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“This budget presents our government’s plan for a more resilient, better performing and more innovative economy”
“[...] this is the budget of a strong Québec.”
Québec Finance Minister Éric Girard
2025–2026 budget speech
On 25 March 2025, Québec Finance Minister Éric Girard tabled the province’s fiscal 2025–2026 budget. The budget contains several tax measures affecting individuals and corporations. The budget contains no new taxes and no income tax increases.
The minister anticipates a deficit of $13.6 billion for fiscal 2025-2026 (after contributions to the Generations Fund) and $9.5 billion for fiscal 2026-2027, and projects a deficit for each of the next two years. The government’s objective is to restore fiscal balance by fiscal 2029–2030.
Following is a brief summary of the key fiscal measures.
No changes are proposed to the corporate income tax rates or the $500,000 small-business limit.
Québec’s 2025 corporate income tax rates are summarized in Table A.
Table A – 2025 Québec corporate income tax rates1
QC | Federal and QC combined | |
Small-business tax rate2, 3 | 3.20% | 12.20% |
General corporate tax rate3, 4 | 11.50% | 26.50% |
1 The rates represent calendar-year-end rates unless otherwise indicated.
2 Effective for taxation years beginning on or after 1 January 2017, a Canadian-controlled private corporation (CCPC) must meet certain qualification criteria concerning the minimum number of hours paid to benefit from the small-business tax rate. The minimum number of hours paid criterion requires that an eligible corporation’s employees work at least 5,500 hours annually, and the amount of the deduction is reduced linearly when the hours are between 5,500 and 5,000 hours. A maximum of 40 hours per week per employee is considered. Special conversion rules apply to take into consideration hours worked (but not necessarily paid in the form of wages) by actively engaged shareholders who hold, directly or indirectly, shares of the corporation that carry more than 50% of the voting rights.
3 The federal corporate income tax rates for manufacturers of qualifying zero-emission technology are reduced to 7.5% for eligible income otherwise subject to the 15% federal general corporate income tax rate or 4.5% for eligible income otherwise subject to the 9% federal small-business corporate income tax rate. These reductions are not reflected in the combined federal and Québec rates above.
4 An additional federal tax applies to banks and life insurers at a rate of 1.5% on taxable income (subject to a $100 million exemption to be shared by group members).
Introducing a tax credit for R&D, innovation and pre-commercialization (hereinafter referred to as the “CRIC”)
The budget proposes the introduction of a refundable tax credit for R&D, innovation and pre-commercialization. Essentially, various credits will be replaced by this new tax credit to simplify the province’s fiscal measures. This simplification impacts additional activities, with the addition of pre-commercialization, and includes more eligible expenditures, with the addition of capital expenditures, compared to the credits replaced. This credit will apply to a fiscal period or taxation year, as the case may be, beginning after 25 March 2025.
The main parameters of this new credit will be as follows:
Consequential adjustments of certain fiscal measures
Incentive deduction for the commercialization of innovations in Québec (IDCI)
Following the introduction of the CRIC and the abolition of the tax credit for salaries (R&D) and the R&D tax credit (research contract), the budget proposes consequential adjustments to the variables of the fraction considered for the calculation of the ratio for the purposes of the IDCI. Expenditures relating to pre-commercialization activities will not be taken into account elsewhere in this calculation. Similarly, expenditures relating to R&D activities taken into account in the calculation of the Québec nexus ratio will not be reduced by the CRIC exclusion threshold. These changes will apply to a taxation year that will begin after 25 March 2025.
Securities options deduction
Following the introduction of the CRIC and the abolition of the four tax credits for R&D, the budget proposes consequential amendments to the securities options deduction. More specifically, amendments will be made to the eligibility for the deduction rate, increased to 50%, to account for the CRIC parameters. To this end, a corporation will qualify as a qualified corporation for a calendar year if, in the year, it carries on a business in Québec and has an establishment there, and if an amount under the CRIC was allocated to it for its taxation year ended in the calendar year or if, for one of the three preceding taxation years, either an amount under the CRIC was allocated to it or the corporation’s assets as shown in its financial statements were less than $50 million and an amount under one of the former tax credits for R&D was allocated to it. This amendment will apply to 2026 and subsequent calendar years. In addition, for the 2025 calendar year, a corporation will qualify as a qualified corporation if, in 2025, it carries on a business in Québec and has an establishment there, and if the following conditions are met:
Consequential abolition of certain fiscal measures
The budget proposes to abolish a number of tax measures as a result of the implementation of the CRIC. These abolitions apply, with a few exceptions, to the following credits in respect of a taxation year or fiscal period of a taxpayer or partnership, as the case may be, beginning after 25 March 2025:
The budget proposes certain changes to modernize the TCEB. In particular, the changes include:
These changes will apply to a taxation year that will begin after 31 December 2025. They may also apply, where the corporation files an election (within the prescribed time limits) in writing with Investissement Québec, for a taxation year that begins after 25 March 2025 and before 1 January 2026.
