1 The rate on capital gains is one-half the ordinary income tax rate.
2 The federal basic personal amount comprises two elements: the base amount (CA$14,538 for 2025) and an additional amount (CA$1,591 for 2025). The additional amount is reduced for individuals with net income exceeding CA$177,882 and is fully eliminated for individuals with net income exceeding CA$253,414. Consequently, the additional amount is clawed back on net income exceeding CA$177,882 until the additional tax credit of CA$199 is eliminated; this results in additional federal income tax (e.g., 0.27% on ordinary income) on net income between CA$177,883 and CA$253,414.
Other personal tax measure
Family allowance for bereaved parents
The budget proposes that family allowance payments, supplement for handicapped children (SHC) and supplement for handicapped children requiring exceptional care (SHCREC) payments, where applicable, be extended for 12 months from the month following the month that includes the day of an eligible dependent child's death. This measure would apply for deaths occurring after 30 June 2025.
Age requirement for eligibility for refundable tax credit for child care expenses
As of the 2026 tax year, for the purposes of the tax credit for child care expenses, the age of 16 included in the definition of "eligible child" would be reduced to 14..
"Practitioner" term
As of 1 January 2026, would amend Québec tax legislation so the term "practitioner" in the Taxation Act no longer includes homeopaths, naturopaths, osteopaths and phytotherapists.
Criterion for recognition of educational institutions by Revenu Québec
As of 1 January 2026, for the purposes of the tax credit for tuition and examination fees, the budget proposes that an educational institution offering courses that furnish a person with skills for, or improve a person's skills in, an occupation, would be recognized by Revenu Québec only if it meets at least one of the first four criteria described below, and provided it is not excluded according to the criterion relating to the health sector (criterion number five below):
- It is an educational institution that receives government funding.
- It is a private educational institution that provides training equivalent to that provided in a public sector educational institution.
- It is a private educational institution that provides training for a profession or trade requiring certification or a licence issued by a government authority.
- It is an educational institution that provides training leading to a professional status recognized by the Québec Professional Code.
- Excludes educational institutions that do not meet certain requirements related to the health sector.
To maintain recognition, each educational institution currently recognized by Revenu Québec would be required to complete the new prescribed form before 1 January 2026. As of 1 January 2026, the new prescribed form must be completed for all new applications for designation; applications must be renewed every five years.
As of the 2027 tax year, educational institutions recognized by Revenu Québec would be required to issue an RL-8 slip indicating the amount of tuition fees paid by an individual. In addition, as of the 2026 tax year, students who claim the tax credit would be required to certify, in their income tax return for the year, that they took the training in question to acquire or improve the skills required to practise a profession.
Deduction for a cooperative investment plan
The budget proposes that the adjusted cost of a qualifying security for an individual would be the cost of that security, determined without taking into account borrowing costs and other costs related to the acquisition, instead of 125% of such cost. This measure would apply for a qualifying security acquired after 25 March 2025.
Residence deduction for a member of the clergy or of a religious order
The budget proposes that the residence deduction for a member of the clergy or a religious order be converted into a non-refundable tax credit for tax years after 2025. The unused portion of the new tax credit would not be transferable to a spouse. In addition, the tax credit would only have to be considered at 50% when calculating Québec alternative minimum tax.
Adult basic education tuition assistance
The budget proposes that the deduction for adult basic educational tuition assistance be replaced by a non-refundable tax credit for tax years after 2025. The unused portion of the new tax credit would not be transferable to a spouse. In addition, the tax credit would be considered at 100% when calculating the Québec alternative minimum tax.
Abolition of various measures
The budget proposes to abolish the following measures:
- The tax shield, as of the 2026 taxation year
- The non-refundable tax credit for political contributions, for all contributions made as of the 2026 tax year
- The foreign researcher tax holiday, as of 26 March 2025
- The foreign expert tax holiday, as of 26 March 2025
- The tax holiday for foreign specialists assigned to operations of an international financial center, as of 26 March 2025
- The tax holiday for foreign specialists working in the financial services sector, as of 26 March 2025
- The tax holiday for seamen engaged in international transportation of freight, as of 26 March 2025
- The tax credit for patronage gift, as of 26 March 2025
- The deduction relating to the acquisition of an income-averaging annuity respecting income from artistic activities for new income-averaging annuities acquired after the 2025 tax year (subject to transitional rules)
Abolishing the above-mentioned tax holidays would not impact the eligibility of individuals for whom a researcher, expert or specialist qualification certificate is already held by the eligible employer (or for whom certificates have already been issued in the case of seamen) or for whom an application for the issuance has been filed by the eligible employer (or an application for the issuance of a certificate in the case of seamen) on or before 25 March 2025.
