RRSP Contribution Limit 2027
The 2027 RRSP dollar limit is $35,390 — the lesser of that cap or 18% of your 2026 earned income. CRA already publishes this figure a full year ahead of the rest of the 2027 tax parameters, so it's confirmed, not projected. This page also disambiguates the two things people mean by "RRSP deadline 2027".
Calculate your exact room
This page covers the CRA dollar limit and deadlines. To work out your personal deduction limit including PA, carry-forward, and an over-contribution check, use the calculator.
The RRSP deadline — two different dates
"RRSP deadline 2027" gets searched for two different reasons. Here's both, disambiguated:
Deadline FOR the 2026 tax year
March 1, 2027
Last day to contribute for the 2026 tax year. 60 days after Dec 31, 2026.
Deadline FOR the 2027 tax year
February 29, 2028
Last day to contribute for the 2027 tax year itself — 60 days after Dec 31, 2027, which lands in the 2028 leap year.
The 2026-tax-year date is already on CRA's published calendar. The 2027-tax-year date isn't published yet — it's the same 60-day rule applied ahead of schedule, and CRA will confirm it as the season approaches. Source: CRA: Important dates for RRSPs, HBP, LLP, FHSAs and more.
RRSP dollar limits by year
Each year's dollar cap is set the year BEFORE it applies — it equals that prior year's money-purchase (MP) pension limit. That's why the 2027 limit is already confirmed, 4.7% higher than 2026.
| Year | Dollar limit |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $35,390 |
| 2026 | $33,810 |
| 2025 | $32,490 |
| 2024 | $31,560 |
| 2023 | $30,780 |
| 2022 | $29,210 |
| 2021 | $27,830 |
| 2020 | $27,230 |
| 2019 | $26,500 |
| 2018 | $26,230 |
| 2017 | $26,010 |
| 2016 | $25,370 |
18% of earned income, and carry-forward
Every year, the CRA gives you new RRSP room equal to the lesser of 18% of your previous year's earned income, or the annual dollar limit ($35,390 for 2027). For 2027, that previous year is 2026 — the 18% rate hits the dollar cap once 2026 earned income reaches roughly $196,611; above that, everyone gets the same $35,390 of new room (before PA or carry-forward).
Carry-forward: unused room from every year since 1991 accumulates indefinitely and adds to your total deduction limit — you never lose it by not contributing.
Over-contribution: the CRA allows a $2,000 lifetime cushion above your limit without penalty. Beyond that, a 1%-per-month tax applies until withdrawn. Use the RRSP over-contribution penalty calculator to check before it compounds.
2026 vs 2027 at a glance
The dollar cap rises from $33,810 in 2026 to $35,390 in 2027 — up $1,580 (4.7%). The mechanics don't change: both years cap room at 18% of the prior year's earned income, and both carry forward unused room indefinitely. See the confirmed 2026 RRSP contribution limit for that year's full deadline pair and history table.
Where to find your personal limit
This page shows the CRA-wide dollar cap. Your actual deduction limit — after Pension Adjustments and carry-forward — is on your latest Notice of Assessment or in CRA My Account. Use the room calculator above to model it before you check.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RRSP contribution limit for 2027?
The 2027 RRSP dollar limit is $35,390 — the lesser of that cap or 18% of your 2026 earned income, minus any Pension Adjustment, plus unused carry-forward from prior years. CRA already publishes this figure a year ahead because it equals the prior year's money purchase pension limit.
What is my RRSP contribution limit?
Your personal room equals 18% of your previous year's earned income, up to the annual dollar cap ($35,390 for 2027), minus any Pension Adjustment from an employer plan, plus every dollar of unused room carried forward since 1991. The CRA calculates your exact, PA-adjusted figure for you — check your latest Notice of Assessment or CRA My Account rather than doing the math from scratch.
RRSP deduction limit vs contribution room — what's the difference?
They describe the same underlying number from two angles, but people usually mean the CRA-calculated one. "Contribution room" is the informal term for how much you're allowed to put in. "Deduction limit" is the CRA's precise, Notice-of-Assessment figure — new room (18% of earned income, capped) plus carry-forward, minus your Pension Adjustment and past-service Pension Adjustment, plus any Pension Adjustment Reversal. You can technically contribute up to your deduction limit even if you don't claim the deduction that year; either way, your deduction limit is the authoritative ceiling.
What is the RRSP deadline for 2027?
"RRSP deadline 2027" usually means one of two dates. Contributions counted toward the 2026 tax year are due March 1, 2027 (60 days after December 31, 2026). Contributions counted toward the 2027 tax year itself aren't due until February 29, 2028 — 60 days after December 31, 2027, landing in a leap year. Both are covered below.
What happens if I over-contribute to my RRSP?
The CRA allows a $2,000 lifetime cushion above your deduction limit without penalty (though that cushion isn't itself deductible). Beyond it, a 1%-per-month tax applies to the excess until it's withdrawn. Use the RRSP over-contribution penalty calculator to estimate the cost before it compounds.
How does the 2027 RRSP limit compare to 2026?
The 2027 dollar limit ($35,390) is $1,580 higher than the 2026 limit ($33,810) — a 4.7% increase. Both years use the same 18%-of-prior-year-earned-income rule; only the earned-income year and the dollar cap shift forward by one year.