More Opportunity to Save

Federal and provincial governments encourage taxpayers to save for their retirement by granting tax relief for savings contributed to and held in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (”RRSP”). Contributions are tax-deductible and the income earned is tax deferred. And yet, as attractive as the tax incentives may be, relatively few taxpayers avail themselves fully of the opportunity.

In 2010, just under six million tax filers contributed about $34 billion to their RRSPs for an average contribution of $5,686. While the average seems fairly high, the median was only $2,790. The median is the point where half of the six million tax filers are below the amount, and half are above. These six million tax filers represented 26% of the number of tax filers who were eligible to make RRSP contributions and
had available contribution room. About 93% of all tax filers are eligible to make RRSP contributions.

While $34 billion sounds like a significant amount, it represents only 5.1% of the total RRSP room available in the system across all tax filers. It is the limited use of this type of retirement savings vehicle that creates concern that Canadians are not saving sufficient amounts to truly fund their own retirements.

To be eligible to contribute to an RRSP, a taxpayer must have either new RRSP room as a result of qualifying income from the previous year, or unused room from earlier years. The limit is 18% of the previous year’s earned income, to a fixed maximum, less any pension adjustments, plus any unused room carried forward.

The fixed maximum RRSP contribution limits are $22,450 for the 2011 tax year, and will be $22,970 for the 2012 tax year. Individuals can locate their unused RRSP contribution room, which is prepared and tracked by the Canada Revenue Agency, on their most recent Notice of Assessment.

Individuals can make contributions, up to their available RRSP room, into their own RRSP or into a spousal RRSP. When making a contribution into a spousal RRSP, it is the contributor who is eligible for the deduction for the contribution while the spouse or common-law partner is the actual owner/annuitant of the RRSP. It should be noted that the rollover of retirement allowances or registered pension plan amounts can only go into the individual’s RRSP and not a spousal plan.

The RRSP rules can be difficult to understand, even though they have been available to Canadian taxpayers for several decades. Taxpayers need to educate themselves about RRSPs and other tax-incented savings plans (such as Tax-Free Savings Accounts and the newly announced Pooled Retirement Pension Plans) if they hope to be able to maintain comfortable lifestyles when their income-earning years come to an end and they have to rely on accumulated savings.

E.O. & E.

Disclaimer:

This commentary is published by the Institute in consultation with an editorial board comprised of recognized authorities in the fields of law, life insurance and estate administration.

The Institute is the professional organization that administers and promotes the CLU and the CHS designations in Canada.

The articles and comments are not intended to provide legal, accounting or other device in individual circumstances. Seek professional assistance before acting upon information included in this publication.

Advocis*, the Institute for advanced financial education.

(The Institue”), CLU, CHS, FHF.C and APA are trademarks of the financial advisors Association of Canada (TFAAC).

The institute is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Advocis. Copywrite TFAAC. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any images or content without permission is prohibited.

Copywrite  ISSN 0382-7038

Contributors to this edition:

James W. Kraft, cpa, ca, mtax, tep, cfp, clu, ch.f.c.
Deborah Kraft, mtax, tep, cfp, clu, ch.f.c.

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About The Author

Mark Schneider
Mark Schneider is one of Canada's leading Chartered Financial Planners. For over 30 years he has helped hundreds of regular Canadian families grow small fortunes through consistent planning and wise advice. He holds the following designations: CFP, CLU, CHFC, CFSB

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At M.A. Schneider Insurance, we believe the saver deserves to be celebrated.

After all, it’s the saver that is conscientious every day to gradually create wealth for all.

That habit not only creates security for them but for their families and for the community as a whole.

We think they sometimes lose sight of how important they are.

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1. Insight we gather about what’s going on that may affect the long-term quality of your life…

While there is a lot on the Internet, we know that making the best decisions for your life is often based on knowing just what your options are.

2. We hope that understanding what’s going on will help with perspective on what you can do.

3. New innovation and resources you can seek out.

This blog will offer an insight into the future because whether we like it or not, we’re going there. We’ll do the research to find the innovations that you should know about.