The Canadian Index

All content, including the full-resolution download, is provided at no charge.

Homepage Archive Legal
Stepped line chart of the CRA prescribed interest rate by quarter from 2022 to 2026.

The CRA set the fourth-quarter rate on August 28, matching the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2022. A loan made now keeps the rate in force on the day it is made, whereas a loan made at the 6% rate of early 2024 still pays 6%. The structure depends on interest being paid by January 30 each year, and January 30, 2027 falls on a Saturday, so payment should clear by Friday, January 29.

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.

Download Hi-Res JPEG (No Watermark)

Related charts

Line chart of the 90-day Government of Canada Treasury bill yield from June 1 to October 13, 2026.

Three-month Treasury bill yields set the CRA prescribed rate, and the current reading is well short of what would raise it.

90-Day Government of Canada Treasury Bill Yield, June to October 2026

October 13, 2026

View chart & download
Line chart of the CRA prescribed rate by quarter, Q3 2023 to Q4 2026, with a reference line for the 3-month bill yield.

A loan made before December 31 keeps the 3% prescribed rate for its full life, provided the borrowing spouse or trust pays the interest by January 30 each year.

CRA Prescribed Rate, Q3 2023 to Q4 2026, With the 3-Month Bill Yield

October 9, 2026

View chart & download
Line chart of the CRA prescribed rate for family loans by quarter, Q1 2022 to Q4 2026, with a dashed Treasury bill line.

The prescribed rate is set from the average three-month Government of Canada Treasury bill yield in the first month of the preceding quarter, rounded up to a whole percentage.

CRA Prescribed Rate for Family Loans, Q1 2022 to Q4 2026

October 7, 2026

View chart & download
Stepped line chart of the CRA prescribed rate for loans to family members by quarter from 2022 to 2026.

At the early-2024 peak, interest on a $500,000 family loan ran $30,000 a year, compared with $15,000 now.

CRA Prescribed Rate for Loans to Family Members, Q1 2022 to Q4 2026

October 14, 2026

View chart & download
Chart of the CRA prescribed interest rate holding at 3% for six quarters, plotted against the Bank of Canada overnight rate.

The prescribed rate is recalculated each quarter from short-term Treasury bill auction yields and rounded up to a whole percentage point,…

CRA Prescribed Rate Holds at 3% for a Sixth Quarter

September 25, 2026

View chart & download
Bar chart comparing Canada's five-year bond yield, mortgage rates, and the CRA prescribed rate as of August 2026.

Canada's five-year bond yield jumped to 3.274% intraday Friday, its highest level in weeks, after July employment beat expectations by nearly fivefold.

Two Rates, Two Stories: The Bond Market Jumped Friday. The Prescribed Rate Did Not.

August 10, 2026

View chart & download
Legal Archive Homepage

Charts and data on this site are provided for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Each chart reflects the source and period indicated on it and may not represent current market conditions.

Charts may be downloaded and shared freely for professional or educational use, including in client presentations, reports, and publications, with no attribution or permission request required. Charts may not be altered, edited, or cropped: each is a specific, time-stamped dataset, and an altered copy no longer accurately represents that record.

© 2026 The Canadian Index. A public reference library of Canadian financial market charts, updated daily from public market data. See the Legal and Usage Terms page for full disclaimers.