Retirement » RRSP/RRIF

2024 RRSP guide: RRSP deadlines, contribution limits, and more

It’s that time again when Canadians go out and buy RRSPs for the past year. Here’s a comprehensive resource to help you make good RRSP decisions this year.

Who is eligible to buy RRSPs?

Anyone who has earned income, has a social insurance number and has filed a tax return can contribute to an RRSP up until December 31 of the year they turn 71. After this age if you continue to have earned income, you can contribute to a Spousal RRSP up until December 31 of the year your spouse turns 71.

There’s lots of debate over whether your should buy Registered Retirement Savings Plans or not. Here’s my one formula approach to figuring out whether they make sense for you. The proper use of RRSPs: the one formula approach.

Maximum contribution limits

Your allowable RRSP contribution for the current year is the lower of:

  • 18% of your earned income from the previous year, or
  • The maximum annual contribution limit (See chart) for the taxation year less
  • Any company sponsored pension plan contributions (PA – pension adjustment)
Tax YearIncome fromRRSP Maximum Limit
20242023$31,560
20232022$30,780
20222021$29,210
20212020$27,830
20202019$27,230
20192018$26,500
20182017$26,230
20172016$26,010
20162015$25,370
20152014$24,930
20142013$24,270
20132012$23,820
20122011$22,970
20112010$22,450
20102009$22,000
20092008$21,000

Note:

  • A Past Service Pension Adjustment (PSPA) arises in rare instances where a member of a pension plan has benefits for a post-1989 year of service upgraded retroactively.
  • Pension Adjustment (PA) represents the value of any pension benefits accruing from participation in a registered pension plan or deferred profit sharing plan.

Earned income

For most people, earned income for RRSP purposes is the amount in box 14 of their T4 slips.

Earned income also includes self-employed net income, CPP/QPP disability payments and net rental income.

Income sources that do not qualify as earned income include investment income, pensions (including DPSP, RRIF, OAS, and CPP/QPP income), retiring allowances, death benefits, taxable capital gains and limited-partnership income.

Revenue Canada’s Form T1023 (Calculation of Earned Income) outlines all sources of earned income.

Obtaining your contribution limit

After processing your tax return, Revenue Canada sends a Notice of Assessment, which includes your next years’ contribution limit. This document also shows your unused contribution room.

Or you can call your local Tax Information Phone Systems (TIPS) number, which is found in the blue pages of your phone book under Tax Services. Be sure to have your SIN and previous tax return ready.

Related article: How much can I contribute to an RRSP?

Contributing securities

You don’t necessarily need cash to make an RRSP contribution. You can contribute (in kind) a security you already own outside your RRSP.

The “in kind’ contribution is equal to the fair market value of the security when contributed. The security is deemed to have been disposed of at time of contribution. Be aware that this can have tax consequences.

Unused/carry forward contribution room

RRSP contribution room accumulated after 1990 can be carried forward to Subsequent years. If you are unable to maximize your RRSP contribution this year, you are allowed to make up the difference in later years.

Over contribution

The $2,000 lifetime over contribution allowance applies to those who have reached age 18 or older.

Your over contribution can be used as a deduction in future years. ($2,000 over contribution this year an be used as part of your deduction in the following year.

Any amount in excess of $2,000 will be charged a penalty of 1% per month.

Make monthly contributions

Contributing to RRSPs on a monthly basis not only makes saving for retirement easy, simple and automatic but you can also benefit from the power of Dollar Cost Averaging.

Related article: The Power of Dollar Cost Averaging

There are so many documented advantages of making regular contributions to the RRSP. Dollar cost averaging is one of the best ways to create a forced investment plan. From an investment perspective, dollar cost averaging can help you to buy more units when prices are low and less units when prices are high.

Spousal RRSP

All or a portion of your RRSP contribution can be made to an RRSP in your spouses name. As the contributor, you get the deduction, but your spouse is the owner of the plan. This includes common-law spouse as defined by Revenue Canada

If you expect your spouse’s retirement income to be lower than yours, then a Spousal RRSP may be the best form of future income splitting. Remember the effective use of Spousal RRSPs requires planning ahead. Don’t wait until it is too late.

