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There are several important RRSP deadlines to keep top of mind.
If you want to avoid the last-minute RRSP contribution rush, consider making regular contributions throughout the year. You can even automate the process if you wish. Talk to an Edward Jones financial advisor to learn about the different account options available. You can also sign up for online tools, which provide you with continuous access to your Edward Jones account.
The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) determines the amount you are allowed to contribute, based on your income and annual contribution room. The Income Tax Act outlines what types of income affect your contribution room. The CRA usually sends a notice of assessment (NOA) annually, after you’ve filed your current taxes, which includes your RRSP contribution room for the next year.
The general contribution limit, as set by the Canadian government, is the lesser of
The good news is that if you are not able to maximize your RRSP contribution in any given year, your unused contribution room carries forward indefinitely, and you can use it in future years.
For example, if you make $100,000 in 2024, and you 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 annual maximum limit set by the government, that unused contribution amount of $2,000 (calculated as $18,000 - $16,000 = $2,000) be carried forward indefinitely until you make that contribution. This allows you to catch up on your retirement savings if you have initially contributed below your set limit.
You will want to keep a close eye on your available contribution room because there can be penalties and tax consequences if you overcontribute.
The CRA gives RRSP owners a $2,000 buffer on contributions, meaning you only pay a penalty if you overcontribute more than $2,000. At which time, you will pay a 1% penalty per month on the excess contributions that exceed your RRSP deduction limit by more than $2,000.
Since RRSP contributions lower taxable income, some individuals want to find a way to make their annual contribution or even maximize their contribution because of financial growth opportunities. That may be challenging if they don’t have the money in hand. One option is to borrow money from a financial institution. Most loans range from 1 year to 10 years and give borrowers 90 days before repayment must begin — which allows them enough time to get their tax refund.
That said, there are several things to consider before choosing that path, including the interest rate for the loan, if the estimated refund will cover the loan repayment, and whether there is enough time to get a loan approved before the contribution deadline.
Although there are limits to the types of investments that can be held in an RRSP, Edward Jones offers many different options, including:
Talk to your Edward Jones financial advisor to determine which qualified investments will best meet your needs.
One of the benefits of an RRSP is that you can withdraw funds at any time. All RRSP withdrawals are fully taxable as regular income. Furthermore, there may be additional costs for nonqualified withdrawals, such as de-registration fees. Additionally, you will lose the contribution room for perpetuity.
There are qualified exceptions, which enable you to withdraw funds for specifically approved reasons without having to claim the withdrawn funds as income on your tax return.
An RRSP matures December 31 of the year the owner turns age 71. At that time, the account owner must choose one of three options and close the account:
Note, that you may also use any combination of the above options. Although most people wait until they are either retired or close to retirement, you can open a RRIF and transfer funds from your RRSP to your RRIF at any age. However, once you make a transfer from an RRSP to a RRIF, you will no longer be able to contribute to that particular account, and a new RRSP account would need to be established in order to make future RRSP contributions.
You can contribute, but your contribution will count toward next year rather than the current year.
If you make a contribution at any point after the current year deadline, it will be treated as a contribution made in the following year. Any remaining contribution room you have for the current year will automatically carry forward to future years.
When it comes to RRSPs, your Edward Jones financial advisor can help you from start to finish, beginning with understanding the basics, determining which investment type will best serve your needs, reviewing your cash flow to fund your RRSP and exploring your RRSP maturity options to support your retirement dreams.