The RRSP dollar limit for 2026 is $33,810. Your personal limit for 2026 is the lower of that amount or 18% of your 2025 earned income, minus any pension adjustment from a workplace plan, plus any unused room carried forward from earlier years.
At a glance
- 2026 dollar limit: $33,810
- Income needed to max out: about $187,833 of 2025 earned income
- 2027 dollar limit: $35,390
- Carry-forward: unused room carries forward indefinitely
- Over-contribution cushion: $2,000 lifetime
Recent RRSP dollar limits
| Tax year | Dollar limit | Earned income to max out |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,560 | $175,333 |
| 2025 | $32,490 | $180,500 |
| 2026 | $33,810 | $187,833 |
| 2027 | $35,390 | $196,611 |
What counts as earned income
Mainly employment income, net self-employment income and net rental income, along with some other items such as taxable support payments received. Investment income such as interest, dividends and capital gains, and pension income, don't count.
Workplace pensions reduce your room
If you're in a registered pension plan or deferred profit sharing plan, your employer reports a pension adjustment (PA) on your T4, which reduces your RRSP room for the following year.
Where to find your exact limit
Your "RRSP deduction limit" for the year is printed on your latest notice of assessment and shown in CRA My Account. It already includes your carry-forward. Contributions you've made since your last return won't be reflected yet.
Over-contributing
You can over-contribute up to $2,000 over your lifetime without penalty. Anything beyond that is taxed at 1% per month until you withdraw it or new room absorbs it.
Contributing isn't the same as deducting. You can contribute now and claim the deduction in a later, higher-income year. Unclaimed contributions carry forward.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RRSP limit for 2026?
$33,810, or 18% of your 2025 earned income if that's less, plus unused room from previous years and minus any pension adjustment.
What is the RRSP limit for 2027?
$35,390, the 2026 money purchase pension limit, which becomes the next year's RRSP dollar limit.
Does unused RRSP room expire?
No. It carries forward indefinitely.
Sources
- Canada Revenue Agency, MP, DB, RRSP, DPSP, ALDA, TFSA limits
- Canada Revenue Agency, RRSPs and related plans