Guides

Plain-language explainers on how the Canada Revenue Agency's registered-account rules actually work, when to use each account type, and how to fit a household contribution plan together with provincial marginal tax brackets. See our methodology page for full source attribution and refresh cadence; tools and calculators for live contribution-room math.

• RRSP vs TFSA, which should you fund first?

  A side-by-side comparison of when each account wins, based on your current and expected retirement marginal tax rates.

• How RRSP contribution room is actually calculated

  Walk through the CRA formula, 18% of earned income, the annual dollar ceiling, prior-year carry-forward, and the pension adjustment offset.

• TFSA lifetime room since 2009, year by year

  Every TFSA annual limit from 2009 through 2026, plus cumulative lifetime room for someone who turned 18 in 2009.

• Maximize the RESP CESG match ($2,500/yr)

  The $2,500-per-child-per-year contribution that triggers the 20% CESG match, plus catch-up rules if you started late.

• 2026 provincial tax brackets across all 13

  Reference table of every province and territory bracket schedule with combined federal-plus-provincial marginal rates.

• HBP vs FHSA for a first-home down payment

  Trade-offs between borrowing from an RRSP via the Home Buyers Plan and contributing to the First Home Savings Account.

• Over-contribution penalties on RRSPs and TFSAs

  What happens when you exceed your room, the 1% per month penalty, the de-minimis buffer, and the cleanup playbook.

Download the CRA registered-plan limits and provincial tax-bracket extract cited on this page: plainrrsp-tax-brackets.csv (Open Government Licence – Canada).