Registered retirement savings plans: The basics and beyond

Registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) have been available to Canadians for more than half a century, and for many people, they are the backbone of a retirement savings strategy. However, if you are new to investing, you may not be sure of what exactly an RRSP is. So, let’s start with the basics.
Registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) are Canadian retirement savings and investment plans that offer tax advantages and are registered with the Canadian government.
You can set up an RRSP account if you have reached the age of majority for the province in which you reside. At Edward Jones we can help you understand the basics and beyond of setting up an RRSP, as well as the various types of RRSPs available, along with qualified investment options for each.
At a high level, there are four basic types of RRSPs:
The annual contribution deadline for an RRSP is 60 days after December 31 of the previous year. Thus, contributions to an RRSP can be made at any time during the calendar year up until the first 60 days of the following year. The contribution deadline for 2022 is March 1, 2023.
An RRSP matures, i.e., reaches the end of its term and becomes payable, on December 31 of the year in which the RRSP holder turns 71. At that time, contributions can no longer be made to the RRSP. They can, however, still be made to a spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP until the end of the year in which the spouse turns 71, assuming the contributor has remaining RRSP contribution room.
The amount you can contribute each year is based on your annual contribution room, which is calculated annually by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). Keep in mind that RRSP contribution room is based on certain types of earned income as defined in the Income Tax Act. Tax filers receive information about their contribution room on their annual Notice of Assessment from the CRA.
The following factors can affect the amount of your contribution room:
*You should note that most forms of passive investment income, such as capital gains, interest and dividends, are not included in the definition of earned income.
Generally speaking, if you have no unused contribution room and no pension adjustments, your contribution limit will be the lesser of:
Understanding how your contribution room works from year to year is an important factor in making the most of your RRSP. To help you better understand, let’s consider an example. If you make $100,000 in 2022, and you are only able to contribute 16% of your income, your contribution would be $16,000. Because $16,000 is less than 18% of your annual earned income and also less than the maximum limit set by the government ($29,210 for 2022), that unused contribution amount ($29,210 - $16,000 = $13,210) be carried forward indefinitely until you are able to afford to make that contribution. This allows you to catch up on your investments if you initially contributed below your set limit.
You can withdraw funds at any age and time, but there are immediate withholding and registration fees plus applicable taxes associated with all withdrawals. Thus, if you need to withdraw a certain amount, remember to add in the extra you will lose immediately in fees and taxes – keeping in mind, the taxes can be steep.
Income tax | |
---|---|
Gross amount of withdrawal | Taxes in all provinces, except Quebec |
Up to and including $5,000 | 10% |
From $5,000.01 to $15,000 | 20% |
From $15,000.01 and above | 30% |
Gross amount of withdrawal | Taxes in Quebec |
Up to and including $5,000 | 20% |
From $5,000.01 to $15,000 | 25% |
From $15,000.01 and above | 30% |
Additionally, withdrawals will subsequently be counted as income and will be taxed at your marginal rate for the year. Sometimes, you will owe an additional amount because the amount that was withheld is not enough to fulfill your tax obligation based on your tax bracket.
You should also remember that once funds are withdrawn, the RRSP contribution room does not regenerate – the room is lost forever. You can’t go back and recontribute that same amount later unless you meet a qualified exception.
While RRSPs are a long-term retirement savings vehicle, they do offer some flexibility to help achieve other financial goals in the right circumstances. Take note, if you choose to participate in the programs mentioned below, you will not be required to pay tax on withdrawn funds – unless you don’t repay them.
The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) allows you to withdraw up to $35,000 from your RRSP to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself or for a related person with a disability. The HBP allows you to take up to 15 years making equal payments during that time to pay back the withdrawn funds, with repayments starting the second year after the first withdrawal.
Similarly, the Lifelong Learning Plan (LL) allows you to withdraw up to $10,000 in a calendar year to a total LLP limit of $20,000. The LLP funds can be used toward any purpose, provided you (or your spouse or common-law partner) meet the LLP conditions when you make the withdrawal. You must repay equal amounts withdrawn over a 10-year period, starting the fifth year after the first withdrawal.
Both the HBP and LLP limits are personal to the individual, meaning partners or spouses can each withdraw the maximum and use the total funds toward a common home or education goal.
A word of caution: you should be aware that your RRSP deduction for the year may be affected negatively if you participate in either of these programs. Funds withdrawn for either HBP or LLP within 90 days of being contributed to the RRSP cannot be deducted from income for the year. This can be extremely complicated and confusing, which is another good reason to work with an Edward Jones financial advisor to help you navigate these nuances.
In addition to permitting funds withdrawn under the HBP to be used to buy or build a qualifying home for a related person with a disability (even if you don't qualify as a "first time home buyer"), the Income Tax Act also allows for a rollover of a deceased individual's RRSP to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) of a financially dependent (due to physical or mental disability) child or grandchild.
