RRSP Calculator

Calculate your RRSP contribution room and estimate the tax refund from a planned contribution. A $10,000 contribution at $90,000 income in Ontario saves about $2,965 in tax — a marginal rate near 29.7% at that income level.

Contribution room

2025 earned income ($)

Unused room carried forward ($)

$14,400

New 2026 room (18% of income)

$14,400

Total available room

$33,810

2026 dollar limit

Estimated tax refund

Province / territory

2026 annual income ($)

Planned contribution ($)

$1,482

Estimated tax refund

29.6%

Your marginal rate

Contribution room is the lesser of 18% of your prior year's earned income or the $33,810 2026 dollar limit, plus any unused room carried forward. The refund estimate compares your calculated federal + provincial tax with and without the contribution, using the same bracket data as the Canada Income Tax Calculator — it doesn't include pension adjustments, which reduce your actual room if you belong to a workplace pension plan. Check your CRA Notice of Assessment for your exact figure.

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Why use RRSP Calculator?

RRSP room is often quoted as "18% of income" without the two caveats that actually determine it for most people: the annual dollar cap, which only kicks in above roughly $188,000 of prior-year income, and carry-forward, which means unused room never expires and stacks year over year for people who don't max out their contributions. The refund side is where flat-percentage estimates go wrong — a $5,000 contribution isn't worth a fixed 30% to everyone, since it's deducted directly from taxable income and its value depends on which bracket that income falls in. This calculator computes the actual tax difference with and without the contribution using the same federal + provincial bracket engine behind the Canada Income Tax Calculator, so the refund estimate reflects your real marginal rate rather than a rough average.

Key benefits

Accurate 18%-of-income room calculation with the 2026 dollar cap
Refund estimate from actual bracket math, not a flat percentage
Covers all 13 provinces and territories
Accounts for carry-forward room from prior years

Features

Room = min(18% × prior-year earned income, $33,810 for 2026) + carry-forward
Refund = tax on income − tax on (income − contribution), using the full federal + provincial bracket engine
Shows your effective marginal rate on the contribution

Popular use cases

Deciding how much to contribute before the RRSP deadline
Estimating a tax refund before filing
Comparing RRSP room against a TFSA contribution

How to use RRSP Calculator

1
Enter prior-year income
Your 2025 earned income and any unused room carried forward.
2
Read your room
18% of income, capped at the 2026 dollar limit, plus carry-forward.
3
Pick your province and income
For the refund estimate.
4
Enter a planned contribution
See the estimated tax refund and your marginal rate.

Frequently asked questions

How is RRSP contribution room calculated?

18% of your earned income from the previous year, up to an annual dollar maximum ($33,810 for 2026), plus any unused room carried forward from prior years. The dollar cap only binds for people who earned at least roughly $187,833 the prior year.

How much is the RRSP tax refund?

It depends on your marginal tax rate at your income level, not a flat percentage — a contribution is deducted directly from taxable income, so it's worth the most to someone in a higher bracket. This calculator computes the actual difference in tax owed with and without the contribution, using the same verified bracket data as the Canada Income Tax Calculator.

Does this include my employer pension adjustment?

No — if you belong to a workplace pension plan (RPP), your actual RRSP room is reduced by a Pension Adjustment reported on your T4. Check your CRA Notice of Assessment for your exact figure.

What's the RRSP dollar limit for 2026?

$33,810, up from $32,490 in 2025.

Last reviewed: August 2026

Contribution room

Estimated tax refund

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