Accounts & Taxes
Accounts & Taxes
Accounts & Taxes explains how governments treat stock investing in the two places most of our readers live: the United States and Canada. How capital gains and dividends are taxed, how 401(k)s, IRAs, TFSAs, RRSPs and FHSAs work, who regulates brokers and what investor protection really covers, and the wash-sale and superficial-loss traps. Limits and rates change every year, so every article says when its figures were checked and points to the IRS or CRA source. None of it is tax or legal advice; for your own situation, talk to a qualified professional.
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How Stocks Are Taxed in the US: A Plain-English Guide
How the IRS taxes stocks: short vs long-term capital gains, 2026 brackets, qualified dividends, the 3.8% NIIT, cost basis, and Form 1099-B, with worked examples.
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How Stocks Are Taxed in Canada: A Plain-English Guide
How the CRA taxes stocks: the 50% capital gains inclusion rate, adjusted cost base averaging, the dividend tax credit, Schedule 3, and US withholding on US shares.
Read the explainer →US Retirement Accounts Explained: 401(k), IRA, Roth, and HSA
How 401(k)s, traditional and Roth IRAs, and HSAs work: 2026 contribution and income limits, catch-ups including the age 60-63 rule, Roth catch-up, and early withdrawals.
Read the explainer →Canadian Registered Accounts Explained: TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, and RESP
How TFSAs, RRSPs, FHSAs, and RESPs work in Canada: 2026 limits, how contribution room builds, withdrawals, and why US dividends are taxed in a TFSA but not an RRSP.
Read the explainer →How Stock Markets Are Regulated in the US and Canada: SEC, FINRA, CSA, CIRO, SIPC, and CIPF
Who regulates stocks in the US and Canada, what each regulator does, and what SIPC and CIPF actually cover if your broker fails, with coverage limits as of November 2026.
Read the explainer →Wash Sale and Superficial Loss Rules: US and Canada Explained
How the US wash sale rule and Canada's superficial loss rule stop you claiming a loss when you buy back the same stock within 30 days, with worked examples.
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