Zero tax

Created in 2009, the TFSA was an immediate success, which continues unabated.

Of all registered plans, the TFSA is the only one that allows you to make withdrawals for any reason without ever having to pay a cent in tax.

Using funds from a TFSA is therefore the ideal way to finance both short and long term projects.

It is also appreciated by taxpayers who are already contributing the maximum authorized amount to their RRSPs and who are looking for an additional way to save tax.

The annual TFSA contribution limit has fluctuated over the years:

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From 2009 to 2012	$5,000
2013 and 2014	$5,500
2015	$10,000
2016 to 2018	$5,500
2019 to 2022	$6,000
2023	$6,500
2024	$7,000
Total contributions for 2024	$95,000

Unused contribution room may be carried forward and used at a later time. For example, if you were 18 years of age or older in 2009 and do not have a TFSA, you could open one today and contribute a maximum of $95,000 before the end of 2024.^{Footnote 1}

To find out the exact amount of contribution room available to you, visit the My Account - External link. Opens in a new window. section on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Three Conditions

To contribute to a TFSA, you must:

• Be a Canadian resident
• Be ages at least 18 years old
• Have a valid social insurance number

Withdrawal Terms

Another important feature to keep in mind is that when you dip into your TFSA, the amount withdrawn is added to your contribution room for the following year.

Be aware, however, that some investors have been penalized for an overly rapid succession of withdrawals and contributions. Therefore, it is important to ensure you always respect you contribution limits for the current year. For more details, please consult the Canada Revenue Agency - External link. Opens in a new window. website.

In addition, your withdrawals and any income your investments generate do not affect your eligibility for social programs based on net income (individual or family), i.e. the Canada Child Tax Benefit, GST credit, Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Contributions 100% Tax Deductible

The RRSP is an investment plan that was introduced by the federal government in 1957. The objective of an RRSP is to encourage Canadians to save for their retirement.

Still popular, RRSPs offer a distinct advantage. The contributions are fully deductible from your taxable income.

Every year, you are entitled to make an RRSP contribution equal to a maximum of 18% of the income you earned in the previous year, provided you do not exceed the annual limit ($31,560 in 2024 and $32,490 in 2025).^{Footnote 2}

You can find your exact RRSP contribution limit on the notice of assessment sent to you by the Canada Revenue Agency upon receipt of your tax return. The amount is shown under your “RRSP/PRPP Deduction Limit statement.”

This information can also be found in the My Account - External link. Opens in a new window. section on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Your RRSP contribution limit will be affected if you belong to an employer sponsored retirement savings plan (or pension fund).

Accumulated Unused Contributions

What happens if, over the course of a year, you do not contribute the maximum authorized amount? You will end up with unused contribution room that can be used in subsequent years. In other words, nothing goes to waste.

Spousal RRSP

In some cases, contributing to your spouse's RRSP can be of value if you anticipate that his or her retirement income will be lower than your own.

Your spousal RRSP contributions are deductible from your taxable income while still belonging to your spouse.

Your advisor will talk you through the possibility of using this strategy.

Important: You will need to stop contributing three years before your spouse begins making withdrawals, or these withdrawals will be included in your taxable income.

Taxable Withdrawals

Your investments grow tax free as long as they are kept in your RRSP.

In fact, the only time you have to pay tax is when you actually withdraw money from your RRSP. Ideally, this will be in retirement, when your tax rate is likely to be lower than while employed.

It is also possible to make tax free withdrawals before you retire, provided the money is used to buy a house or finance training or education.

Plan Termination

You will need to close your RRSP by the end of the year in which you turn 71.

Before this deadline, you can transfer your investment to a Registered Retirement Income Fund.

