Nova Scotia 2021 and 2020 Personal Marginal Income Tax Rates

The Nova Scotia tax brackets and personal tax credit amounts are not increased for inflation.

The Federal tax brackets and personal tax credit amounts are increased for 2021 by an indexation factor of 1.010.

The indexation factors, tax brackets and tax rates have been confirmed to Canada Revenue Agency information.

If Nova Scotia had not discontinued indexing, their tax brackets and personal amounts would have been increased for 2021 by an indexation factor of 1.007.

Tax Tip: read the article Understanding the Tables of Personal Income Tax Rates, especially if you are trying to compare the rates below to the marginal tax rates in the Basic Tax Calculator.

Nova Scotia Personal Income Tax Brackets and Tax Rates
2021 Taxable Income	2021 Tax Rates	2020 Taxable Income	2020 Tax Rates
first $29,590	8.79%	first $29,590	8.79%
over $29,590 up to $59,180	14.95%	over $29,590 up to $59,180	14.95%
over $59,180 up to $93,000	16.67%	over $59,180 up to $93,000	16.67%
over $93,000 up to $150,000	17.50%	over $93,000 up to $150,000	17.50%
over $150,000	21.00%	over $150,000	21.00%

Combined Federal & Nova Scotia Tax Brackets and Tax Rates
2021 Taxable Income	2021 Marginal Tax Rates				2020 Taxable Income	2020 Marginal Tax Rates
	Other Income	Capital Gains	Canadian Dividends			Other Income	Capital Gains	Canadian Dividends
	Other Income	Capital Gains	Eligible	Non-Eligible		Other Income	Capital Gains	Eligible	Non-Eligible
first $25,000	23.79%	11.90%	-0.11%	13.54%	first $25,000	23.79%	11.90%	-0.11%	13.54%
over $25,000 up to $29,590(2)	24.32%	12.16%	0.62%	14.14%	over $25,000 up to $29,590(2)	24.32%	12.16%	0.62%	14.14%
over $29,590 up to $49,020(2)	30.48%	15.24%	9.12%	21.23%	over $29,590 up to $48,535(2)	30.48%	15.24%	9.12%	21.23%
over $49,020 up to $59,180(2)	35.98%	17.99%	16.71%	27.55%	over $48,535 up to $59,180(2)	35.98%	17.99%	16.71%	27.55%
over $59,180 up to $74,999(2)	37.70%	18.85%	19.09%	29.53%	over $59,180 up to $74,999(2)	37.70%	18.85%	19.09%	29.53%
over $74,999 up to $93,000	37.17%	18.59%	18.35%	28.92%	over $74,999 up to $93,000	37.17%	18.59%	18.35%	28.92%
over $93,000 up to $98,040	38.00%	19.00%	19.50%	29.88%	over $93,000 up to $97,069	38.00%	19.00%	19.50%	29.88%
over $98,040 up to $150,000	43.50%	21.75%	27.09%	36.20%	over $97,069 up to $150,000	43.50%	21.75%	27.09%	36.20%
over $150,000 up to $151,978	47.00%	23.50%	31.92%	40.23%	over $150,000 up to $150,473	47.00%	23.50%	31.92%	40.23%
over $151,978 up to $216,511(1)	50.32%	25.16%	36.50%	44.05%	over $150,473 up to $214,368(1)	50.22%	25.11%	36.36%	43.93%
over $216,511	54.00%	27.00%	41.58%	48.28%	over $214,368	54.00%	27.00%	41.58%	48.28%
Marginal tax rate for dividends is a % of actual dividends received (not grossed-up taxable amount). Marginal tax rate for capital gains is a % of total capital gains (not taxable capital gains). Gross-up rate for eligible dividends is 38%, and for non-eligible dividends is 15%. For more information see Nova Scotia dividend tax credits.
Nova Scotia Basic Personal Amount
2021 Personal Amount (2)	2021 Tax Rate				2020 Personal Amount (2)	2020 Tax Rate
$8,481	8.79%				$8,481	8.79%
Federal Basic Personal Amount
2021 Personal Amount (1)	2021 Tax Rate				2020 Personal Amount (1)	2020 Tax Rate
$13,808	15%				$13,229	15%

(1) See the federal tax rates page for information on the federal personal amount increase.

The marginal tax rates above have been adjusted to reflect these changes.

(2) An additional $3,000 personal amount for 2018 and subsequent years, which is reduced at the rate of 6% of taxable income in excess of $25,000, is reflected in the marginal tax rates above. It is reduced to zero at taxable income of $75,000. This increases the marginal tax rates for taxable incomes over $25,000 and under $75,000. The regular personal amount of $8,481 for 2019/2020 does not affect marginal tax rates for taxable income over $8,481, because it is not reduced as taxable income increases.

Revised: May 18, 2025