RRSP (Unused RRSP contributions)

Reviewing taxpayer’s Notice of Assessment

Specifically: RRSP deduction limit and available contribution statement

The calculation Your 2024 RRSP deduction limit has me wondering something.

Calculation:

Unused RRSP deduction room at the end of 2023 $1
Plus: Additional RRSP deduction limit earned in 2023 $4,900
Minus: 2024 net past service pension adjustment (PSPA) $0
Plus: 2024 pension adjustment reversal (PAR) $0
Equals: RRSP deduction limit for 2024 $4,901

Minus: Unused RRSP contributions previously reported and available to deduct for 2024 $5,000

Your available RRSP contribution room for 2024 ($99)


Can the Unused RRSP contributions of $5,000 be carried forward on 2024 T1 ? Allowing taxpayer the option to make a 2024 contribution before YE/ within first 60 days of 2025 for a 2024 contribution deduction?

To explain he may have the cash flow to make RRSP contributions now and having unused RRSP contributions available to deduct in future years where his earnings increase could be useful.

I believe the answer is yes but the CRA did’nt make it sound that way on the phone yesterday.

Yes. You just have to use the Y/N claim the optimized amount (on the very bottom of the RRSP worksheet I think) and change it to zero to claim for the current year. The program is not always smart enough to optimize the RRSP deductions and tries to claim the deduction even when it doesn’t result in any additional tax refund. Just be careful he is not over contributed at any point or there will be penalties.

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Seems like they all ready have the maximum contributed all ready.

1rst 60 days 2025 could be contributed for a deduction in 2025 though if 2024 earned income is sufficient.

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This means he has been carrying it forward for several years already. So, of course, he can continue to carry it forward indefinitely, if he wants. However, TaxCycle will automatically APPLY the unused deduction if that info is available (i.e.from AFR), unless you do as @laurie instructs above.

Just be aware that if he has no (or low) income for 2024, there isn’t much benefit to claiming it. And, per the NOA, he has only $4,901 in deduction room available. If he claims the full $5,000 he will be $99 over-limit - which is ok, but not great. There are penalties if you claim $2,000 or more over your deduction limit. Even if there are no penalties, you are still “required” to fill out and file a T1-OVP return.

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