What’s my RRSP contribution limit?

What’s an RRSP?

An RRSP is a financial savings account registered with the Canadian authorities. It’s designed to assist Canadians save for retirement. RRSP contributions are tax-deductible, which means they’ll cut back your taxable earnings for that tax 12 months, however the deductions may also be delayed and carried ahead to deduct in a future 12 months.

Any funding development or earnings earned inside an RRSP is exempt from annual tax. You could, nonetheless, pay tax on the time of withdrawal—ideally, if you’re in retirement or in any other case in a decrease tax bracket than you might be right this moment.

These tax benefits make RRSPs a priceless instrument for retirement saving. Nonetheless, there are limits on how a lot you possibly can contribute to your RRSP in any given 12 months. Be sure you know your RRSP restrict to keep away from pointless tax penalties.

What’s my RRSP contribution restrict?

Whereas RRSP guidelines apply to each Canadian, every of us have our personal RRSP contribution restrict. There are three components that decide your particular person contribution restrict:

The RRSP contribution restrict set by the Canadian authorities. This restrict modifications yearly. For 2024, the utmost any Canadian can contribute to their RRSP is $31,560 (up from $30,780 in 2023). Under, you can see the contribution limits for every of the previous 10 years.
Your earned earnings reported throughout the earlier tax 12 months. Your particular person contribution restrict is eighteen% of your earned earnings from the earlier tax 12 months, or the annual most set by the federal government—whichever is much less. Because of this solely people with an earned earnings of $175,333 or extra in 2024 will earn the total $31,560 RRSP contribution room out there this 12 months. Earned earnings for RRSP functions is mostly the quantity in field 14 of your T4 slips; earned earnings additionally contains self-employed web earnings, Canada Pension Plan (CPP)/Québec Pension Plan (QPP) incapacity funds and web rental earnings.
RRSP room could also be decreased if you’re a pension plan member. In case you are a member of an outlined contribution (DC) or outlined profit (DB) pension, you should have a “pension adjustment” in your T4 slip. This pension adjustment reduces your RRSP room for the next 12 months. The explanation for the adjustment is to even the taking part in subject between pension plan members and people with out pensions, so pension plan members don’t get extra skill to avoid wasting for retirement on a tax-deferred foundation.
The quantity of unused contribution room you possibly can carry ahead. Unused RRSP contribution room in a single 12 months could be carried ahead to a different 12 months. Your whole contribution room is subsequently made up of your restrict from the present 12 months, plus any unused contribution room from earlier years. Learn extra in regards to the carry-forward guidelines for unused RRSP contributions.

RRSP contribution limits by 12 months

The RRSP deadline this 12 months

The deadline for RRSP contributions for the 2023 tax 12 months is Feb. 29, 2024. Contributions made within the first 60 days of the 12 months could be utilized to the earlier taxation 12 months.

The place are you able to discover your RRSP contribution restrict?

After the Canada Income Company (CRA) processes your tax return, it sends a Discover of Evaluation (NOA), which incorporates your subsequent 12 months’s contribution restrict. This discover additionally exhibits your unused contribution room. You can even name your native Tax Data Cellphone Programs (TIPS) quantity, and make sure to have your SIN and former tax return prepared. Alternatively, you possibly can register for My Account with CRA to view your RRSP restrict, observe your refund, make updates to your return and monitor funds.

What occurs in the event you overcontribute to your RRSP?

In case you overcontribute to your RRSP by greater than $2,000, you may be topic to a penalty tax. Usually, the penalty is 1% per thirty days on the surplus contribution for so long as it stays in your account. You’ll be able to cease the penalty from rising in the event you withdraw the surplus quantity. (Learn extra about what to do you probably have overcontributed to your RRSP.)

What’s the age restrict to contribute?

You’ll be able to open an RRSP at any age. You’ll be able to then contribute to your RRSP till Dec. 31 of the 12 months you flip 71. At the moment, you will need to both money out your RRSP, convert it to a registered retirement earnings fund (RRIF) or buy an annuity.