Quick answer: The 2026 RRSP dollar limit is $33,810 (up from $32,490 in 2025). Your 2026 contribution room is 18% of your 2025 earned income minus pension adjustments, capped at $33,810. Contributions for the 2026 tax year must be made by March 1, 2027 (the 60th day of 2027). Withdrawals before retirement trigger federal withholding tax of 10% / 20% / 30% by withdrawal size.
What this means: You need $187,833 of 2025 earned income to generate the full $33,810 of 2026 RRSP room. The $2,000 lifetime over-contribution cushion is unchanged. HBP and FHSA limits did not move in 2026 ($60,000 HBP per person; $8,000 annual / $40,000 lifetime FHSA).
What to do next: Compare RRSP vs TFSA for new 2026 contributions at your tax bracket. RRSP vs TFSA calculator →
2026 RRSP contribution limit
Your 2026 RRSP contribution room is the lower of two amounts:
- 18% of your 2025 earned income, minus any pension adjustment (PA) from your 2025 T4, plus any past-year unused RRSP room.
- The 2026 RRSP dollar limit of $33,810, as published in the CRA MP, DB, RRSP, DPSP, ALDA, TFSA limits, YMPE and the YAMPE table.
You need exactly $187,833 of 2025 earned income ($33,810 / 0.18) to generate the full 2026 dollar limit at the 18% rate. Below that, the 18% formula caps you; above it, the dollar limit caps you.
| Year | RRSP dollar limit | Earned income required for full room |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,560 | $175,333 |
| 2025 | $32,490 | $180,500 |
| 2026 | $33,810 | $187,833 |
Your exact 2026 RRSP deduction limit appears on your 2025 Notice of Assessment in the box labelled RRSP/PRPP deduction limit (2026). CRA computes it after your 2025 T1 is processed.
2026 RRSP contribution deadline
Contributions made within the first 60 days of 2027 can be deducted on either your 2026 or 2027 T1, but no later. The deadline is the 60th day after the 2026 calendar year end:
- Dec 31, 2026 + 60 days = March 1, 2027.
- March 1, 2027 is a Monday, so no weekend-extension adjustment applies. The deadline stands as March 1, 2027.
The 2025 deadline was March 2, 2026 (the day after the 60th-day Sunday). The 2026 deadline is one day earlier on the calendar because March 1, 2027 falls on a business day.
RRSP withdrawals and 2026 withholding tax
RRSP withdrawals before retirement are fully taxable as income on the T1 of the withdrawal year. The financial institution withholds federal tax at source:
| Single withdrawal | Outside Quebec (federal) | Quebec resident (federal portion) | Quebec resident (Quebec provincial) | Quebec total at source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $5,000 | 10% | 5% | 14% | 19% |
| $5,000.01 to $15,000 | 20% | 10% | 14% | 24% |
| Over $15,000 | 30% | 15% | 14% | 29% |
Withholding is a prepayment, not the final tax. Your full withdrawal is added to taxable income at filing time and taxed at your marginal rate; the withheld amount is credited against the tax owed. See RRSP withholding tax rates and how they apply for examples and the multi-withdrawal mechanics.
Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) in 2026
The HBP withdrawal limit is $60,000 per person for HBP withdrawals made after April 16, 2024. The limit did not change for 2026 — it remains $60,000. Couples buying their first home together can each withdraw up to $60,000 from their respective RRSPs for a combined $120,000.
- Eligibility: first-time home buyer, written agreement to buy or build a qualifying home, must occupy as principal residence within one year.
- Repayment: over 15 years, starting in the second year after withdrawal. HBP withdrawals between Jan 1, 2022 and Dec 31, 2025 received a temporary three-year grace period, deferring repayment by an extra two years.
- Form: Form T1036 filed with the financial institution before withdrawal.
HBP withdrawals are not subject to withholding tax and are not included in taxable income, provided the form is filed and the rules are met. See RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan: withdrawal limit and repayment for the repayment schedule and the FHSA-vs-HBP decision.
Over-contribution and the $2,000 cushion
You can over-contribute by up to $2,000 lifetime without penalty. Beyond that, CRA charges a 1% per month tax on the excess for every month it remains. The $2,000 cushion is statutory and unchanged for 2026. Over-contributions are reported and the penalty paid on Form T1-OVP, Individual Tax Return for RRSP Excess Contributions.
Age 71 conversion deadline
You must convert your RRSP to a RRIF (or to a payout annuity) by December 31 of the year you turn 71. After conversion, the federal RRIF minimum withdrawal rules apply (see RRIF minimum withdrawal rates 2026). RRSP contributions cannot be made for the year after age 71 to your own plan, but you can still contribute to a spousal RRSP if your spouse is under 71 and you have unused room.
RRSP and FHSA together in 2026
The FHSA is a separate registered account that complements the RRSP. The 2026 FHSA limits are unchanged:
- Annual FHSA participation room: $8,000.
- Lifetime FHSA limit: $40,000.
Both RRSP and FHSA contributions are tax-deductible. Withdrawals for a qualifying first home are tax-free from the FHSA. FHSA balances can be transferred to your RRSP or RRIF (without using RRSP room) when the FHSA closes. See FHSA contribution limits 2026 for the full mechanics.
Spousal RRSP and the three-year attribution rule
You can contribute to a spousal RRSP (where you are the contributor and your spouse is the annuitant) using your own RRSP room. The deduction reduces your taxable income; the withdrawal is taxable on your spouse’s T1 — which can lower combined household tax if your spouse has a lower marginal rate.
The three-year attribution rule: if your spouse withdraws from the spousal RRSP within three calendar years of any contribution by you, the withdrawal is attributed back to you (the contributor) and taxed at your rate, up to the amount of contributions made in the year and the two preceding years. See spousal RRSP attribution rules for the full mechanic.
Common mistakes
- Assuming your 2025 Notice of Assessment shows 2026 room. The 2026 RRSP deduction limit appears on the 2025 Notice of Assessment, but only after your 2025 T1 is processed. CRA finalizes the number after your 2025 filing.
- Treating the dollar limit as the room. $33,810 is the cap; your actual room may be lower if your earned income is below $187,833 or if you have a large pension adjustment.
- Missing the 60-day rule. March 1, 2027 contributions for the 2026 tax year qualify; March 2 contributions do not deduct on 2026.
- Treating withholding as the final tax. Withholding is a prepayment. Your full withdrawal is taxable at your marginal rate at filing.
- Forgetting the HBP repayment. Missed repayments are added to taxable income in the year missed.
- Contributing past age 71. You cannot contribute to your own RRSP for years after the year you turn 71; the plan must already be converted to a RRIF by Dec 31 of that year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 RRSP contribution limit?
$33,810 dollar limit, applied as the lesser of the dollar limit or 18% of your 2025 earned income minus pension adjustments.
When is the 2026 RRSP contribution deadline?
March 1, 2027 (the 60th day after the 2026 year-end).
How much earned income do I need for full 2026 RRSP room?
$187,833 of 2025 earned income generates the full $33,810 of 2026 room at the 18% rate.
What is the HBP limit in 2026?
$60,000 per person for withdrawals after April 16, 2024. Unchanged from 2025.
How is RRSP withholding tax calculated in 2026?
By the size of each single withdrawal: 10% on amounts up to $5,000, 20% on $5,000.01 to $15,000, and 30% on amounts over $15,000 (Quebec residents see different rates).