Limits, Fees and 2026 Account Rules
How RRSPs, TFSAs, FHSAs and RRIFs work in 2026: contribution room, fees and MER, foreign withholding tax and deposit and investor protection.
RRSP vs TFSA Canada
RRSP vs TFSA in Canada: running your registered accounts in 2026
Practical guides and calculators for the day-to-day side of registered accounts: which one to fund, how much room you have, what a withdrawal really pays out, and what changes when you turn 71.
- 2026 limits: RRSP 18% of earned income up to $33,810, TFSA $7,000, FHSA $8,000
- Withholding tax, RRIF minimums, HBP and spousal RRSP rules worked out with numbers
- Fees, foreign withholding, CIPF and CDIC coverage, and Quebec differences explained
Explore by topic
Worked Scenarios and Checklists
Step-by-step examples for opening accounts, spousal RRSPs, withdrawals and withholding, the Home Buyers' Plan, the Lifelong Learning Plan and RRIF conversion.
Pitfalls, Protection and Official Sources
The mistakes that cost registered-account holders money, OAS clawback traps, transfers, death and departure from Canada, complaints and where to check the rules.
Start here
Pitfalls, Protection and Official Sources
RRSP and TFSA mistakes that cost Canadians money, and the official sources to check
The twelve most common registered-account handling mistakes in Canada, what each one costs, how to fix it, and the official bodies to check: CRA, Revenu Québec, FCAC, CIRO, CIPF and CDIC.
Worked Scenarios and Checklists
RRSP and TFSA worked scenarios for 2026: from opening an account to your first RRIF payment
A hub of worked RRSP, TFSA, FHSA and RRIF scenarios for 2026, with the numbers shown, plus the checklists and calculators to repeat each one with your own figures.
Worked Scenarios and Checklists
RRSP to RRIF at 71: your options, the 2026 minimum withdrawal factors and a worked first year
What you must do with an RRSP by December 31 of the year you turn 71, RRIF vs annuity vs cash, the prescribed minimum factors, the younger-spouse election and the first RRIF year.
Limits, Fees and 2026 Account Rules
RRSP vs TFSA in Canada for 2026: how to choose, fund and run each account
A practical 2026 overview of the RRSP, TFSA, FHSA and RRIF: limits, who each account suits, how withdrawals work, fees, protection and the Quebec differences.
Worked Scenarios and Checklists
RRSP withdrawal withholding tax in 2026: 10%, 20%, 30% (and Quebec's rates) with worked examples
How much tax is withheld when you cash out RRSP money in 2026, the Quebec rates, why splitting withdrawals does not save tax, the balance owing at filing and when no tax is withheld.
Limits, Fees and 2026 Account Rules
US dividends in a TFSA vs RRSP: foreign withholding tax and where to hold US stocks
Why US dividends lose 15% to withholding in a TFSA or FHSA but generally not in an RRSP or RRIF, how Canadian-listed ETFs add a layer, and an illustrative cost comparison.
Tools
RRSP withdrawal withholding tax calculator
See how much tax your institution withholds on a lump-sum RRSP or RRIF withdrawal and how much cash reaches your bank account.
RRIF minimum withdrawal calculator
Apply the CRA prescribed factor for your age to your RRIF's January 1 value to find the minimum you must withdraw this year.
MER and account fee cost calculator
Turn a fund's management expense ratio and a flat account fee into the dollars they take from your RRSP, TFSA or FHSA each year.
Registered account growth projector
Project how a TFSA, RRSP or FHSA could grow with regular deposits, using a return after fees, and compare scenarios side by side.
Registered account opening and annual review checklist
What to gather before opening an RRSP, TFSA or FHSA, and what to check every year so contributions, beneficiaries and fees stay on track.
RRSP, TFSA, FHSA and RRIF compared for 2026
| Feature | RRSP | TFSA | FHSA | RRIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New room for 2026 | 18% of 2025 earned income, up to $33,810, minus pension adjustment | $7,000 | $8,000 a year (lifetime $40,000) | None; no contributions |
| Unused room | Carries forward indefinitely | Carries forward; cumulative $109,000 since 2009 | Up to $8,000 carries forward to the next year | Not applicable |
| Contribution deductible | Yes | No | Yes | Not applicable |
| Tax on withdrawal | Fully taxable, with withholding at source | None | None if qualifying home purchase; otherwise taxable | Fully taxable; no withholding on the minimum |
Frequently asked questions
Is an RRSP or a TFSA better in 2026?
Neither is better for everyone. An RRSP usually suits people whose tax rate now is higher than it will be when they withdraw; a TFSA suits lower earners, people who need flexibility and retirees worried about OAS clawback. Many people use both. See the 2026 overview.
What are the 2026 contribution limits?
RRSP: 18% of your 2025 earned income up to $33,810, minus any pension adjustment, plus unused room. TFSA: $7,000 of new room, or $109,000 in total for someone eligible and resident since 2009 who has never contributed. FHSA: $8,000 a year, $40,000 lifetime.
How much tax is withheld when I take money out of an RRSP?
Outside Quebec, 10% on up to $5,000, 20% on $5,000.01 to $15,000 and 30% above, per withdrawal. In Quebec the total is about 19%, 24% or 29%. The withdrawal is still added to your income, so you may owe more at filing. Try the withholding calculator.
What happens to my RRSP when I turn 71?
By December 31 of the year you turn 71 you must convert it to a RRIF, buy an annuity, withdraw it in cash (fully taxable), or combine these. A RRIF requires a minimum withdrawal every year after the first. See the RRIF guide.
Can I put back money I took out of my TFSA?
Yes, but the room comes back only on January 1 of the following year. Re-depositing in the same year without unused room is an over-contribution taxed at 1% a month.
Are my RRSP and TFSA protected if my bank or broker fails?
Eligible deposits (savings, GICs) at a CDIC member are insured up to $100,000 per category, and RRSPs, TFSAs, FHSAs and RRIFs are separate categories. Investments held at a CIRO member firm are protected by CIPF if the firm becomes insolvent, within limits. Neither covers market losses.
Is this site financial advice?
No. It is general information about how Canadian registered accounts work, with illustrative examples. For a decision involving a large sum, an estate or a move abroad, consult a qualified planner or tax professional.
How this site is made
Room & Rollover is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.