What do New Brunswick trades actually owe in tax?
A free 2026 calculator built for self-employed New Brunswick contractors — not generic freelancers. It counts the CPP hit the trades always forget, and points you at the truck, tool and home-office write-offs a plain tax calculator never mentions.
New Brunswick cut its provincial rates in recent years and now runs four brackets starting at 9.4%. No surtax, no health premium.
On $80,000 net self-employment income, New Brunswick, 2026:
$24,016
estimated income tax + CPP for the year
Set aside $2,001/month and you will not be caught short at filing.
See exactly where every dollar goes
You have the number. The 2026 Tax-Year Pass shows the working behind it:
- Line-by-line breakdown with the CRA rule cited for each amount
- An accountant-ready PDF of your numbers to hand over or keep
- The incorporation break-even tool — should you incorporate, and what it saves
- Your numbers saved on this site through the whole filing season
$5 · one time · covers the entire 2026 tax year
Get the 2026 Pass →Already paid? Restore your pass →Checking for an existing pass…
What this assumes (read before you rely on it)
- New Brunswick resident, 2026 tax year, self-employed (sole proprietor) income only.
- Only the basic personal amount is credited — no spousal, tuition, or other credits.
- The federal BPA high-income phase-down above $181,440 is not modelled; estimates there run slightly low.
- CPP is handled the CRA way for the self-employed: the enhanced portion and CPP2 are fully deductible, and the base portion is half a deduction and half a tax credit.
- No Quebec, no capital gains, no employment income mixed in.
- This is an estimate for planning, not a filing calculation. Confirm with your accountant.
WorkSafeNB and your taxes
WorkSafeNB is separate from your income taxes — a different system with its own registration and premium rates. Coverage rules for independent operators in construction vary by jurisdiction, so confirm your obligations directly with WorkSafeNB. Premiums you pay are a deductible business expense.
The write-offs a generic calculator misses
- Writing off your work truckCCA Class 10 — federal, applies in New Brunswick too.
- Tools and equipmentClass 12 vs Class 8: the $500 line that changes everything.
- The home office deductionThe percentage-of-home method, done right.
- The 11.9% CPP surpriseWhy your first year self-employed costs more than you planned.
- The $30,000 HST decisionWhen you must register — a federal rule.
Common questions
How much tax does a self-employed contractor pay in New Brunswick?
In New Brunswick for 2026, a self-employed contractor pays federal income tax, New Brunswick provincial income tax, and both halves of CPP (11.9% up to the maximum). New Brunswick has no provincial surtax and no health premium, which keeps the provincial share simpler than Ontario's. Enter your numbers above for the exact total.
How much should I set aside for taxes as a contractor?
A safe rule for most self-employed trades is 25–30% of net income (after expenses), set aside monthly. The calculator on this page gives you the exact figure for your province and your numbers rather than a rule of thumb.
Do I have to charge HST?
You must register for and charge GST/HST once your gross revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. This is a federal rule and applies in every province.