There can be tax implications when spousal funds are withdrawn.

More information: The proper use of Spousal RRSPs

RRSP deadline to receive a tax deduction

The deadline for a RRSP tax contribution is always 60 days after the end of the previous year to be eligible for a deduction for the 2023 tax year. This year the RRSP deadline is February 29, 2024. Consult with your financial institutions about how they are able to accommodate deadlines.

Contributions made in the first 60 days of the year can be applied against the previous taxation year or in any subsequent year.

If you are turning 71, this is the last year in which you may contribute to your RRSP. You must convert your RRSP by December 31 in the year you turn 71.

Know your marginal tax rate

One of the most important benefits of the RRSP is the tax deduction for the current tax year. While most people put money into the RRSP to save tax, many do not know how much tax they are saving. The easiest way to determine the benefit of your RRSP contribution is to know what your current marginal tax rate is when you combine the federal and provincial taxes.

Related article: Canadian Tax Brackets

Watch your tax bracket threshold

If you’re making a large RRSP catch-up contribution, consider only claiming enough of the resulting deduction to reduce your taxable income in the top tax bracket. You can carry forward the remaining deduction for greater tax savings in a future year against income that is taxed in the higher tax brackets.

For example, Jessica lives in BC and makes $68,000 per year and just inherited some money and wants to put some money away for her retirement. She has approximately $60,000 of unused RRSP contribution room and is wondering if she should contribute the entire $60,000 to use up the room.

If Jessica made the entire $60,000 contribution to the RRSP and deducted the entire amount on her tax return, she would get a tax refund of about $12,375.

Another option is to use half the deduction ($30,000) this year and save the other half ($30,000) for next year. She would get a refund of about $8000 in each year for a total tax savings of $16,000.

Related article: When should you use your RRSP deduction?

What is the Home Buyers’ Plan?

With the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP), you can, take up to $25,000 out of your RRSP to put towards the down payment on your first home and you won’t be taxed on it. However, you do have to pay it back into your RRSP over the next 15 years.

What about the First Home Savings Plan (FHSA)?

The FHSA is designed for a specific purpose: for Canadians to be able to save and invest to buy their first home in Canada.  When saving for a first home, there are three registered accounts to consider: The RRSP (using the First Time Home Buyers Plan), the Tax-Free Savings Account, and the First Home Savings Account (FHSA).  Although the FHSA is new, I think it will quickly become the best way to save for a first home.

Related article:  Understanding the First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP)

With the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP), you can withdraw up to $10,000 a year, or up to $20,000 in total each time you participate in the LLP to help pay for your education. All you have to do is repay at least 10% per year for up to ten years.

Participants must start to make repayments two years after their last eligible withdrawal, or five years after the first withdrawal, depending on which due date comes first. Amounts withdrawn must be repaid within 10 years.

Investment ideas for your RRSPs

Making good investment decisions is important to the long term growth of RRSPs. Here’s a few articles providing some investment ideas as well as some timeless investing tips for your RRSP:

  • Stages of investing. How you invest your Registered Retirement Savings will depend partly on what stage of investing you are at. Someone starting out will probably want to keep it simple. The more money you have, the more sophisticated you can get.
  • Advantages of Self-directed RRSPs. This is one of my most popular articles. I have a self-directed account myself and think that anyone with over $50,000 in their account should consider a Self-Directed Registered Retirement Savings Plan.
  • My EFT Investment Strategy. Everywhere I go, I have people asking me how I invest my own money and what kinds of things I invest in. Here’s my ETF investment strategy.
  • Investing Your RRSP contribution. There is no shortage of information on investing your RSPs. The problem is there is too much information. Here are 5 timeless tips when it comes to investing.
  • Spouses should work together when investing RRSPs. The investment industry leads couples to manage their portfolios separately but there are times when couples are better off working together in developing an investment strategy for Registered Retirement Savings Plans.

