RRSP Contribution Room Calculator (2026)
Work out your RRSP deduction limit for 2026, 2025, or 2024. Combines 18% of your prior-year earned income with the annual dollar cap, adjusts for Pension Adjustment (PA), PSPA, and PAR, adds unused carry-forward, and flags any over-contribution penalty.
Your RRSP details
2026 annual cap: $33,810
Employment + net self-employment + net rental + royalties + support received
Enter 0 if no employer pension
From T215 — reduces room
From T10 — restores room
Check your CRA Notice of Assessment
New room (2026)
$15,300Lesser of 18% × 2025 earned income ($15,300) or $33,810, after PA/PSPA/PAR
Total deduction limit
$27,300New room + $12,000 carry-forward
Remaining room
$27,300After $0 contributed
How we got there
Quick reference — dollar limits
2026
$33,810
(based on 2025 earned income)
2025
$32,490
(based on 2024 earned income)
2024
$31,560
(based on 2023 earned income)
How your RRSP room is built each year
Every tax year, CRA gives you new RRSP contribution room equal to the lesser of:
- 18% of your previous year's earned income, or
- the year's annual dollar limit: $33,810 for 2026, $32,490 for 2025, $31,560 for 2024.
That new room is then reduced by your Pension Adjustment (PA) from the prior year (T4 box 52), any Past-Service PA (PSPA) from T215, and increased by any Pension Adjustment Reversal (PAR) from T10 if you left a pension plan.
Unused room from every prior year since 1991 accumulates and carries forward indefinitely. It is added to your new room to form your total deduction limit.
What counts as "earned income"
- Employment income (T4 box 14) less union dues and employment expenses
- Net self-employment income (business, profession, commission)
- Net rental income from real property
- Royalties from works you created or invented
- CPP/QPP disability pension benefits
- Net research grants
- Spousal support received (taxable — child support is not taxable and does not build room)
Investment income, capital gains, RRIF/RRSP withdrawals, OAS, and regular CPP retirement do not generate new RRSP room.
Annual dollar limits
| Contribution year | Based on earned income from | Dollar cap |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | $33,810 |
| 2025 | 2024 | $32,490 |
| 2024 | 2023 | $31,560 |
Full writeup — the by-year table further back, and both RRSP deadlines for 2026 disambiguated — on the 2026 RRSP contribution limit page.
New room by earned income (2026)
New 2026 room is 18% of your 2025 earned income, capped at $33,810. The 18% rate hits the cap once earned income reaches about $187,833 — above that, everyone gets the same $33,810 (before any pension adjustment or carry-forward).
| Prior-year earned income | New room (18%, capped) |
|---|---|
| $40,000 | $7,200 |
| $60,000 | $10,800 |
| $80,000 | $14,400 |
| $100,000 | $18,000 |
| $150,000 | $27,000 |
| $187,833 | $33,810 |
| $200,000 | $33,810 (cap) |
Excludes Pension Adjustment and carry-forward — both change your actual deduction limit. PA reduces it; unused prior-year room adds to it.
Worked examples (2026)
- No pension, $70,000 earned income: new room = 18% × $70,000 = $12,600. Add $15,000 of unused carry-forward → total deduction limit $27,600.
- Pension member, $90,000 earned income, $9,000 PA: new room = 18% × $90,000 = $16,200, minus the $9,000 PA = $7,200 of new room this year.
- High earner, $250,000 earned income: 18% would be $45,000, but it's capped at $33,810 — the 2026 maximum.
Over-contribution penalty
CRA allows a lifetime $2,000 over-contribution cushion — amounts above your deduction limit up to $2,000 are not penalized (but aren't deductible either).
Over-contributions beyond the $2,000 cushion attract a 1%-per-month penalty until withdrawn. Withdraw promptly using form T3012A (pre-approved, tax-free) or T746 (retroactive). File form T1-OVP for the year of over-contribution regardless.
Age 71 deadline
You can contribute to your own RRSP up until December 31 of the year you turn 71. After that, you must convert to a RRIF, buy an annuity, or withdraw the full balance (taxable). A spousal RRSP remains an option if your spouse is under 71 and you have unused room.
Frequently asked questions
How is RRSP contribution room calculated?
Your new RRSP room for a given year equals the lesser of 18% of your previous year's earned income or the annual dollar cap — $33,810 for 2026, $32,490 for 2025, $31,560 for 2024. That amount is then reduced by your Pension Adjustment (PA) and any Past-Service PA (PSPA), and increased by any Pension Adjustment Reversal (PAR). Unused room from prior years carries forward indefinitely and adds to your total deduction limit.
What counts as earned income for RRSP purposes?
RRSP earned income includes employment income (T4 box 14 less union dues and employment expenses), net self-employment income, net rental income from real property, royalties on works you authored, CPP/QPP disability pension income, net research grants, and spousal or alimony support received. Investment income, capital gains, and pension income do not generate RRSP room.
What is a Pension Adjustment (PA)?
If you were a member of a Registered Pension Plan (RPP) or Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP) last year, your T4 box 52 shows a PA — the value of pension benefits you accrued. This amount reduces your RRSP room dollar-for-dollar so you don't get double retirement tax relief. A PSPA on form T215 reduces room further when past-service benefits are upgraded; a PAR on T10 adds room back if you leave a plan with fewer benefits than your PAs assumed.
What happens if I contribute too much?
CRA allows a $2,000 lifetime over-contribution cushion without penalty. Anything beyond that attracts a 1%-per-month penalty tax on the excess until withdrawn. File form T3012A to withdraw the excess tax-free (if pre-approved) or T746 retroactively. You must still file form T1-OVP in the year you over-contributed.
Where do I find my current contribution room?
CRA publishes your exact RRSP deduction limit on your Notice of Assessment and in your CRA My Account. The figure there already accounts for prior PAs, carry-forward, and contributions claimed. This calculator is a projection — use it to plan contributions or check your number.
When must I close my RRSP?
You must convert your RRSP to a RRIF, purchase an annuity, or collapse it (taxable) by December 31 of the year you turn 71. After that you can no longer contribute to your own RRSP — but you can still contribute to a spousal RRSP if your spouse is under 71 and you have contribution room.
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