Nova Scotia Tax Brackets 2026
Nova Scotia's 2026 provincial income tax rates and Basic Personal Amount, with the 2025 figures alongside for comparison. These are provincial rates only — federal tax applies on top of every bracket below. To see everything at once, use the income tax calculator, or see every province's 2026 table on the Canada tax brackets hub.
Rate range
8.79% – 21%
Bands
5
Basic personal amount
$11,932
Top marginal rate
21%
Nova Scotia tax brackets 2026
Rates are marginal — each one applies only to the slice of taxable income inside its own band. The 2025 column shows what each band applied to last year.
| 2026 taxable income | Rate | 2025 band |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $30,995 | 8.79% | $0 to $30,507 @ 8.79% |
| $30,995 to $61,991 | 14.95% | $30,507 to $61,015 @ 14.95% |
| $61,991 to $97,417 | 16.67% | $61,015 to $95,883 @ 16.67% |
| $97,417 to $157,124 | 17.5% | $95,883 to $154,650 @ 17.5% |
| over $157,124 | 21% | over $154,650 @ 21% |
Basic personal amount $11,932 for 2026, credited at 8.79%. (2025: $11,744).
Nova Scotia tax at common incomes (2026)
Provincial tax only — federal tax, CPP and EI are separate. See the federal-stacking section below for the other half of the bill.
| Gross income | Nova Scotia tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $4,517 | 9.0338% |
| $75,000 | $8,478 | 11.3042% |
| $100,000 | $12,667 | 12.6671% |
| $150,000 | $21,417 | 14.2781% |
| $250,000 | $42,168 | 16.8671% |
Worked example: $75,000 in Nova Scotia (2026)
Slice-by-slice, the way Nova Scotia actually calculates it. Excludes any health premium.
| Band | Rate | Amount in band | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 to $30,995 | 8.79% | $30,995 | $2,724 |
| $30,995 to $61,991 | 14.95% | $30,996 | $4,634 |
| $61,991 to $97,417 | 16.67% | $13,009 | $2,169 |
| Gross tax | $9,527 | ||
| Less: BPA credit ($11,932 @ 8.79%) | −$1,049 | ||
| Nova Scotia provincial tax | $8,478 | ||
Federal tax stacks on top (2026)
Every Nova Scotia resident also pays federal tax on the same income, using the table below. To see the combined federal + provincial bill at one income, use the income tax calculator.
| 2026 taxable income | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $58,523 | 14% |
| $58,523 to $117,045 | 20.5% |
| $117,045 to $181,440 | 26% |
| $181,440 to $258,482 | 29% |
| over $258,482 | 33% |
Federal Basic Personal Amount $16,452, credited at 14%.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Nova Scotia tax brackets for 2026?
Nova Scotia's 2026 rates run from 8.79% to 21% across 5 bands: 8.79% on $0 to $30,995, 14.95% on $30,995 to $61,991, 16.67% on $61,991 to $97,417, 17.5% on $97,417 to $157,124, 21% on over $157,124. Its Basic Personal Amount is $11,932, credited at 8.79%. These are provincial rates only — federal tax applies on top.
What is the top marginal tax rate in Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia's top marginal rate for 2026 is 21%, applying to taxable income over $157,124. That's the provincial rate only — the federal top rate of 33% stacks on top of it.
How much provincial tax do you pay on $100,000 in Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia provincial tax on a $100,000 taxable income is $12,667 for 2026 — an effective provincial rate of 12.6671%. Federal tax, CPP and EI are separate and come off on top of this.
Did the Nova Scotia tax brackets change from 2025 to 2026?
Yes — Nova Scotia's 2026 table differs from 2025: the top bracket now starts at $157,124 (2025: $154,650), and the Basic Personal Amount moved from $11,744 to $11,932.
What is the Nova Scotia basic personal amount for 2026?
The Nova Scotia Basic Personal Amount (BPA) for 2026 is $11,932 — the income you can earn before provincial tax applies. It works as a non-refundable credit: the amount is multiplied by 8.79% (Nova Scotia's lowest bracket rate) and subtracted from tax owing, rather than being deducted from income directly.