RRSP and estate planning

One of the areas not talked about as much regarding RRSPs are the estate planning aspects of RRSP decisions. Here are a few things to think about when choosing beneficiaries and understanding tax implications at death

  • What happens to your RRSPs when you die? Here’s a topic we don’t like to talk about but it’s really important to know the answer to this question.
  • RRSP and RRIF Tax Trap. By not paying attention to the beneficiary of your Registered Retirement Savings Plans, your beneficiaries might find themselves in a tax trap.
  • Don’t die with too much money in your RRSPs. Most people don’t realize that tax deferral is great but only to a point. Trust me when I say the last thing you want is to die with too much RSPs. The tax hit is not what you want.
  • Designating Beneficiaries. One of the decisions that needs to be made when you buy or open up a Registered Retirement Savings Plan is you need to pick a beneficiary. Before you do, you should consider the tax implications.

RRSPs and retirement

Not only is it important to contribute and grow your RRSPs, it’s also important to understand the decumulation aspects of RRSPs. Here’s some information on what do to with your RRSPs when you retire:

Get help if needed

The investment industry has come a long way and there are more opportunities for the do-it-yourself investor than ever before. You can open up a trading account and start investing in stocks, mutual funds or Exchange Traded Funds.

If you are not the do-it-yourself type and need help, the traditional strategy is to go to a bank or seek help from a financial advisor for all your RRSP decisions.

The investment industry has grown and advanced and today there are more options than ever. Today, many people are looking at alternative ways of getting help and one of those ways is through Robo-Advisors.

Related article: Battle of the Best Robo Advisors in Canada

Good luck with all your RRSP decisions. Hopefully this list of RRSP tips gets you going in the right direction.

Comments

  1. The Blunt Bean Counter

    Wow Jim, you just took every one of my topics for the next 6 months :). Very thorough

    • Jim Yih

      Thanks Mark! I look forward to your perspectives over the next 6 months!
      Cheers!
      Jim

      • John

        Hi Jim, quick question for you. If I contributed $26.5K in the first 60 days of 2019 and claimed if for my 2018 return, can I contribute another $26.5K now in July 2019 and claim it for my 2019 tax return when I complete it next year? Or is that considered an over-contribution?

  2. Bet Crooks

    The deferring deduction tip is very important. Most people seem to think you have to claim the tax refund the same year you contribute. But if you’re in a low tax year (e.g. still have tuition credits etc to claim; off on maternity or parental leave) you might do well to wait to claim the deduction, even though it’s good to have the money in there earning tax-free dollars. Also, if you know you’re going to be in a much higher tax year a couple of years from now, it’s worth delaying the claim. For instance, you might have a large deferred bonus coming up.

    • Neil McKenna

      Can I make an RRSP contribution in the first 60 days and claim the 2021 deduction limit and carry forward the unused contribution to the 2022 tax year with out penalty? Even if I’m at my RRSP max taking the 2021 deduction. I will have more deduction room in 2022 that the carried forward contribution.

  3. Bill

    Nice article! Correct me if I am wrong please, but in reading this it looks like you can’t contribute more than the RRSP maximum limit even if you have more contribution room that has carried over from previous years. Am I right in this understanding?

    • Liquid

      I believe you can contribute any carried over room from previous years as well. So if your total contribution room is $50,000 as of 2015, then that’s how much you can contribute this year without over contributing.

  4. Gloria G.

    If I have no earned income in 2015, but have contribution room carried forward, can I contribute to a new RRSP in 2016?

    • Donna

      Yes you can.

    • Blair

      But you probably shouldn’t, as you will not achieve any tax savings by doing so (you won’t owe any tax this year because you have no income, so the RRSP investment will not save you any tax). Tax savings in the year of purchase is the primary reason you would invest in your RRSP. You would be far better off this year to put whatever money you wish to save into a TFSA account, where it can grow tax free just as it does in an RRSP. You will thereby save the RRSP contribution room for a future year when you do have taxable income (when you have taxable income, the amount of the RRSP investment reduces that income and thereby reduces the tax you pay). You can put the money in the TFSA this year and simply transfer into your RRSP account in a later year when it will be advantageous (i.e. a year when you have taxable income. People often overlook the particular benefits of TFSA vs RRSP in some circumstances.

