Made a profit on stocks? Here's how capital gains tax works in Canada

On average in 2021, Canadians reported over $37,600 in net capital gains-an impressive number that speaks to a lot of successful investment decisions. It's a testament to the savviness of Canadian investors like you, and our mission at Questrade is to not just help more Canadians experience, but to make sure you know how to maximize those earnings.

Because, if your investments were part of that story, you know the feeling. The satisfaction of making the right call, quickly followed by a question that can feel daunting: "What do I owe?"

This guide isn't about tax law. It's a playbook for what to do when your investments pay off. It's about facing the tax bill with the same confidence you used to earn it in the first place.

The only three numbers you need to know

Forget complex formulas, you don't AP calculus here. But before we get into any math, let's be clear about one crucial point: you only pay tax on a capital gain when you sell an investment.

The profit that exists in your account on paper-known as an unrealized gain-does not create a tax bill. If you buy a stock and its value doubles, you don't owe anything until the day you decide to sell and "realize" that profit.

Calculating your capital gain comes down to simple arithmetic. There are only three numbers that matter.

1. Proceeds of disposition: This is a formal term for the total amount of money you received when you sold your investment.
2. Adjusted cost base (ACB): This is the most important number to get right, and it's the full, averaged cost of acquiring an investment. It's messy to think about in the abstract and simple once you put it into a real-world context:
   • In January, you buy 100 shares of a company at $15/share, paying a $5 commission. Your cost is ($15 × 100) + $5 = $1,505.
   • In March, the stock dips, and you buy 50 more shares at $12/share, again with a $5 commission. This second cost is ($12 × 50) + $5 = $605.
   • Your total adjusted cost base (ACB) is the sum of both purchases: $1,505 + $605 = $2,110. You now own 150 shares, and your average cost is $14.07 per share ($2,110 / 150). This is your ACB.
3. Your capital gain: Now, you sell all 150 shares for $20 each, receiving $3,000. The gain is the difference between your proceeds and your total ACB.

Your tax rate isn't what you think it is

Here's the part that trips most people up. Canada does not have a single "capital gains tax rate."

Instead, you take your capital gain ($890 in our example) and cut it in half. That's the 50% inclusion rate at work.

$890 x 0.50 = $445

This amount, the taxable capital gain, is simply added to your other income for the year (like your salary). It's then taxed at your personal marginal tax rate.

This means you are not taxed at some secret, high rate. You are taxed at your rate. It also means that if you are in a lower income bracket for the year, you will pay less tax on that gain than someone in a higher bracket. It's a system that's more personal than you might think, and understanding it makes the whole process less daunting.

The most powerful tools at your disposal

You don't have a say in tax law, but you do have more control than you may think. The Canadian government has created specific tools to help investors manage their tax obligations. Using them is not about finding loopholes-it's about making deliberate choices that benefit your money.

• Choose your tax shelter: The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is exactly what it sounds like. Any capital gains, dividends, or interest earned on Canadian investmentsinside a TFSA are completely tax-free. It is the most powerful tool available for most Canadians to build wealth without worrying about a future tax bill. If you have contribution room available, it's the clear first choice for tax-efficient investing.
• The power of deferral: A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) works differently. It doesn't eliminate tax, but it lets you defer it. Any gains you make inside an RRSP are not taxed in the year you earn them. You only pay tax when you withdraw the money, presumably in retirement when your income-and therefore your marginal tax rate-is lower. This is its own form of power: the power to decide when you pay.
• Specific goals, special shelters: Beyond general wealth-building and long-term retirement savings, Canadians have access to other specialized accounts that shield you from taxes when saving for two of life's biggest goals. The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) combines features of the TFSA and RRSP, letting you grow investments completely tax-free for a down payment on your first home. The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) lets your investments grow tax-deferred to save for a child's post-secondary schooling. While the rules for contributions and withdrawals are unique to each, the core principle is the same: providing a powerful, tax-advantaged way to save for a specific purpose.
• Balancing the ledger: For your non-registered trading accounts (meaning not your TFSA, RRSP, RESP, or FHSA), the tax system lets you use your losses to your advantage. If you sell one investment for a loss, you can use that "capital loss" to cancel out a capital gain from another investment, reducing the tax you owe. This is called tax-loss harvesting, and it's a practical strategy for managing your overall tax picture. Just be mindful of the "superficial loss" rule: you cannot claim a capital loss if you, or a person affiliated with you, buys back the same investment within 30 days before or after the sale.

These are the tools at your disposal-the strategies that move you from reacting to your tax bill to proactively managing it. It all builds toward one central idea:

A capital gain is not a penalty. It is the tangible result of a successful investment.

The goal isn't to pay zero tax. It's to have the right plan.

We end where we began, reflecting on success, because that's crucial to remember as you navigate your tax bill: A capital gain is evidence of a good decision. It is the byproduct of success.

You don't need to fear it. You just need to understand it.

And now you do. You know the math is based on three simple numbers. You know the tax is based on your personal rate. And you know you have powerful tools, from a TFSA to an RRSP, to build a strategy that works for you.

You had a plan to make your money grow. This is just the plan for what comes next.