Canadian dividends — news, tax and tools. Free, no account.
Aug 1, 2026
National Bank pays increased dividend of $1.32 a share
The higher quarterly payment, announced in May, reached shareholders on 1 August. It is an increase of eight cents on the previous $1.24.
Source: National Bank of Canada — press release, 27 May 2026
Jul 15, 2026
Bank of Canada holds policy rate at 2.25% for a sixth consecutive decision
The target for the overnight rate has not moved since October 2025. Governing Council said the hold balances the risks as economic growth resumes.
May 28, 2026
Royal Bank raises dividend 7% as four banks lift payouts
RBC declared a quarterly dividend of $1.76 a share, up 12 cents, reporting second-quarter net income of $5.5 billion. Three other large Canadian banks raised in the same week.
Jan 1, 2026
Lowest federal personal income tax rate falls to 14%
The bottom bracket rate dropped from 15%, reaching 14% for 2026 after a blended 14.5% in 2025. Because non-refundable credits are valued at that rate, their worth falls with it.
Start here: the three rules that decide most outcomes
A dividend is not one kind of income, and the account it lands in changes the answer before any arithmetic runs.
- 01
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US dividends belong in an RRSP
The Canada–US treaty waives the 15% withholding tax in an RRSP or RRIF and nowhere else. In a TFSA it is deducted at source and cannot be recovered, because there is no Canadian tax to credit it against.
- 02
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Eligible Canadian dividends work hardest outside a shelter
The dividend tax credit only offsets tax you would otherwise owe. Inside a TFSA there is none, so the credit is forgone — and eligible dividends are already the most lightly taxed income in a taxable account.
- 03
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Return of capital defers tax, it does not cancel it
It is untaxed on receipt and reduces your adjusted cost base by the same amount, which enlarges the capital gain when you sell. Once cost base reaches zero, further return of capital is taxable immediately.
Date modified: 2026-08-21
The same dividend is taxed 17.87 points apart
Top marginal rate on eligible Canadian dividends, 2026. Northwest Territories taxes them at 28.33%; Newfoundland and Labrador at 46.20%. Identical income, identical securities — the province is the whole difference.
| Jurisdiction | Eligible dividends | Ordinary income |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Territories | 28.33% | 47.05% |
| Yukon | 28.93% | 48.00% |
| British Columbia | 36.54% | 53.50% |
| Nova Scotia | 41.58% | 54.00% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 46.20% | 54.80% |
What is here
Tools
After-tax yield, compounding, borrowing spreads, TFSA room, and adjusted cost base. Each runs in your browser on figures you type. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
Tax
Combined federal and provincial top marginal rates for 2026 on eligible dividends, non-eligible dividends, capital gains and ordinary income.
Learn
Long-form explanations written for someone who has never held a fund: taxation, account placement, covered call funds, and living off distributions.
References
The glossary and the rate tables the rest of the site depends on, each carrying its source and the date it was retrieved.
Blog
Questions people actually ask, answered at length — why a distribution changed, whether a high yield is real, what to do when a slip arrives late.
News
Rate decisions, contribution limits and rule changes that move the arithmetic. Reported after the fact, every item with a source attached.
Common questions
How are Canadian dividends taxed?
Eligible dividends from Canadian corporations are grossed up by 38%, and a federal dividend tax credit together with a provincial credit is applied against the grossed-up amount. Non-eligible dividends use a 15% gross-up and a smaller credit. Because the credit accounts for corporate tax already paid, eligible dividends in a taxable account are generally taxed more favourably than interest income at the same marginal rate.
Should US dividend stocks be held in a TFSA or an RRSP?
An RRSP. US dividends are subject to 15% US withholding tax, and the Canada–US treaty exempts RRSPs and RRIFs from it. A TFSA is not covered, and because no Canadian tax is payable inside a TFSA the withholding cannot be recovered as a foreign tax credit either.
Is return of capital taxable?
Not when received. It reduces the adjusted cost base of the position rather than being taxed as income, which increases the capital gain realised on sale. Once cost base reaches zero, further return of capital is treated as a capital gain immediately.
Does this site cost anything?
No. DividendsCanada is free to use, has no accounts, carries no advertising, and sells nothing. It exists as an educational reference.
Is this investment advice?
No. DividendsCanada is an educational and research reference. It explains how dividend income is taxed and provides calculators. It does not recommend securities, and nothing on it should be treated as advice.
Is this affiliated with the Government of Canada?
No. This is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, or any provincial authority. Tax rules are described from public sources; the interpretation is our own.
About this reference
- Free, and not for sale
- No account, no subscription, no advertising, and no affiliate arrangement with any broker, issuer or fund. Nothing is ranked or omitted for commercial reasons, because there are none.
- How figures are derived
- Tax and credit rates come from published federal and provincial schedules for the year stated. Where a figure cannot be sourced it is reported as unavailable rather than estimated. Every dataset carries its source and retrieval date — see the disclaimer.
- Independence
- Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, or any provincial authority. Nothing here is investment, tax or financial advice.