      • Gloria G.

        I don’t have employment income, but I have income from a pension and CPP, so I do pay income tax. Thanks for the reply.

  5. Claude Mayrand

    Jim,

    I have a bone to pick about this article, about a misconception about RRSPs.

    Just like one doesn’t buy a savings account, one cannot buy an RRSP. Just like you can’t buy a TFSA or an RESP.

    It’s a type of financial account. You can only open one (or more than one) or close it. But you can’t buy it.

    You open an RRSP then contribute or deposit money in the RRSP to then buy stocks, bonds, mutual funds, closed end funds, or even just deposit money there.

    • Michael Scott

      Correct! You “open” or “start” an RRSP, you don’t buy it.
      Michael Scott
      CIBC

  6. Weesie

    Jim,
    Thanks for the links to all the RRSP info in one place!

    I still have a question about RRSP withdrawals. I understand that I will have to withdraw a minimum percentage from my RRSPs each year following the year in which I turn 71. I have multiple RRSP accounts at various banks and brokers. Will I have to withdraw the minimum amount each year from each account? Or, can I withdraw an amount, equal to the minimum withdrawal required from all my RRSPs, from only one account?

    Many thanks,
    Weesie

    • Russell Sawatsky

      You are most likely referring to the process of opening a RRIF and transferring your RRSP assets into that new account. Although you can withdraw from an RRSP, you can think of the RRSP as your accumulation account and the RRIF as your withdrawal (or “decumulation”) account. In the year following the year you turn 71 and each year thereafter, you will have an Annual Minimum Payment (AMP) that you must withdraw. To my knowledge, each financial institution where you hold your RRIFs will calculate the AMP and will expect you to withdraw that amount or greater from each RRIF account. Consolidating your accounts to the extent you are able will make your life a lot easier.

  7. Shelly

    Husband in long term disability, I am unable to work so will have zero income. Can I cash in a spousal rrsp to pay mortgage? Our mortgage is 13,000 and we have $14,000 in rrsp. We would like to pay mortgage off.

    • Ws

      In generation, You can withdraw your rssp funds anytime.
      The amount will be added to your income for the year and there will be withholding tax.

      Withdrawal Amount % Federal Tax Withheld
      From $0 to $5,000 10% (5% in Quebec)
      From $5,001 to $15,000 20% (10% in Quebec)
      Greater than $15,000 30% (15% in Quebec)

      You may get some of this withholding tax back when u file your tax return for the year.

      • Claude Mayrand

        Ws,

        The amounts stated are the gross amounts withdrawn; the tax percentage will be applied on that gross amount and you will receive the remainder.

        Note that these are cumulative amounts for the calendar year. If you withdraw three gross amounts of $5,000 you will be changed on the cumulative withdrawals. (It gets a little complicated as to how much tax is withheld – I did it once).

        Since GST/HST is applied on the withdrawal fees charged on each withdrawal, a litlle planning would be a good idea.

        • Gary

          Please proof read your replies. Many errors.

  8. karen chan

    Can I take out 25K for my first home and contribute 20K to reduce tax in the same year?

    • Claude Mayrand

      Karen,

      You need to find an expert on RRSPs.

      There are reams of rules about RRSPs. Therefore an expert will be hard to find because they can answer your questions but they may not offer other information that you have not brought up, since you’re not an expert and have not encountered the myriad situations than can occur after your RRSP actions.

      (Long sentence? RRSPs are extremely complicated and may hold multiple surprises because of all the subtle and obscure rules.)

      I have a question? Why would you want to do such a move?

    • Donna

      This info from the CRA website.
      Your RRSP contributions must stay in the RRSP for at least 90 days before you can withdraw them under the HBP. If this is not the case, the contributions may not be deductible for any year.