Reduction of applicable rates
A change will also be made to reduce the tax assistance to corporations that provide services to persons with whom they are not dealing at arm’s length, in relation to an application intended to be used exclusively outside Québec. To this effect, the corporation certificate will now have to specify the proportion of a corporation’s gross revenue derived from activities included in the groups described under certain NAICS codes and that are covered by this change (two proportions must be determined).
When any one of these proportions is at least 50%, the rates applicable to the TCEB will correspond to half of the rates otherwise applicable for that taxation year, as shown in the table below. This change will apply to a taxation year that will begin after 31 December 2025.
Table B – Applicable TCEB1 rates (per cent)
Source: Budget 2025-2026 – Additional information 2025-2026, 25 March 2025, p. A.36
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 20282 |
General rate | |||||
Refundable tax credit | 24.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | 21.0 | 20.0 |
Non-refundable tax credit | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 |
TOTAL | 30.0 | 30.0 | 30.0 | 30.0 | 30.0 |
Reduced rate – Outsourcing outside Québec | |||||
Refundable tax credit | 24.0 | 23.0 | 11.0 | 10.5 | 10.0 |
Non-refundable tax credit | 6.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
TOTAL | 30.0 | 30.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
1 A qualified corporation whose taxation year does not correspond to the calendar year must, in the calculation of its tax credits for a taxation year, take into account the rates in effect for the calendar year in which its taxation year begins.
2 Rates applicable to the 2028 calendar year will apply to subsequent years.
The budget proposes changes to the refundable tax credit relating to mining or other resources. These changes include:
Table C – Rates applicable after the day of the budget speech, but before 1 January 2030 (per cent)
Source: Budget 2025-2026 – Additional information 2025-2026, 25 March 2025, p. A.40
Category of eligible expenses | Specified qualified corporation | Other qualified corporation |
Critical and strategic minerals | 45.001 | 20.001 |
Other mining resources2 | 22.50 | 10.00 |
Renewable and conservation | 28.00 | 24.00 |
Other natural resources (dimension stone) | 12.00 | 12.00 |
1 Eligible expenses mainly attributable to one or more critical and strategic minerals will be eligible for the enhanced rates until 31 December 2029. After that date, they will be eligible for the rates applicable to eligible expenses related to other mining resources.
2 As of 1 April 2023, coal-related expenses are no longer eligible for the tax credit.
The budget proposes the abolition of the additional deduction for certain exploration expenses incurred in Québec as well as the additional deduction in respect of certain surface mining exploration expenses incurred in Québec.
These amendments will apply to flow-through shares issued after 25 March 2025. However, they will not apply to shares issued after that day, but before 1 January 2026, when they are issued following an application for a receipt for a preliminary prospectus made on or before 25 March 2025. Similarly, the changes will not apply to shares issued after 25 March 2025 when they are issued following a public announcement made on or before that day, if the report of distribution form has been submitted to the Autorité des marchés financiers on or before 31 May 2025.
The budget proposes the abolition of the additional capital gains exemption in respect of certain resource properties. Such abolition would be applicable in respect of a disposition occurring after 25 March 2025.
The budget proposes to extend the refundable tax credit to support the digital transformation of print media companies. Accordingly, the eligibility period for the refundable tax credit for qualified expenditures will end on 31 December 2025. In addition, if the expenditure relates to the acquisition of qualified property, the property must be acquired before 1 January 2025.
The budget proposes the abolition of the tax credit to foster synergy between Québec businesses:
The budget proposes to introduce a 31 December 2027 due date for the additional deductions relating to public transit and the organization of an intermunicipal shared transportation service. Accordingly, no amount may be deducted in computing the income of a taxpayer from a business in respect of amounts paid after 31 December 2027 in this regard.
The budget proposes to tax the value of a benefit received from an employer relating to the use of public transit or shared transportation. Accordingly, an individual must include, in computing their income, the value of the benefit received by the individual from their employer after 31 December 2027 in respect of an eligible transit pass, an eligible paratransit pass or the benefit resulting from the use of an intermunicipal shared transportation service.
The budget proposes to integrate, with adaptations, the measures presented in the federal government’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement2 relating to:
The budget does not include any changes to personal income tax rates.
The 2025 Québec personal income tax rates are summarized in Table D.
Table D – 2025 Québec personal income tax rates
First bracket rate | Second bracket rate | Third bracket rate | Fourth bracket rate |
$0 to $53,255 | $53,256 to $106,495 | $106,496 to $129,590 | Over $129,590 |
14.00% | 19.00% | 24.00% | 25.75% |
For taxable income in excess of $129,950, the 2025 combined federal – Québec personal income tax rates are outlined in Table E.
