSP/TFSA moves for the year.
Book a sessionRates shown are projected 2026 figures based on CRA indexation and provincial budgets at time of writing. Confirm against the CRA's official tax package before filing. This guide is general information, not personal tax advice.