For direct investments such as stocks and bonds, interest and dividends are taxed in the year in which they are received, and capital gains are taxed in the year in which they are triggered (sold). This results in a straightforward tax effect whereby the investor receives investment income and pays the appropriate amount of tax on a portion of the proceeds. With indirect ownership of securities, for example where an investor owns stocks indirectly through a mutual fund or an ETF, the tax situation may not be as simple.

On April 28, 2026, Finance and National Revenue Minister François‑Philippe Champagne released the 2026 Spring Economic Update (the Update). This was the first spring economic update after the federal budget was moved to the fall in 2025.