  9. John

    I’ve recently retired and got sevrance pay, bought some past entitlements to spruce up my DB pension & paid that with savings and part of an RRSP, etc; so its a complicated tax return this year, for me anyways and I want to have things done properly so there’s no comeback from CRA. Can you recommend anyone in the Montreal Quebec area that is highly familiar with the rulebook concerning my situation described above? I’ve looked at http://www.ats-accounting.ca/about-us/ and they even have a quote from you, Jim. Are they a reputable and trustworthy place to do business with?

    Thanks a bunch!

  10. Susan

    Can a person have both a RRIF and an RRSP?

    I have converted my RRSP to a RRIF but there may be instances in the next few years (I’m 60) that I may want to contribute to an RRSP to get the tax break … can you leagally have both?

  11. Monica

    Can I start contributing towards 2018 now (january 2018)or do I have to wait till March 1st?

    • Brenda

      Yes, Monica

      From the article –

      Contributions made in the first 60 days of the year can be applied against the previous taxation year or in any subsequent year.

  12. Chris S.

    RE: Definition of “Current Year” and
    “Maximum contribution limits:
    Your allowable RRSP contribution for the CURRENT YEAR is the **lower of**:

    ●18% of your earned income from the PREVIOUS YEAR (APPLES), AND
    ●the maximum annual contribution limit (See chart) for the taxation year (ORANGES) less … ”

    There appears to be an Apples & Oranges type of logic in the stated rules, meaning that in Jan of 2018 you know exactly what your T4 earnings were for the previous year 2017, but C.R.A. has not yet even processed your T4 slip yet, and instead printed on your Notice of Assessment for 2016 the contribution limit that it knows from the 2nd preceeding tax year 2016.

    Thus, the rule as stated does not sound logical and risks mixing up Apples and Oranges and causing a letter from C.R.A. with penalties and interest and requesting you to fill in a very complicated T1-OVP for overcontributing.

    In recent years I have been contributing to my RRSP in Jan/Feb of a year the applicable percent of the immediately preceding year’s earnings and got a letter from CRA asking me to do this terribly complicated OVP and asking me to prove the numbers for the last 20 years. Seriously annoying and maybe have to fork over thousands in penalties and interest not only for overcontributing but also for not filing an T1-OVP.

    I wish that the rules were more clearly stated.

  13. Julie

    I have no taxable income. If I withdraw from rrsp’s would they use a different tax rate? Also, would this be considered income then on my 2018 taxation year?

  14. Julie

    We made a real estate investment and made interest income on it. It would it be better for me to claim it as income instead of my husband as he makes a substantial amount of money (and also gets TAXED a substantial amount of money) BUT, can he claim the interest we pay on financing the investment as it is coming out of our account?

  15. Jacob

    Jim,

    Having gone through major issues with CRA for RSP over contribution (had to file T1-OVP for 5 consecutive years pay penalty, interest, fines and interest on fines.), i would like to share one important lesson learnt. ALL CONTRIBUTIONS made during the first 60 days will be used to calculate the contribution room of the previous calander year. You are right in that the amount can used in tax filing for the current or previous year, but contribution room is calculated for previous. So in my case I tend to contribute current years max amount during Jan because that gives your funds max growth period. For example in 2015 my RSP room is maxed out by Nov and for 2016 I made the max contribution of $25,370 in Jan hoping to include it in my 2016 filing. CRA calculates that you over contributed by $23,370 (25,370 -2000) and if you missed that you need to file your T1-OVP and pay 1% penalty tax and compound interest for late payment. It’s painful lesson.

  16. Chris S.

    ADD-ON: THE AMOUNTS I CONTRIBUTED IN JAN/FEB I always deducted them in the same year i made the contribution to allow CRA to catch up their paperwork so I NEVER DEDUCTED THEM on the prior ie the “Tax Year” in question.

    So, amounts contributed in JAN/FEB 2017 I did not deduct on the tax return for 2016, and CRA for some reason shows them as a carry forward just because they had to be reported on the 2016 tax return.

