RRSP

Pay less tax this year. Build your retirement savings.

A Registered Retirement Savings Plan turns today’s tax bill into tomorrow’s retirement. Work out exactly what you can contribute — and the estimated tax saving it could produce.

Figures on this page are verified against the CRA limits table.

The basics

What is an RRSP, and how does the room work?

An RRSP is a registered account where contributions are tax-deductible, investments grow tax-deferred, and you pay tax only when you withdraw — usually in retirement, when your income is lower.

Your contribution room for 2026 is 18% of your 2025 earned income, up to a maximum of $33,810. That figure is reduced by any pension adjustment, and increased by unused room carried forward from previous years. The dollar maximum is a ceiling, not a target — most Canadians are limited by the 18% rule, not the cap.

Deduct it now

Contributions reduce your taxable income, which is where the tax saving comes from.

Grow it tax-deferred

No tax on growth inside the plan while it compounds. The tax is delayed, not cancelled, so money you take out in retirement is taxed as income that year.

Room never expires

Unused contribution room carries forward indefinitely.

Free RRSP calculator

How much can you contribute — and what could it save you?

Slide in your income and pension details for an instant estimate of your 2026 room, then see the estimated tax saving a contribution could produce.

Employment, self-employment, and net rental income — not investment income or pensions.
Box 52 on your T4. Leave at $0 if you have no workplace pension.
On your latest Notice of Assessment. Unused room never expires.
Your estimated 2026 contribution room
$0
 
18% of your 2025 earned income$0
Capped at the 2026 maximum$33,810
Less pension adjustment−$0
Plus unused carry-forward$0
In Ontario this ranges from about 20% on lower incomes to about 53% near the top. Around $85,000 of income it is close to 30%. Confirm yours with your accountant.
Estimated tax saving
$0
An estimate. A contribution lowers the tax you owe. How much you actually get back depends on what your employer already withheld.
 

This estimator runs entirely in your browser. The numbers you enter stay on your device — RESP Guru does not receive or store them. It uses the CRA 2026 RRSP dollar maximum of $33,810 and the 18%-of-prior-year-earned-income rule, less pension adjustment, plus carry-forward. The tax saving figure is a simplified estimate based on the marginal rate you select and doesn’t account for your full tax situation, credits, or clawbacks. Not financial or tax advice — your official deduction limit is on your CRA Notice of Assessment.

Common questions

Questions Canadians ask

How much can I contribute to my RRSP in 2026?
The lesser of 18% of your 2025 earned income or $33,810, minus any pension adjustment, plus unused room carried forward. The $33,810 cap only binds if you earned roughly $187,833 or more in 2025 — below that, the 18% rule sets your limit.
What counts as earned income?
Employment income, self-employment income, and net rental income. It does not include investment income, capital gains, pension income, or RRSP withdrawals — a common source of over-estimating your room.
What if I have a workplace pension?
Your room is reduced by your pension adjustment (box 52 on your T4), which reflects the value of the pension benefit you earned. Members of generous defined-benefit plans often have very little RRSP room left as a result.
Does unused room expire?
No — it carries forward indefinitely. If you couldn’t contribute in lean years, that room is still waiting. Your total available room is printed on your latest Notice of Assessment.
What happens if I over-contribute?
There’s a $2,000 lifetime cushion that isn’t penalized (but isn’t deductible either). Beyond that, the CRA charges 1% per month on the excess until it’s withdrawn — which is why checking your Notice of Assessment first matters.
RRSP or TFSA — which first?
It usually comes down to your tax rate now versus in retirement. An RRSP deduction is worth more the higher your current rate; a TFSA wins when your rate is low now or you want withdrawals that don’t affect income-tested benefits. Many people use both — that’s a conversation worth having with real numbers.
When is the contribution deadline?
March 1, 2027 for the 2026 tax year — contributions in the first 60 days of a year can be applied to the previous tax year. Contributing earlier gives your money longer to grow.
Let’s talk

Make this year’s contribution count.

A free, no-pressure call: your real contribution room, whether RRSP or TFSA does more for your situation, and how a segregated fund RRSP fits if guarantees and estate simplicity matter to you.

Harpreet Singh · LLQP-Licensed · Life Insurance & Segregated Funds · Ontario · Proudly Canadian. This page and its calculator are general information only — not financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice, and not a quote. RRSP contribution limits, the annual dollar maximum, and tax rules are set by the Government of Canada and may change; 2026 figures are per CRA and your official deduction limit appears on your Notice of Assessment. The tax saving estimate is simplified, based on a marginal rate you select, and does not reflect your full tax situation. Segregated fund investments are offered under an LLQP licence; other investment products may require a different licence and would be referred. Speak with a qualified advisor or accountant about your own situation.

Harpreet Singh, LLQP-licensed insurance advisor
Written and reviewed by
Harpreet Singh
LLQP-Licensed · Life Insurance & Segregated Funds · Ontario

Harpreet is an LLQP-licensed insurance advisor based in Ontario, Canada. He helps families understand RESPs in plain language, claim every government grant they qualify for, and protect the plan with the right coverage — with straight answers and no pressure. More about Harpreet →

Reviewed September 2026 Figures per Canada.ca / CRA LinkedIn Book a free, no-pressure call
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