For greater clarity, an individual, or the individual's succession, who will have registered a pledge on or before 25 March 2025, would continue to benefit from the cultural patronage tax credit related to such donation.
Measures relating to consumption taxes
Tax on insurance premiums
The budget proposes to set the tax rate on insurance premiums at the same rate as the Québec sales tax (9.975%). This increase would apply to all insurance premiums paid after 31 December 2026.
Fuel tax
The budget proposes to abolish the fuel tax refund for biodiesel that is not mixed with another type of fuel at the time of its acquisition. This change would apply for biodiesel acquired after 25 March 2025.
Tobacco tax
The budget proposes that legislative or regulatory amendments be made to efficiently detect new tobacco smuggling schemes, increase pressure on smugglers and facilitate investigative and prosecution work by ACCES (Actions concertées pour contrer les économies souterraines) tobacco partners.
Other tax measures
Contributions to the Health Services Fund (HSF)
The budget proposes to remove, as of 2026, the automatic annual indexation of the total payroll threshold used to determine the eligibility for reducing the HSF contribution rate offered to SMBs.
Public utility tax (PUT)
The budget proposes the following changes:
- Gradually increasing certain PUT rates as of the 2027 calendar year until 2035
- Granting the PUT exemption for certain municipal or public bodies similarly to municipalities (an operator who meets the conditions to benefit from the PUT exemption for a calendar year for which the operator has already paid the PUT may be able to benefit from this tax exemption for that calendar year if the operator files a written request for a refund, on or before 30 June 2026)
- As of the 2025 calendar year, granting a PUT refund for a municipality or a municipal or public body for which the exemption does not apply (where the municipality or the body operates a public service network through a corporation or a partnership with other shareholders or members that are not municipalities or municipal or public bodies)
Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins
The budget proposes the following changes:
- Setting the annual capitalization limit applicable for the acquisition periods between 1 March 2025 and 28 February 2030, so that the rate of increase more closely matches the pace of growth in the Québec economy
- Introducing a cumulative subscription ceiling of CA$45,000 for each current and future shareholder, as of 26 March 2025 (subject to certain exceptions)
- Introducing a new class of shares with a maximum holding period of 14 years, entitling the holder to a non-refundable tax credit calculated at a reduced rate of 25% (the tax credit may reach a maximum amount of CA$1,250)
Additional registration fee for luxury vehicl
The budget proposes to raise the threshold for the additional registration fee for luxury vehicles from CA$40,000 to CA$62,500; in addition, the exemption applicable to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids would be withdrawn. These measures would apply as of 1 January 2027.
Contribution for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles
The budget proposes an annual contribution for electric vehicles (CA$125) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (CA$62.50) as of 1 January 2027. This contribution would be indexed annually.
Tax compliance with respect to foreign property held by Quebecers
The budget proposes a new reporting requirement for foreign property held outside Canada using a new prescribed form to be completed and filed with Revenu Québec for a tax year or fiscal period, as the case may be. This measure will apply as of a date to be determined after the assent of the bill giving it effect.
Designated foreign property subject to the new reporting requirement will be essentially the same as foreign property subject to the federal tax legislation and reported using form T1135. Similarly, the terms "reporting entity" and "designated Québec entity" will be similar to the terms "reporting entity" and "specified Canadian entity" in the federal tax legislation (including the threshold of CA$100,000 for the cost amount of designated foreign property).
The new Québec prescribed form will need to be filed with Revenu Québec by a reporting entity on or before the same filing due date as that of the tax return applicable to the reporting entity for the year.
The following penalties, which are equivalent to the federal penalties, will be introduced:
- A penalty for failing to file the new Québec form of CA$500 per month (or part of a month) for a maximum of 24 months — that is, a maximum of CA$12,000 — and, where the entity has been given formal notice to file the new return and has failed to meet the deadline, double that amount
- An additional penalty for failing to file the report for more than 24 months set at 5% of the total cost of the designated foreign property
- A penalty in the case of false statement or omission equal to or higher than CA$24,000 or 5% of the total cost of the designated foreign property
The budget also proposes an extension of three years after the end of the normal assessment period for assessment or reassessment.
For additional information concerning this Alert, please contact:
Ernst & Young LLP (Canada)
- Philippe Dunlavey, Montréal
- Stéphanie Jean, Montréal
- Stéphane Leblanc, Montréal
- Sandy Maag, Montréal
- Benoît Millette, Montréa
- Nancy Avoine, Québec City
- Martin Dessureault, Québec City
- Sébastien Morin, Québec City
- Sylvain Paquet, Québec City
Published by NTD’s Tax Technical Knowledge Services group; Carolyn Wright, legal editor
For a full listing of contacts and email addresses, please click on the Tax News Update: Global Edition (GTNU) version of this Alert.