Do brokerages pay interest on uninvested cash?

Some do and some do not. Several Canadian fintech brokers pay interest on idle cash, sometimes at tiered rates by account type or balance. Many discount and bank-owned brokerages pay little or nothing on cash in a standard trading account.

How much interest can idle brokerage cash earn?

It depends entirely on the broker and the benchmark rate. At brokers that pay interest, a few thousand dollars a year on a large idle balance is possible, while at brokers that pay nothing the same cash earns zero. Rates change with central bank rates.

Is brokerage cash interest taxable?

Yes, interest earned on cash in a non-registered account is taxable as interest income each year. Interest earned inside a TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, or RESP is sheltered under that account's rules.

Idle Cash Interest Calculator (Canadian Brokers)

Interactive Tool

Idle cash interest calculator

Cash sitting uninvested in your brokerage account can earn meaningful interest at some brokers and nothing at others. Compare what each pays on the Canadian and US dollars you leave idle.

Last reviewed July 2026

Idle Canadian-dollar cash

Uninvested CAD sitting in your brokerage account.

Idle US-dollar cash

Uninvested USD, shown in US dollars.

Estimated annual interest on idle cash, highest first

1.What this shows. The annual interest each brokerage pays on uninvested cash held in your account, at posted rates as of July 2026. It is a comparison of what idle cash earns, not a projection of returns on invested money.

2.Who actually pays. Interactive Brokers pays interest on uninvested cash above a floor, with no interest on the first 13,000 Canadian dollars or 10,000 US dollars. The rate shown is its top published rate, which applies to IBKR Pro accounts with a net asset value over about $100,000; smaller accounts and IBKR Lite earn less. Wealthsimple pays interest through its separate Cash account, shown here at the entry Core rate, with 1.75 percent at Premium and 2.25 percent at Generation. Questrade, Qtrade, and the bank-owned brokerages pay nothing on uninvested cash in a standard trading account.

3.Rates move. Cash interest tracks the Bank of Canada and US Federal Reserve benchmark rates and changes often. Figures are current as of July 2026 and exclude promotional or limited-time rates that some newer brokers offer. Confirm the current rate directly with each brokerage.

4.Sources. Built from each broker's published interest and pricing pages, including the Interactive Brokers Canada interest schedule and the Wealthsimple rate disclosure. Full methodology: disclosures. For total trading cost, see the all-in cost calculator.

Idle cash interest calculator

Broker Guide Canada