    But how can they be considered a carry forward if the 2017 contributions were not claimed on the 2016 return. Also, since CRA should have the exact dates per the contribution slips that were also entered in the tax software they should have all the info they need to match their calculations. So either CRA wants me to prove my numbers because their systems do not catch the dates or … Hate to speculate who is the dumb one here, since it’s usually “Operator Error” when something buggers up …

    Back to the article, IMO we should not postulate a rule that leaves people open to a vast misinterpretation for words like “CURRENT YEAR”, PREVIOUS YEAR and TAX YEAR without a specific example.

    If I make a contribution in 2017 for 2017 then “current year” seems 2017, whereas if I make the same contribution in 2018 then “current year” seems 2018.

    • Jacob

      I discovered after filling up T1-OVPs and paying penalties that they use financial year – Mar 1st to Feb end for calculating CONTRIBUTION ROOM. So if you made a contribution during Feb 2018 it is taken into consideration towards contribution room if 2017. However for deducting in tax filing you can do it for the year 2018 or 2017. Not knowing this anomaly and making major portion of your contribution during the first 60 days when you have already topped up during previous calander year will result in hefty penalties.

  17. Emma

    Where could I find more information regarding the CPP-Disability benefit being treated as ‘earned income’ for RRSP purposes. I have collected CPP-D for 7 years, but never knew that I could use it as earned income for RRSP purposes. Can I make RRSP contributions now and go back 7 years to reduce taxes paid? Thank you.

    • Emma

      Hi again. I just want to add to my question above that the Turbo Tax program does not treat CPP-D payments [T4A(P), Box 16] as ‘earned income’.

      • Chris

        see my post below in response to George’s comment.
        I found the list of items including disability income on a website authored by marcil-lavallee and appears to be lawyers in Quebec.

        I bet if you google you will come up with a brick load of info to answer your question Emma (nice name 🙂

  18. George

    What does “Tax Year 2018” in the table mean?
    I thought we’re still in the “Tax Year 2017” land.
    At least, CRA caling it that way.

    • Chris

      Presumably, 2018 Tax Year means 2018 Calendar year, so your combined ‘earned’ “Income from” 2017 ….>

      [For RRSP purposes, “earned income” includes

      Net income from employment,
      Net income from business, including from a partnership,
      Net rental income from real estate,
      Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan disability pensions, and
      Spousal support payments include in your income;
      Minus:

      Losses from businesses and rental real estate, and
      Deductible spousal support paid by you.
      (There are certainly other components to earned income as well.)]

      <…. for purposes of calculating the RRSP contribution room, times 18% would come up to a limiting 26,230

  19. Eva

    I need a help about understanding RRSP.. I am self employed and and contributed RRSP for a couple of years, last year my tax was 4k. some one suggested me to buy RRSP to lower down my tax payment,for 4k. Tax payment how much RRSP i should buy just to lower down my CRA payment? Any explanation is greatly appreciated. Thank you

  20. Chris

    … and such limiting maximum 26,230 would be deductible in the 2018 Calendar/Tax Year, even if you <> and that’s the current beef I have with the rules per my earlier post <> and for which we would like to read a comment from our specialist Jim Yih, so IMHO EVEN IF WE pay this amount in 2018 before March 2nd and report that as a payment in the first 60 days of 2018 for our 2017 tax return WITHOUT however deducting such amount on our 2017 income tax return.

    • Chris

      SO, I’M UPDATING my understanding on the RRSP contributions in the first 60 days: I read that the RRSP year is DIFFERENT from the regular CALENDAR tax year in that the RRSP YEAR runs from March 2nd for non-leap years to March 1st of the next year while still needing to be reported on the tax return of the year that just finished on December 31st. <> Unfortunately this rule is VERY POORLY described anywhere and it tricked me multiple times. I can say it’s like the SINKHOLE OF RRSPs and that there are INSUFFICIENT WARNINGS about its existence and insufficient fences around that sinkhole to warn good and loyal tax payers from falling into. I’LL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MINISTER on that RRSP SINKHOLE.

