The Canadian Index

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Step chart showing the CRA prescribed interest rate holding at 3 percent for six straight quarters through 2026.

The CRA prescribed interest rate has held at 3% for six consecutive quarters, the lowest sustained level since late 2022, after a steady decline from double that level in mid-2024. A prescribed rate loan locks in the rate in effect when it is made for the full term of the loan, even if the CRA rate rises later, making the current floor a favourable window for income-splitting between family members. Canada's September 8 retaliatory tariffs create a separate, overlapping deadline for incorporated business owners in exposed sectors.

This chart is presented for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Figures reflect the source and period indicated and may no longer be current.

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Line chart showing the Government of Canada five-year bond yield climbing to 3.43 percent in early September 2026.

The Government of Canada five-year yield has risen for two straight weeks as markets price in a near-certain Federal Reserve rate hike,…

Why This Quarter Is the Window to Lock the 3% Prescribed Rate

September 16, 2026

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Step chart showing the CRA's prescribed interest rate holding steady at three percent for a sixth consecutive quarter.

The rate that applies when a prescribed rate loan is first set up stays locked in for the life of that loan, regardless of any later change…

The Prescribed Rate Holds at 3% for a Sixth Straight Quarter, and the Window to Lock It In Is Now

September 4, 2026

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Bar chart showing 17.5 billion dollars in federal tariff response programs, with about 5 percent of funding deployed so far.

Canada's counter-tariffs on steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics take effect September 8, matching U.S.

Federal Tariff Response Programs Reach $17.5 Billion in Commitments

September 3, 2026

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Line chart showing the CRA prescribed interest rate for family and shareholder loans holding at 3 percent through 2026.

The CRA has confirmed the prescribed rate for family and shareholder loans holds at 3% for the fourth quarter of 2026, the sixth straight…

CRA Holds the Prescribed Rate at 3% for a Sixth Straight Quarter

September 1, 2026

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Step chart showing the CRA's prescribed interest rate holding at 3 percent from the third quarter of 2025 through the fourth quarter of 2026.

The Canada Revenue Agency held the prescribed rate on family loans at 3% for the fourth quarter of 2026, its sixth straight quarter at that level.

The CRA Held the Prescribed Rate at 3% Again. The Window to Use It Is Narrower Than It Looks

August 31, 2026

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