You must do one of the following when your RRSP matures:
An Edward Jones financial advisor can work with you to help you find the choice right for you.
Above, we’ve covered the basics. But there are many other things to consider when it comes to RRSPs. Let’s explore some of the lesser known aspects – beyond the basics – that are equally important for investors to understand.
People mistakenly believe that RRSP accounts can only hold Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs), mutual funds or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). While those may indeed be the best approach for one individual, others may benefit from including a mix of stocks and bonds in their RRSP account. However, there are limits to the types of investments that may be held in these and other types of registered accounts. Investments must meet the definition of “qualified investments”; a term that is defined in the Income Tax Act. Ineligible investments (like commodity futures) held in an RRSP may attract significant negative tax consequences (including a 50% tax on the value of the prohibited investment); so, you will want to make sure you work with your Edward Jones financial advisor to ensure your investments qualify.
Text: You don’t need to claim the deduction in the same year you make the contribution. This is one of those little-known facts that can have a big impact on your bottom line. Just because you contribute to your RRSP for the benefits of tax deferral on the underlying investments, doesn’t mean you need to claim this deduction against your income for the same tax year.
You may choose to hold onto this deduction amount (all or some) for use in a future year. This could result in significant savings if, for example, you knew you would have higher taxable income in an upcoming year. There is no time limit for how long you can carry forward the allowable deduction.
You and your spouse/common-law partner can still make contributions to your spouse’s or common-law partner’s spousal RRSP until the end of the year in which your spouse turns 71, assuming the contributor has unused RRSP contribution room available. This provides a planning opportunity for an individual who carries over contribution room or continues to accumulate it by accruing earned income after age 71 and has a younger spouse or common-law partner. It could, for example, mean the contributing spouse is subject to reduced Old Age Security (OAS) clawback (or pension recovery tax) while providing tax-advantaged savings opportunities for the recipient spouse. This is a significant planning opportunity that is often overlooked. (The OAS clawback is $79,045 from July 2021 to June 2022 and $79,845 for July 2022 to June 2023.)
RRSP contributions can make the difference in qualifying for other benefits. It’s worth a careful look at the details to see whether an increase in your contribution could mean you qualify for income-tested benefits you may be on the cusp of receiving. For example, a reduced net income (as a result of RRSP contribution and deduction against your income) could lead to increased refundable tax credits, like the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, or increased income-tested benefits like the Canada Child Benefit.
Your tax bill on death can be the biggest tax bill you’ve ever paid. Many people include the full value of their RRSPs when they think about what their estate would look like if they were to prematurely pass away. In fact, the full value of your RRSP would be included in income in your year of death and taxed at what may be the highest marginal rate to which you’ve ever been subject. For example, assuming you had no other taxable assets, a $200,000 RRSP would be subject to an average tax rate of more than 30% and hit a marginal tax rate of nearly 50% in some provinces. There are tax deferral opportunities for spouses and children or grandchildren who are financially dependent due to disability; however, there are pitfalls that the unwary may fall into without the guidance of a professional financial advisor.
Sometimes it makes sense to make RRSP withdrawals before retirement. Most individuals just forget about their RRSPs until retirement because they think it’s locked- in or assume massive tax liabilities. The reality is that there are many times where it may make sense to withdraw funds from an RRSP. For example, if you’re in a year of low relative net income and have an urgent need for additional funds because of maternity or paternity leave or unemployment, accessing your RRSP may be the best of the available options.
It may also make sense to begin a drawdown strategy in the years leading up to retirement. If you anticipate you’ll be in a high tax bracket in retirement, drawing down on your RRSPs early may reduce the likelihood of OAS clawback or help keep the marginal rate lower over the long term. Taking a careful look at all the details is critical in these situations.
There’s much more than meets the eye when it comes to RRSPs. Your Edward Jones financial advisor can help build your understanding of RRSPs and assist you in determining the RRSP strategy right for you.
We offer several different investment options, including
Start the process by meeting with an Edward Jones advisor today.
Funds will be transferred to your beneficiary if one is named on the account. Otherwise, funds will be paid to your estate.
Use our retirement calculator to help you determine if you are saving enough for your personal retirement goals.
Many people question which is more beneficial for their retirement savings plan – a registered retirement savings plan or a tax-free savings account (TFSA). Both accounts offer tax advantages and the ability to take part in a number of investment options, while saving for retirement and maximizing the growth of your funds. However, there are differences, as well.
RRSPs allow you to deduct your contributions, which can be used to reduce the amount on which income tax is calculated. Annual contributions to TFSAs are not tax deductible, but withdrawals, including any growth in your TFSA, are tax free. There are several other distinctions that should be reviewed carefully based on your earnings, goals and dreams.
A financial advisor at Edward Jones can help you understand the differences between RRSPs and TFSAs and assist you with understanding the options and how they fit with your personal life circumstances. To learn more, review Edward Jones RRSP or TFSA: Which one makes sense for you?
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.