Tax and Estate Planning Strategies

Six tips for getting the most from your RRSP and TFSA contributions:

Optimize your contribution amount - To receive the greatest tax savings, examine your tax bracket to determine the optimum amount to contribute. Every dollar contributed to your RRSP is deductible from your taxable income and the taxes are refunded. For example: in Ontario, if you earned $100,000 of income, every dollar earned after $91,831 is taxed at the marginal rate of 43.41%. If you contribute $5,000 to your RRSP, you would receive a refund of $2,170.50 or 43.41% of the amount contributed. Your taxable income decreases as your contributions increase, this can lower your bracket and the amount of tax refunded on the next dollar contributed. Contact your Richardson GMP Advisor to receive our quick reference Financial Planning Rates and Amounts specific to your province of residence.
Contribute to a Spousal RRSP - If you are married, or in a common-law relationship, consider making an RRSP contribution for your lower income spouse. While current rules allow individuals age 65 or older to split up to 50% of RRIF income with their spouse; better income splitting at retirement can be achieved through a spousal RRSP contribution as 100% of the income is shifted to the lower income spouse.
Top up your TFSA from unused contribution room - A TFSA almost always makes sense if you have excess income or savings. One simple strategy is to convert an existing part of your non-registered portfolio to a TFSA. While TFSA contributions can be made in-kind, investments with a capital gain will be triggered resulting in a tax liability, and those investments transferred with a loss, will result in the capital loss being denied. For those considering this strategy, it’s important to work with your trusted advisor so as not to unintentionally trigger capital gains or forego eligible capital losses.
Gift funds to your spouse for their TFSA contribution - If you have a spouse with unused TFSA room, consider gifting funds for the purpose of maximizing their TFSA contribution. Doing so will not give rise to income attribution provided the funds remain invested inside the TFSA.
Borrow from your RRSP for your first home or a school program - If you have already been diligently saving to your RRSP, and need access to these funds prior to retirement, there are programs available such as: The Home Buyer’s Plan (HBP), if you’re buying a home, and the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP), if you’re going back to school. Each program allows you to borrow funds from your RRSP tax-free, subject to later repayment. HBP and LLP repayments are 1/15 and 1/10 of the amount borrowed for the respective plan.
Make the RRSP contribution today but defer the tax deduction - It is possible to contribute to your RRSP without claiming the tax deduction immediately. This strategy is beneficial if you are in a low tax bracket now but you want to take advantage of the tax deferred growth within the RRSP. You can claim the deduction later when you may be in a higher tax bracket.

RRSP	TFSA
Contributions are tax deductible.	Contributions are not tax-deductible.
Contributions may lead to a tax refund.	No tax refund on contributions.
Investments grow tax deferred.	Investments grow tax free.
Withdrawals are taxable.	Withdrawals are tax free.
Withdrawals do not create new contribution room, room is lost.	Withdrawals create new contribution room in the following year.
Required conversion to a RRIF at age 71, minimum RRIF withdrawals at age 72.	No maturity date, no required withdrawals.
Contributions are no longer permitted for individuals older than age 71	No maximum age, contributions permitted over lifetime of the individual.