RRSP room
It accumulates based on your previous year’s earned income, up to an indexed annual maximum, and is reduced by the pension adjustment if you participate in an employer pension plan. Unused room carries forward indefinitely.
TFSA room
A fixed amount is added each calendar year from the age of eligibility, indexed and rounded under the tax rules. Accumulation does not depend on income: it runs even in years without income, for any eligible resident.
Where to find the exact figure
Your federal notice of assessment states your RRSP room. The tax agency’s portal displays TFSA room, with one caveat: the balance may not reflect recent transactions in the current year.
The TFSA withdrawal trap
A withdrawal only frees up room as of the following January 1. Withdrawing and recontributing in the same calendar year creates an excess, subject to a monthly tax on the excess amount. It is the most frequent error.
RRSP over-contribution
Contributing beyond your room, past a small tolerance margin, draws a monthly tax on the excess. Fixing it requires a withdrawal and sometimes a request to waive the penalty.
The prudent rule
Check your room before every contribution, track your TFSA withdrawals by calendar year, and account for all your institutions: room is personal, not per account.
No rate, price, or recommendation on this page. Amounts and limits change: verify them with official sources before deciding.