Everyday tax strategies for Canadians: 5 things to get right
Here are some helpful ways to reduce your taxable income and therefore your tax liability.
Definition of the 90% Rule in Canada
The 90% rule states that if 90% or more of your total income comes from Canadian sources, you may be eligible for full federal tax credits, such as the Basic Personal Amount or other refundable and non-refundable credits.
Who is eligible for this tax credit? To be eligible for the $7,500 Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit in Canada, you usually need to meet the following criteria: You must be a homeowner in Canada. The resident of the renovated unit must be a family member who is a senior or an adult with a disability.
If you receive income from sources such as a pension plan, certain annuities, a registered retirement income fund (RRIF) or other locked- in registered retirement income funds, you may be able to claim a tax credit on amount up to $2,000 of that income.
While a $10,000 tax refund might sound like a dream, it's achievable in certain situations. This typically happens when you've significantly overpaid taxes throughout the year or qualify for substantial tax credits. The key is understanding which credits and deductions you're eligible for.
According to a new study published by the Fraser Institute, in 2024 the average Canadian family (including single people) paid $48,306 in total taxes. Given the average family's total cash income was $114,289 in 2024, this means families paid 42.3 per cent of their incomes in taxes levied by all levels of government.
The average salary in Toronto is $62,050, which is 14% higher than the Canadian average salary of $54,450. A person making $75,000 a year in Toronto makes 20.9% more than the average working person in Toronto and will take home about $56,504.
As discussed earlier, a Canadian tax resident must report their worldwide income on their annual Canadian tax return regardless of where they physically work. If you are a U.S. citizen, you must also file an annual U.S. tax return to report the same income to the IRS.
Here are five mistakes to avoid when managing your TFSA.
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada. If you're allowed to enter Canada, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months.
Of course, the higher taxes Canadians pay aren't for nothing. Governments use that revenue to provide far more generous family and unemployment benefits than in the US, as well as things like subsidized post-secondary education and government-funded universal health care.
If you are employed and you make deductible support payments, you can ask the Canada Revenue Agency to allow the reduction of the amount of income tax that your employer is deducting from your pay. To do so, send Form T1213, Request to Reduce Tax Deductions at Source.
Quick Answer: $33.65 Per Hour
After federal and state deductions, your take-home pay ranges from $43,500 to $52,000 annually ($3,625-$4,333 monthly). Converting $70,000 a year to an hourly wage is straightforward: divide the annual salary by 2,080 work hours (40 hours per week × 52 weeks).
How to lower taxable income and avoid a higher tax bracket
Five Most Overlooked Tax Deductions
The Short Answer. Canada often looks cheaper on paper. But your real purchasing power, what your paycheck actually gets you, will likely be lower than in the U.S. According to IMF purchasing-power-parity data, average income-adjusted buying power in Canada is about 27.5% lower than in the U.S.
What is the average salary in Canada? If you make $100,000 a year living in the region of British Columbia, Canada, you will be taxed $28,076. That means that your net pay will be $71,924 per year, or $5,994 per month. Your average tax rate is 28.1% and your marginal tax rate is 38.1%.
In 2022, Canada was ranked 22nd out of the 38 OECD countries in terms of the tax-to-GDP ratio. 1. In this note, the country with the highest level or share is ranked first and the country with the lowest level or share is ranked 38th.
Initially included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the lower 1099-K threshold was meant to close tax gaps by flagging more digital income. It required platforms to report any user earning $600 or more, regardless of how many transactions they had.
Additional key tax refund statistics
The average tax refund in 2022 for someone making between $50,000 and $75,000 was $2,712. The average tax return for someone making between $100,000 and $199,999 was $4,106.
Rumors of a universal $ 3000 check from the IRS have gained traction on social media, but these claims are not true. As of 2025, there is no federal program authorizing a new $ 3000 stimulus, rebate, or automatic payment to all Americans.