Essential tax numbers: Updated for 2026

You have a lot to remember as a financial advisor, so we’ve assembled this reference list of tax numbers. We’ll update it as things change.

Working clients

• RRSP dollar limit: The RRSP dollar limit for 2026 is $33,810; for 2025, it’s $32,490. The 2027 limit is $35,390.
• TFSA limit: In 2026, the dollar limit is $7,000, for a total of $109,000 for someone who has never contributed and has been eligible for the TFSA since its introduction in 2009. The annual limit for 2025 is $7,000, for a total of $102,000 in room available in 2025 for someone who has been eligible since 2009.
• Maximum pensionable earnings: For 2026, the maximum pensionable earnings amount is $74,600 (up from $71,300 in 2025), and the basic exemption amount remains $3,500. For 2026, earnings between $74,600 and $85,000 will be subject to a second tranche of CPP contributions.
• Maximum EI insurable earnings: The maximum annual insurable earnings (federal) for 2026 is $68,900, up from $65,700 in 2025.
• Prescribed rate: The prescribed rate on loans to family members will remain 3% in Q1 2026, and the interest rate Canadians must pay on overdue tax will remain 7%.
• Lifetime capital gains exemption: The lifetime capital gains exemption limit is $1,275,000 in 2026 and $1,250,000 2025.
• Home buyers’ amount: A client who bought a home may be able to claim up to $10,000 of the purchase cost.
• Medical expenses threshold: For the 2026 tax year, the maximum is 3% of net income or $2,890, whichever is less. For 2025, the max is 3% or $2,834.
• Basic personal amount: The basic personal amount for 2026 is $16,452 for taxpayers with net income of $181,440 or less. At income levels above $181,440, the basic personal amount is gradually clawed back until it reaches $14,829 for net income of $258,482. The basic personal amount for 2025 ranges from $14,538 to $16,129.

Older clients

• Age amount: Clients can claim this amount if they were age 65 or older on Dec. 31 of the taxation year. The maximum amount they can claim in 2026 is $9,208, up from $9,028 in 2025.
• OAS recovery threshold: If your client’s net world income exceeds $95,323 in 2026 or $93,454 in 2025, they may have to repay part of or the entire OAS pension.
• Lifetime ALDA dollar limit: The limit is $180,000 for 2026 and for 2025.

Clients with children and other dependants

• Canada caregiver credit: A client with a dependant younger than 18 who’s physically or mentally impaired may be able to claim up to an additional $2,740 in 2026 and $2,687 in 2025 in calculating certain non-refundable tax credits. For infirm dependants 18 or older, the amount for 2026 is $8,773 and the 2025 amount is $8,601.
• Disability amount: This non-refundable credit is $10,341 in 2026 ($10,138 in 2025), with a supplement up to $6,032 for those under 18 ($5,914 in 2025) that is reduced if child care expenses are claimed.
• Child disability benefit: The child disability benefit is a tax-free benefit of up to $3,480 in 2026 ($3,411 in 2025) for families who care for a child under 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions.
• Canada child benefit: In 2026, the maximum CCB benefit is $8,157 per child under six and up to $6,883 per child age six through 17. In 2025, those amounts are $7,997 per child under six and up to $6,748 per child aged six through 17.

Federal tax brackets

Federal bracket thresholds will be adjusted higher in 2026 by 2.0%.