What is a TFSA?
A TFSA (or tax-free savings account) is a registered investment savings account that any Canadian resident, aged 18 or older, can use for straightforward savings or to hold investments. It can store things like exchange-traded funds (ETFs), guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), bonds, stocks and cash.
Any income earned in the account—even when it is withdrawn—is tax-free. This means any interest, stock dividends and capital gains earned in your TFSA aren’t subject to income tax. However, your TFSA contributions won’t reduce your taxable income like RRSP contributions will.
There’s an annual limit to the amount of money you can contribute to your TFSA. However, you can carry forward the unused contribution room to a current lifetime maximum amount. Each year, you get new TFSA room, which means that you can put that amount away, plus any rollover from previous years. To find out how much room you have left, use a TFSA contribution room calculator.
So how is a TFSA tax-free? The money you put into this account has already been taxed—you contribute to a TFSA from your net income—so there’s no tax break at the time of contribution. But, any gains you earn in a TFSA—whether it’s from a savings account, a high-growth index fund or another investment product—aren’t subject to capital gains tax, so you won’t owe any tax on your earnings when you make a withdrawal. Plus, any gains you earn on those investments will not affect your contribution room for the current year or years to come, either. Essentially, you don’t pay tax on the money you make in your TFSA.
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What is an RRSP?
A registered retirement savings plan, or RRSP, works similar to a TFSA in that it can hold savings and investments. A significant perk of this account is that it allows you to contribute a large amount of money each year, and it reduces your taxable income based on how much you contribute. In this way, an RRSP allows you to defer your taxes while saving for retirement. For 2024, the RRSP contribution limit is $31,560; for 2023, it was $30,780; and for 2022, it was $29,210.
An important thing to note is that you will pay tax on this money once you withdraw it. When you turn 71, you can no longer contribute to your RRSP and must convert it into a he idea is that, because you will be retired, you will be in a lower tax bracket than during your high-earning years, which means you will have paid less tax overall because you invested in an RRSP.
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TFSA vs RRSP: Which is better for you?
The best investment for you is going to depend on your individual financial situation and goals. Remember: With a TFSA, you pay tax on money you’ve earned before you make a contribution, and with an RRSP you get a tax refund now on money you contribute, but will have to pay tax later, when you withdraw money from the plan. This difference, along with your income, your investment timeline, and other factors will all contribute to making the right decision for your investment dollars. You may find that you can use both vehicles simultaneously. So, is it better to max out your TFSA or your RRSP? Read on to learn more.
1. Income and tax bracket
Your income determines your tax bracket—the amount of income tax you have to pay—and these factors will strongly influence which investments work best for you.
Very good article but I still have a question.
I took 25k from my RRSP to buy my home last year and I need to put it back. My question is, can I put it back at once or does it have to be divided in 15 years?
Due to the large volume of comments we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond directly to each one. We invite you to email your question to [email protected], where it will be considered for a future response by one of our expert columnists. For personal advice, we suggest consulting with your financial institution or a qualified advisor.