This information is regarding investments which are held outside of RRSPs or other registered accounts.
Term deposits and guaranteed income certificates (GICs) generate interest income, which is 100% taxable. The interest is included in income annually, whether paid out or accrued to be paid at maturity. If it is not included on your T5, it is still mandatory to report the earnings.
From CRA (see link below):
For example, interest on a compound guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) is earned monthly and automatically reinvested. The interest is paid only when the investment is cashed or matures, and not annually.
You must report the interest earned during each complete investment year, even if you did not receive a T5 slip.
For example, if you made a long-term investment on July 1, 2024, report the interest earned up to June 30, 2025 on your 2025 return. Report the interest earned from July 2025 to June 2026 on your 2026 return.
This type of investment provides no opportunity for tax savings, and little or no opportunity for investment growth.
Tax Tip: Term deposits and GICs are better held inside a registered account, because 100% of the income is taxable when not in a registered account.
Historical Returns on Investments