Methodology & Data Sources
Every calculator on this site shows its work.
Principles
1. Canadian rules, not American ones. Fixed mortgage rates compound semi-annually. Principal residences are exempt from capital gains tax. CMHC insurance, the OSFI stress test, RRSP/TFSA/FHSA/RESP rules, provincial tax brackets, the Ontario surtax and health premium, the Quebec abatement: all modelled, not hand-waved.
2. Show the formula. Every tool has a "How this is calculated" section with the math and a list of what the tool does not model. If a number is an approximation, the page says so.
3. Answerable. Every tool has a person behind it. Email fawad@ahmed.fyi when a number looks wrong.
4. Educational, not advice. These tools are for understanding decisions, not making them for you. Lenders, the CRA, and your own circumstances will differ. Confirm anything important with a qualified professional.
Data & sources, verified July 2026
| Data | Source | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Federal & provincial tax brackets, BPAs (all 13 jurisdictions) | CRA / provincial finance ministries | 2026 tax year |
| CPP/CPP2 (YMPE $74,600, YAMPE $85,000) & EI rates | CRA | 2026 |
| TFSA ($7,000), RRSP ($33,810), FHSA, RESP/CESG, RRIF minimums, HBP ($60,000) | CRA / ESDC | 2026 |
| CPP/OAS/GIS benefit maximums & clawback thresholds | Service Canada | Q3 2026 |
| CMHC premium tiers, minimum down payments, $1.5M insured cap | CMHC / FCAC | July 2026 |
| Stress test (greater of contract + 2% or 5.25%), GDS 39 / TDS 44 | OSFI B-20 / CMHC | July 2026 |
| Land transfer taxes ON / Toronto / BC / AB / QC / Montreal + rebates | Provincial & municipal statutes | 2026 (incl. Toronto's Apr 2026 luxury tiers) |
| Planning returns (equities 6.3–6.6%, fixed income 3.2%, inflation 2.1%) | FP Canada Projection Assumption Guidelines | 2026 edition |
| Reference rates (BoC 2.50%, prime 4.70%, mortgage/HISA/GIC ranges) | Bank of Canada / market surveys | October 2026 (fixed mortgage rates July 2026) |
| Exchange rates | Indicative market rates (static, not live) | July 5, 2026 |
All of this lives in a handful of data files so annual updates land everywhere at once. If a date in this table is behind, email fawad@ahmed.fyi.
How we verify the math
Getting Canadian rules right is one thing; keeping them right as the code changes is another.
Documented formulas. Every calculator carries a "How this is calculated" section showing the math behind the result.
An automated accuracy suite. The core math of every major tool is pinned by worked examples, the same numbers computed by hand from a primary source, and those checks re-run automatically on every change. If an edit would shift a result, it fails before it can ship. The income-tax engine, for instance, is matched to the dollar against a major Canadian tax calculator across provinces and income levels.
Primary sources, checked. Rules that are easy to get subtly wrong, the OAS clawback, CMHC's insured amortization limits, CPP's actuarial adjustment, TFSA room for newcomers, are verified against the CRA, CMHC, OSFI and Service Canada rather than copied from other calculators.
When something does slip through, it's fixed and dated in the changelog.
Known limits
The tax tools model the big pieces (brackets, basic personal amounts, CPP/EI, dividend credits, the Ontario surtax and health premium, the Quebec abatement) but not every credit, no Canada Employment Amount, no age/disability/caregiver credits, no provincial low-income reductions. The retirement and drawdown tools use steady average returns, not market volatility; sequence-of-returns risk is real and noted on those pages. Mortgage penalty math (IRD) depends on which comparison rate your lender uses, posted or discounted. Treat every output as an estimate.
About
Built by Canadian Financial Calculators as a free resource for Canadians. Tool ideas and questions: fawad@ahmed.fyi.
How this site makes money
Some comparison pages contain referral links. If you open an account or get approved for a product through one of them, the institution may pay this site a commission. It costs you nothing and doesn't change your offer. Rankings and math never depend on commissions: the tables are ordered by what each product pays or costs on the numbers you enter, and plenty of listed products pay nothing. Every page with referral links says so, right above the table, and every calculator works fully without clicking anything. Figures are dated on each page; if one looks stale, tell me.
Stay current
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