Table E – Combined 2025 federal and provincial personal income tax rates
Bracket | Ordinary income1 | Eligible dividends | Non-eligible dividends |
$129,591 to $177,882 | 47.46% | 32.04% | 41.97% |
$177,883 to $253,4142 | 50.23% | 35.86% | 45.16% |
Over $253,414 | 53.31% | 40.11% | 48.70% |
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 ($14,538 for 2025) and an additional amount ($1,591 for 2025). The additional amount is reduced for individuals with net income in excess of $177,882 and is fully eliminated for individuals with net income in excess of $253,414. Consequently, the additional amount is clawed back on net income in excess of $177,882 until the additional tax credit of $199 is eliminated; this results in additional federal income tax (e.g., 0.27% on ordinary income) on net income between $177,883 and $253,414.
Enhancing the family allowance for bereaved parents
The budget proposes that family allowance payments as well as supplement for handicapped children (SHC) or 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 applies in respect of a death occurring after 30 June 2025.
Changing the age requirement for eligibility for the refundable tax credit for child care expenses
As of the 2026 taxation year, the age of 16 included in the definition of “eligible child,” for the purposes of the tax credit for child care expenses, will be reduced to 14.
Adjusting the term “practitioner” used in the personal income tax system
As of 1 January 2026, Québec tax legislation will be amended so that the term “practitioner” provided in the Taxation Act no longer includes homeopaths, naturopaths, osteopaths and phytotherapists.
New criteria for designating educational institutions recognized 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, may 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 by the application of the exclusion criterion relating to the health sector (the last criterion below):
To maintain its recognition, each educational institution currently recognized by Revenu Québec will 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 taxation year, educational institutions recognized by Revenu Québec will be required to issue an RL-8 slip indicating the amount of tuition fees paid by an individual. In addition, as of the 2026 taxation year, students who claim the tax credit will be required to certify, in their income tax return for the year, that they took the training in question to acquire or improve, as the case may be, the skills required to practise a profession.
Change to the deduction in respect of the cooperative investment plan
The budget proposes that the adjusted cost of a qualifying security for an individual will 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 will apply in respect of a qualifying security acquired after 25 March 2025.
Converting the residence deduction for a member of the clergy or of a religious order into a non-refundable tax credit
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 taxation years after 2025. The unused portion of the new tax credit will not be transferable to a spouse. In addition, the tax credit will only have to be considered at 50% when calculating Québec alternative minimum tax.
Converting the deduction for adult basic education tuition assistance into a non-refundable tax credit
The budget proposes that the deduction for adult basic educational tuition assistance be replaced by a non-refundable tax credit for taxation years after 2025. The unused portion of the new tax credit will not be transferable to a spouse. In addition, the tax credit will be considered at 100% when calculating the Québec alternative minimum tax.
Abolition of various measures
The budget proposes to abolish the following measures:
The abolition of the above-mentioned tax holidays will not however 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 will continue to benefit from the cultural patronage tax credit in respect of such donation.
The budget proposes to set the tax rate on insurance premiums at the same rate as the Québec sales tax (9.975%). This increase will apply to all insurance premiums paid after 31 December 2026.
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 will apply for biodiesel acquired after 25 March 2025.
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.
The budget proposes to remove, as of 2026, the automatic annual indexation of the total payroll threshold used to determine the eligibility for the reduction of the HSF contribution rate offered to SMBs.
The budget proposes the following changes:
The budget proposes the following changes:
The budget proposes to raise the threshold for the additional registration fee for luxury vehicles from $40,000 to $62,500; in addition, the exemption applicable to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will be withdrawn. These measures will apply as of 1 January 2027.
The budget proposes to introduce an annual contribution for electric vehicles ($125) and plug-in hybrid vehicles ($62.50) as of 1 January 2027. This contribution will be indexed annually.
The budget proposes to introduce 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 taxation 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” provided for in the federal tax legislation (including the threshold of $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:
The budget also proposes to introduce an extension of three years after the end of the normal assessment period for assessment or reassessment.
For more information, please contact your EY or EY Law advisor or one of the following professionals:
Philippe Dunlavey
+1 514 879 2662 | philippe.dunlavey@ca.ey.com
Stéphanie Jean
+1 514 879 8047 | stephanie.jean@ca.ey.com
Stéphane Leblanc
+1 514 879 2660 | stephane.leblanc@ca.ey.com
Sandy Maag
+1 514 874 4377 | sandy.maag@ca.ey.com
Benoît Millette
+1 514 879 3562 | benoit.millette@ca.ey.com
Nancy Avoine
+1 418 640 5129 | nancy.avoine@ca.ey.com
Martin Dessureault
+1 418 640 3019 | martin.dessureault@ca.ey.com
Sébastien Morin
+1 418 640 3034 | sebastien.morin@ca.ey.com
Sylvain Paquet
+1 418 640 5138 | sylvain.paquet@ca.ey.com
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