  21. Chris

    Let’s give praise EVERYONE! to our specialist Jim Yih for jumping through the hoops for creating such a wonderful website where we can congregate and help each other and venture an opinion for the better,

    THANK YOU JIM!,

    Chris and all the posters here.

  22. A.

    Under Earned Income you have the following “Income sources that do not qualify as earned income include investment income, pensions (including DPSP, RRIF, OAS, and CPP/QPP income), retiring allowances, death benefits, taxable capital gains and limited-partnership income.” What’s difference between earned income and investment income? Isn’t a dividend from a stock investment “earned” and subsequently taxed?

    • Chris

      ‘Earned’ means more like you rolling up your sleeves and providing a service or selling goods where your labor is the source of the income whereas in investments the source of the income is an asset like a share that pays a dividend.

      Luckily net rental income is still counted as earned income despite that your real estate asset is the prime source of income whereas the secondary source of income is your skill in upkeeping the property, and finding new tenants.

      I think the government kind of bent the logic on real estate asset income for making it eligible for RRSP contribution room, perhaps in order to achieve some other purpose such as driving the economy from renovations or private ownership of real estate or to make people more self-sufficient in order to get them off the pension and guaranteed income support.

  23. Chris

    Hi Eva, the best way to answer your question is to use any online netfiling program and fill in your numbers from last year, ie the numbers your tax preparer gave you a one page tax summary for, or call your tax preparer and ask him/her the same question because he/she has all your circumstances in his/her computer file.

  24. Chris

    >> Here is my own Question to the RRSP geeks: When I turn 71, in December of that year, I can make a 1-month overcontribution with 1% penalty and need to file a T1-OVP, but I wonder: is there a limit to how much I can shove into the RRSP with the penalty? I read that the overcontribution will disappear by January 1st because the RRSP has morphed into an RRIF. So, If I’m prepared to pay a thousand dollars for the penalty, then at 1% penalty I could contribute 100k in the RRSP, have that rolled into a RIF in January, carry forward the unclaimed contribution until it’s used up by rental income (earned income) and have the money invested that much earlier and stretch out the RRIF payouts back to me over the same 20 years as if i were to contribute a smaller amount. I guess the whole benefit from making a 1-month overcontribution to my RRSP at that time would be to convert cash into an annuity, shelter the money away from greedy relatives until my death and nail down a bigger amount to go to my wife on my death sheltered away from probate. ——————————WHAT’S UR TAKE, RRSP GEEKS?

    • Bill

      I don’t think you get to claim any RRSP contribution on an over-contribution.

      • Chris

        Your comment does not address my question:
        a.) “Is there a limit to how much I can shove into the RRSP with a 1 month 1% of overcontribution penalty?”

        and

        b.) where i said … “.. an annuity, shelter the money …” (meant to mean ‘inside the RRIF’ starting the January after the Dec overcontribution).

        Thanks for drawing my attention to the issue again. As more people comment I hope we can find the answer from the power of collective researching.

        I bet there are many ppl who have unclaimed and undeducted contributions rolled forward forever.

        Thanks to this board we are gonna find the answers, i hope 🙂

        • Bill

          I’m not trying to answer your question, just point out a flaw in your logic. You said “carry forward the unclaimed contribution until it’s used up by rental income”, however it is my understanding that there is no unclaimed contribution on an over-contribution.

  25. Danny Geneau

    If I move to Canada and I work during 2018, and make 100k. Am I able to contribution to an RRSP in January and February of 2019 and deduct that amount from my income?

  26. Ferdinant

    Hi everyone!
    I have a question about RRIF and RRSP.
    1. Is the following statement applicable at 65 years old,after you retire?
    Withdrawal Amount % Federal Tax Withheld
    From $0 to $5,000 10% (5% in Quebec)
    From $5,001 to $15,000 20% (10% in Quebec)
    Greater than $15,000 30% (15% in Quebec)
    2. At 71 years old you have to convert RRSP into RRIF and the minimum withdrawal is 7.38% of the amount. How much tax is on this money? Is it same as above, or different. I am a bit confused about this.

