The 2020 RRSP deadline is fast approaching! This is the time of year when Canadians tend to rush and contribute a little extra in order to unlock a bigger tax return.
Here are the key things you should know about the RRSP deadline:
What is the deadline to contribute to an RRSP?
March 2, 2020 is the deadline to contribute to your RRSP for the 2019 tax year. Typically, you have until the 60th day of the year to continute to your RRSP, but because that falls on a weekend this year, the deadline is actually the next business day (Monday, March 2). This is the last day that you can contribute to your RRSP if you want to take advantage of deductions and increase your tax return this spring.
Why is it important to meet the deadline?
The deadline is important simply because you’ll reap immediate benefits when it comes to your tax return. And tax savings are the biggest appeal of an RRSP to begin with! You can learn more about how RRSPs work here.
What happens if you miss the RRSP contribution deadline?
If you can’t contribute before the deadline, don’t sweat it. Any remaining contribution room rolls over and is added to your limit for the following year. You only need to meet the deadline if you want to apply those contributions towards your taxes this year.
How much can I contribute to my RRSP?
You can contrinute 18% of your 2019 earned income, or $26,500, which ever is less, plus any unused contribution room from previous years. However, there are some additional details to understand. Here’s another post that will help you figure out how much to contribute.
How RRSP tax deadlines work.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) lets you make RRSP contributions for the previous tax year in the first 60 days of the following year. They do this to give you time to find out how much employment income you earned in the last tax year and contribute accordingly.
Come tax time, you may receive multiple RRSP contribution receipts, depending on when you make your contributions. The first will reflect all contributions you made between March 1 and December 31, 2019 and any additional receipts will reflect contributions you make in 2020 before the March 2 deadline.
Keep in mind, you don’t actually need to wait for your official RRSP receipts to file taxes. If you know the amount you contributed, you can report it on your return. The official receipts will ultimately come in handy for reference if you are audited.
Want to avoid deadline stress next year? Set up automatic contributions.
Did you procrastinate on your RRSP contributions this year? You’re not alone. A full 60% of Canadians tend to wait until the last two weeks before the deadline to contribute.
But the last-minute scramble is stressful – and costly in the long run. When you wait until the bitter end of the year to save, you miss out on the potential for compounding growth in your investment accounts.
Make yourself a resolution that you can actually keep this year by setting up automatic contributions online. Doing so will not only make your life easier, it will probably leave you richer at the end of the year.
What should I do with my RRSP tax refund?
If you’ve been paying income tax and contributing to an RRSP throughout the year, you’ll probably receive a nice tax return. It may feel like the government is giving you free money, but in reality it’s the other way around. The government is paying you back for the loan you gave them throughout the year.
If you’re on track to reach your investment goals and want to use the money to go on a vacation or put a down payment on a new car, do it! But remember that money can grow to be worth much more in the future if you choose to invest it back into your RRSP.
Ready to contribute before the deadline?
Sign up to start investing in a WealthBar RRSP today. If you’re already a client, just login to your WealthBar dashboard to set up a deposit (and while you’re there, why not set up an automatic monthly contribution?)
Still have questions about RRSPs? Contact us today to get more information!
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