RRSP and TFSA contributions

A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is a type of investmentInvestment An item of value you buy to get income or to grow in value.+ read full definition account designed for retirement savings. A Tax-freeTax-free Money that you do not pay tax on.+ read full definition Savings AccountSavings account A bank account intended for depositing funds. Pays interest and lets you withdraw cash at…+ read full definition (TFSA) may be used for any type of savings goal, including retirement.

Any money you hold in RRSPs and TFSAs is tax sheltered. RRSP contributions are tax deductible, but TFSA contributions are not.

Each type of account has a different limit on how much money you can contribute each year. For RRSPs, this amount depends on how much income you earned that year. For TFSAs, the amount is the same each year for all Canadians.

Making RRSP contributions

You must have earned income to contribute to an RRSP. To start building RRSP contribution roomContribution room The amount you can put into a savings plan like a Registered Retirement Savings Plan…+ read full definition, you have to file an income taxIncome tax A charge you pay based on your total income from all sources. The Canadian government…+ read full definition return — even if you don’t owe any tax. Your notice of assessment will tell you how much money you can put into your RRSP each year.

Claiming your RRSP contributions

You can claim a tax deductionTax deduction A cost that you can deduct from your income when you file your taxes. This…+ read full definition for the amount you contribute to your RRSP each year. Here’s how it works:

1. You can claim up to certain limits each year.
2. If you have a pensionPension A steady income you get after you retire. Some pensions pay you a fixed amount…+ read full definition plan, your RRSP contributionContribution Money that you put into a savings or investment plan.+ read full definition will be reduced by an amount known as a pension adjustment or PA. Your PA is reported on your T4 slip each year.
3. If you don’t contribute the full amount you are allowed in any one year, you can carry forward any unused contribution room.
4. You don’t have to deduct amounts in the year you contributed them. For example, you can wait until you are in a higher tax bracketTax bracket The rate at which you pay tax, based on your income level.+ read full definition.

Learn more about contributing to an RRSP.

You must file a tax return to earn RRSP contribution room. You don’t have to file a tax return to earn TFSA contribution room. Learn more about the differences between TFSAs and RRSPs.

Making TFSA contributions

Unlike an RRSP, you can’t deduct your contribution from the income you report on your tax return. Here’s how TFSA contributions work:

1. You can contribute to a TFSA whether or not you have earned income that year.
2. You don’t have to earn contribution room in a TFSA.
3. You have to be 18 or older and have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN).
4. For 2023, the TFSA contribution limit is $6,500. Each year, the amount is indexed to inflationInflation A rise in the cost of goods and services over a set period of time.…+ read full definition and rounded to the nearest $500.
5. If you don’t contribute the full amount you are allowed in any one year, you can carry forward any unused contribution room, based on the contribution limits for each year.

Learn more about contributing to a TFSA.