Learn
Explainers and guides that show their working. Every one names its source and links to the calculator that does the arithmetic, and where a checked date is recorded it is shown beside the source.
Looking for providers?Providers we cover
Browse by topic
46 guides and explainersTax
Explainer1 min
The 2026 federal basic personal amount has a maximum and a lower amount for higher incomes, with the enhancement gradually phased out between income thresholds.
Source: CRA, 2026 indexed tax and benefit amounts · Checked
Explainer1 min
The federal medical expense tax credit uses eligible expenses above an income-based threshold, with a published dollar ceiling for 2026.
Source: CRA, 2026 indexed tax and benefit amounts · Checked
Explainer1 min
The northern residents deductions distinguish basic and additional residency amounts, with different daily amounts for the two prescribed zones.
Source: CRA, northern residents deductions for 2025 · Checked
Explainer2 min
Tuition amounts can be transferred or carried forward under separate rules from the credit for interest paid on qualifying student loans.
Source: CRA, Eligible tuition fees · Checked
Retirement
Explainer2 min
A RRIF pays a yearly minimum beginning after its establishment year, with the applicable factor based on age at the beginning of the year.
Source: CRA, Receiving income from a RRIF · Checked
Explainer2 min
Eligible pension income can be allocated between spouses for tax purposes, while the pension income amount has separate eligibility conditions.
Source: CRA, pension income splitting · Checked
Explainer1 min
The Lifelong Learning Plan permits qualifying RRSP withdrawals for education, with annual and total limits followed by repayment obligations.
Source: CRA, participating in the Lifelong Learning Plan · Checked
Explainer1 min
Guaranteed Income Supplement monthly maxima and annual income thresholds vary with marital status and a partner's benefits.
Source: ESDC, Old Age Security payment amounts · Checked
Housing
Explainer2 min
The Home Buyers' Plan permits qualifying RRSP withdrawals with a repayment period, including temporary relief that delays the first repayment year.
Source: CRA, Home Buyers' Plan · Checked
Explainer2 min
The home accessibility tax credit and multigenerational home renovation tax credit have different purposes and qualifying expense limits.
Source: Department of Finance Canada, Report on Federal Tax Expenditures 2026 · Checked
Explainer1 min
The home buyers' amount is a non-refundable federal tax credit with qualifying-home and first-time-buyer conditions, plus disability exceptions.
Source: CRA, Home buyers' amount · Checked
Explainer2 min
FHSA participation room is $8,000 in the first year you open an account. A qualifying withdrawal for a first home is tax-free and does not have to be repaid.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency, First Home Savings Account · Checked
Saving and banking
Explainer2 min
The TFSA annual limit is $7,000 for 2026. Unused contribution room carries forward, and any amount withdrawn is restored as new room on January 1 of the following year.
Source: Canada Revenue Agency, TFSA contribution room · Checked
Explainer1 min
The Bank sets the target for overnight borrowing between financial institutions. Its changes influence commercial bank prime rates and other borrowing and saving rates.
Source: Bank of Canada, Understanding our policy interest rate · Checked
Explainer1 min
CDIC protects eligible deposits at member institutions. The limit applies separately by insurance category and member institution, including principal and interest.
Source: Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, what is covered · Checked
Benefits and family
Explainer1 min
The federal Canada Workers Benefit has separate maximum amounts and income reduction thresholds for single individuals without children and for families.
Source: CRA, 2026 indexed tax and benefit amounts · Checked
Explainer1 min
The GST/HST credit became the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit in July 2026, with published annual maximums for the July 2026 to June 2027 period.
Source: CRA, Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit amounts · Checked
Explainer1 min
The Canada Disability Benefit is an income-tested payment, while the disability tax credit reduces income tax and is an eligibility requirement for the benefit.
Source: Service Canada, Canada Disability Benefit amounts · Checked
Explainer1 min
The Canadian Dental Care Plan uses adjusted family net income for eligibility and co-payments, with coverage based on the plan's established fees.
Source: Health Canada, Canadian Dental Care Plan coverage · Checked
Work and pay
Explainer2 min
The 2026 CPP employee contribution rate is 5.95% on earnings above the basic exemption and up to $74,600. EI uses a separate premium rate and insurable-earnings ceiling.
Explainer1 min
For most people, EI regular benefits use a percentage of average insurable weekly earnings. The published earnings ceiling limits the weekly amount.
Source: Service Canada, EI regular benefit amounts · Checked
Not yet running
The rate changes that actually moved
There is no email list yet. If a monthly note on what changed, and which guides were rewritten because of it, is something you would read, say so and it goes on the list of things to build.