RRSP Tax Refund Calculator Canada 2026

Estimate an RRSP tax refund from your planned contribution and marginal rate, then check the contribution against estimated remaining room.

Account basics

What is an RRSP?

An RRSP, or Registered Retirement Savings Plan, is a Canadian registered account mainly used for retirement savings. Eligible contributions can reduce taxable income for the year you claim them, which may create a refund or lower tax owing. Investments can grow tax-deferred inside the account, and withdrawals are generally taxable income later.

Read the RRSP guide

What do you want to work out?

Room tells you how much you can still put in. Refund tells you what a contribution gives back at tax time.

Your room

What is an RRSP contribution and refund estimate?

Work out how much RRSP room you have left this year, then see what a contribution actually refunds and what it costs you after tax. The estimate starts with the usual earned-income room, applies the annual dollar limit, adds unused room, then subtracts the pension adjustment and contributions you enter. The result shows the room that appears to remain after those items are accounted for.

With the values entered, the calculator estimates RRSP room left this year of $27,300. This scenario uses what do you want to work out? set to How much room I have left, 2025 earned income of $85,000, unused RRSP room from prior years of $12,000, and 2025 pension adjustment of no additional amount. The supporting results show new room this year of $15,300 and unused room carried forward of $12,000, which makes the main drivers easier to compare. You can still put in $27,300 this year. Confirm the official figure in your CRA account before contributing. Treat estimated room left as a contribution planning ceiling, not permission to exceed your official CRA number. If the result is lower than expected, check prior contributions, pension information, and the latest notice of assessment before making a new contribution.

Formula or decision method

RRSP Contribution Room and Tax Refund Calculator decision method

The estimate starts with the usual earned-income room, applies the annual dollar limit, adds unused room, then subtracts the pension adjustment and contributions you enter. The result shows the room that appears to remain after those items are accounted for.

Data provenance

The model uses the values entered above rather than silently substituting a household profile. Personal balances, prices, rates, dates, and household facts should come from current statements, quotes, or official records, while suggested assumptions should be tested above and below the starting case.

Sensitivity test

The same default scenario with only 2025 earned income changed by ten percent in either direction.
InputCalculated result
2025 earned income: $76,500$25,770
2025 earned income: $85,000$27,300
2025 earned income: $93,500$28,830

Frequently asked questions

Is this my official RRSP room?

No. This estimates room using common CRA rules. Your official deduction limit is the CRA number in your account or notice of assessment.

What if I have a workplace pension?

Enter your pension adjustment. It can reduce new RRSP room for the year.

What if I already contributed this year?

Enter those contributions so the estimate subtracts them from your remaining room. Include contributions made in the first 60 days if you plan to claim them for the same tax year.

What if my CRA account shows a different number?

Use the CRA number as the official limit. This calculator helps you understand the formula, but CRA records, pension adjustments, and past contributions control the real room.

How RRSP room works

New RRSP room is generally 18% of previous-year earned income up to the annual dollar limit, plus unused room, then reduced by pension adjustments and contributions.

Why pension adjustments matter

Workplace pensions and deferred profit sharing plans can reduce new RRSP room because they already provide registered retirement savings value.

Where to verify the number

Always confirm your official RRSP deduction limit in your CRA account or latest notice of assessment before contributing.

Disclaimer

RRSP room and refund estimates depend on earned income, unused room, pension adjustments, tax bracket, province, and contributions already made. Use your CRA account or notice of assessment as the official source before contributing.

See also

Practical pathways

Continue this Canadian planning journey

Page details

Author: Thomas Tremblay

Updated: August 6, 2026

Cite: Canooq.ca, RRSP Contribution Room and Tax Refund Calculator

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