TFSA and RRSP comparison chart

	TFSA	RRSP
Contribution deadline	January 1 to December 31 of current year	February 29, 2024
Age limit	None	The year of your 71st birthday
Contribution amount	Annual maximum: 2009 to 2012: $5,000 2013 and 2014: $5,500 2015: $10,000 2016 and 2018: $5,500 2019 to 2023: $6,500 2024: $7,000	18% of income earned the preceding year, up to $31,560 in 2024 and $32,490 in 2025.Footnote 2
Are contributions income tax deductible?	No	Yes
Withdrawals	Non-taxable	Taxable
Investment income	Non-taxable	Taxable when you withdraw
Unused contribution room	The unused portion of your maximum allowable contributions since 2009	The unused portion of your maximum annual amount deductible since 1991
Excess contributions	Not allowed	Up to $2,000 above the maximum allowable annual contribution
Impact of withdrawals on benefits from social programs	None	Added to taxable income.
Do withdrawals increase contribution room?	Yes, equal to the qualifying amount withdrawnFootnote 2 and added to the contribution room for the following year.	No
Are spousal contributions allowed?	No. However, money you give your spouse to contribute to a TFSA is not subject to attribution rules.	Yes. The contributing spouse claims the tax deduction even if he or she not the beneficiary.
Taxable upon death?	No. Amounts generated prior to death can be rolled over to the spouse tax-free.	Yes, except if rolled over to spouse, or to minor or disabled child.
Can it be used as collateral for a loan?	Yes	No

Making use of your retirement savings

As its name suggests, the RRIF provides retirement income. It is aimed at investors who are looking for some flexibility in asset management.

A RRIF is like a sequel to your RRSP, but with a twist: you can’t make regular contributions to a RRIF, only withdrawals. A RRIF can only be funded by the transfer of stocks, bonds and cash inside your RRSPs. Like an RRSP, RRIF income is completely tax free inside your RRIF account.

Withdrawals

Your withdrawals are taxable.

You are legally required to withdraw an annual minimum that increases every year.

To minimize this amount, it can be calculated based on the age of youngest of both partners.

Your withdrawals may vary depending on your needs and projects.

There is no maximum withdrawal limit.

At death:

• At death, the RRIF balance is transferred to the surviving spouse, or, in some cases, to the heirs
• Since July 1, 2011, you can roll over a maximum of $200,000 from a deceased annuitant’s RRIF to the registered disability savings plan (RDSP) of a child or grandchild who was financially dependent on the deceased because of an impairment in physical or mental functions, subject to the beneficiary’s unused RDSP contribution room. The amount rolled over reduces the beneficiary’s RDSP contribution room but doesn’t make them eligible for the Canada Disability Savings Grant.

Money from your pension fund

Do you belong to a company pension plan? What happens if you leave your job before retirement?

You can:

• Leave amounts you have earned in the plan
• Transfer them into a tax free LIRA and manage them personally with the help of your advisor

Read the terms and conditions of your company plan carefully. Some will restrict you to a certain option. Others allow you to choose.

Remember that it is not possible to contribute directly to an LIRA.

The plan is considered "locked in" because it can only be used as retirement income (except in certain circumstances, which your advisor will be able to explain).

The plan goes by different names depending on the jurisdiction: Locked-In Retirement Account, Locked-In RRSP. However, the product is essentially the same.

By age 71, at the latest, you must convert it into an annuity or Life Income Fund (LIF).

Enables you to gradually withdrawing assets from your LIRA

The LIF is to the LIRA what the RRIF is to the RRSP.

Its features are similar to those of an RRIF

• Retirement income plan
• Tax sheltered investments
• No contributions permitted
• Withdrawals are taxed
• Minimum Annual withdrawal

Unlike the RRIF, the LIF has a maximum withdrawal limit.

In certain jurisdictions, there are also Locked-In Retirement Income Funds (LRIF), and Prescribed RRIFs. Don’t hesitate to speak with your advisor to find out more.

Grants for the taking

Investing so that a child can have the opportunity to pursue higher education is a great way to invest in their future.

All the more so when you have government support, specifically:

• Canada Education Savings Grant - External link. Opens in a new window. (up to $7,200).
• Canada Learning Bond - External link. Opens in a new window. (up to $2,000).

Additional provincial grants may also be available, depending on where you live. Contact your advisor for more information.

You may contribute a maximum of $50,000 per beneficiary, with no annual limit.