  27. Melanie

    Hi

    I just retired at age 61. I have some rrsp’s in my name only. My husband is 71. Can he start drawing from my rrsp’s? If not, can I switch them to a spousal and then have him draw from them?

    Any advice would be appreciated.

    Melanie

  28. Jon

    Here is my unique case

    (1) I have $ 50000 in my RRSP eligible for conversion to RRIF
    (2) I am Canadian citizen, single, with no children, and a retiree.
    (3) I am getting CPP, (OAS+GIS)
    (4) I am likely to move to another country (UK , or some Asian country with a tax agreement with Canada) indefinitely. I shall still submit my annual return to CRA, and operate my Canadian on-line bank account.
    In the event of my death say after 3 years,
    (a) Can my nominee (say my neice, living in another country) get the money left in RRSP or RRIF fund, without paying any tax at source?
    (b) If I convert to RRIF, can my nominee continue to get the yearly minimum withdrawal?
    (c) If I set an annuity fund, can my nominee(nephew, in another country) continue to receive the annual payments?
    Current laws do not explicitly cover above scenario. What are other alternatives to pass on my money to my nominee.
    Thanks

  29. Trevor Allen

    We know there is a 60 day window after the calendar year to contribute to rrsp’s. If I wish to withdraw a large sum to repay loans as my 2018 taxable income is low do I have the 60 day window or must I withdraw before December 31 2018?

  30. Aslam

    if my income for 2018 was 100000 out of which 14000 was contributed to a registered employer plan (RPP) and 4000 to rsp. what would be my rsp limit 2019 assuming there is no RPP contribution in 2019 as I changed employer who does not have a RPP scheme? would it be 18000 (18% of 100000)?

  31. Rhonda

    I will be receiving a retirement allowance and plan on contributing it to my RRSP instead of cashing it out – is it better to retire by the end of year 2019 in order to receive the best deduction on my income tax or can I retire Jan 2020 and because its within the first 60 days still claim it on my 2019 income tax? not sure if retirement allowances are treated differently than a normal contribution to an RRSP (I know I will be overcontributing to my RRSP but because I start working many years ago there is an exception because of that)

  32. Mounir

    Many thanks to you Jim
    It’s great information you provide every time you published an article .

  33. Dee Thakkar

    I enjoy writing and am following you for past couple of years. Here is my question as I am approaching 65 and have money in my LIRA acct. I have depleted my RRSP as I took early retirement starting 2013.
    (1) If I nominate my children on RRIF / LIF then after I pass away will they recieve the balance from my RRIF / LIF tax free in Canada or out of Canada?

  34. Bonnie Lees

    Jim do you take personal phone calls? If so what ph # I have been following you for years…the Edmonton Journal articles and on line.

  35. John

    Jim
    I read all of your articles.They are very well written. I find them to be precise and to point.

    Keep the articles coming!
    Thanks Jim

  36. Parveen Chand

    Hi,

    My daughter’s RRSP limit for 2018 is zero because she had very little income in 2017.
    In 2018 she contributed $2K towards RRSP. What amount should I enter on her tax return for 2018.

    Thanks
    Chan

  37. JEANNIE

    Did a large RRSP catching up. In the long run, is it a good idea to go down two brackets. Example New Brunswick tax. Down two brackets 26% to 15%. Or just go down one bracket from 26% to 20.5%?

  38. Rikhard

    You cannot buy RRSP – it is tax shelter program. Use right terminology.

  39. Tharan

    HI I just started working on 2019. Can i contribute to RRSP for the income which i earned even though CRA MY Account does not show the contribution rooma s it calculates it from 2018 NOA.

    Thanks

  40. Gaitree Narain

    Can I roll over all my “vacation earned upon resignation” into an RRSP account?

    • Peter

      Hello,I’m new to RSP’s,and was wondering,if I open one within the next week(end of April 2021)can I use any tax savings generated to pay towards my 2021 tax bill,thank you!

  41. Jean Pierre Laporte

    Be great to compare the RRSP contributions with those under a Personal Pension Plan (PPP) for your readers that are in business.

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