Reviewed by Paul Thorne
You have until March 2, 2026 to contribute to your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) for your contributions to be tax-deductible on your 2025 tax return. Have a question about the RRSP contribution deadline? Learn about the key details you need to know about the RRSP deadline, including common questions and important deadlines to make sure you contribute on time.
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The RRSP contribution deadline to deduct against your 2025 tax year is March 2, 2026 1.
In general, you have 60 days after the end of the year to contribute for the previous year. The deadline applies to individually-owned RRSPs, spousal RRSPs, and group RRSPs.
Due to processing times, you may want to make your contribution several business days ahead of the deadline, or set up monthly contributions.
Have questions about how much you can contribute to an RRSP?
If you miss the deadline, you could have unused RRSP contribution that can be carried forward to future years and deducted in future years until the year you turn age 71. This means that if you missed the March 2, 2026 deadline, you can still make RRSP contributions, but your contributions won’t be tax-deductible for your 2025 tax return. You will have to wait until you file your 2026 tax return.
Note: If you are turning age 71 in the year 2025, you won’t be able to make an RRSP contribution after December 31, 2025. You can, however, contribute to a spousal RRSP if your spouse or common-law partner is younger than you and up until December 31 of the year they turn age 71.
Yes - Contributions made in the first 60 days of the year can be used towards the previous year’s or the current year’s contribution amount.
Keep in mind that many tax preparation software programs automatically allocate contributions in the first 60 days to the previous tax year. You may need to override the default when preparing your return if you don’t want to claim it for the previous year.
The RRSP contribution period matters because RRSP contributions are reported based on the contribution period and not the calendar year. This can help you optimize when you claim your tax deduction, and it can help you avoid penalties related to over-contributions.
Since the RRSP contribution period extends 60 calendar days into the next year, you have more time to assess your financial situation and make strategic decisions about how much to contribute. You can wait until you have a clearer picture of your annual income before deciding on your RRSP contribution amount. This allows you to make contributions based on the maximum tax savings for your previous year’s taxable income.2
Many over-contributions occur accidentally because of confusion about contribution limits or forgetting previous contributions. Understanding the contribution period helps you keep better track of your total contributions across calendar years. This is especially important because contributions made in the first 60 days of the current year can be applied to either the current or previous year.
The contribution period also applies to your Group RRSPs. Remember, both your individual and your employer’s contributions to your group RRSP reduce your contribution room.
The contribution period also applies to spousal RRSPs (an RRSP that you contribute to in your spouse or common-law partner’s name). If you contribute to a spousal RRSP, you get to claim the deduction. This will result in tax savings for you. If your spouse or common-law partner is in a lower tax bracket, this may also lead to greater tax savings for your household when you retire.2
Typically, deposits received after the deadline date are considered contributions for the current tax year. Be sure to allow for processing delays if you’d like to make your deposit in time for the contribution deadline.
For example, this year’s RRSP contribution deadline is March 2, 2026. If you miss the deadline, your contributions won’t be tax-deductible in 2025. You will have to wait until you file your 2026 tax return.
No, the RRSP contribution deadline is not always exactly 60 days into the next year. If the 60th day of the year falls on a Sunday or public holiday, the RRSP contribution deadline will be the next business day.
The government has announced extensions of the deadline in the past when natural disasters have occurred that could have interfered with people making their RRSP contributions. This would only apply for people in the area affected by the disaster (for example, the Quebec ice storm in 1997-1998).
Yes, you can still make RRSP contributions on March 3, 2026 or later. But your contributions won’t be tax-deductible for your 2025 tax return. You will have to wait until you file your 2026 tax return to claim a deduction.
When you open an RRSP account with Sun Life, we’ll help you build your investments with a portfolio designed just for you.
Speak with an advisor to learn how to open an RRSP with Sun Life and start contributing.
How you make a deposit or contribution to a Sun Life RRSP account depends on how your account is set up. Sign in to my Sun Life or contact your Sun Life advisor for assistance.
Yes, you can. However, we recommend opening an RRSP account at least several business days earlier than the contribution deadline to account for potential delays in processing time.
To open an RRSP account with a Sun Life advisor, you’ll need to meet (either virtually or in person) with your advisor to set up the account. This includes reviewing the account opening information, and discussing investment goals and options.
If you contributed to an RRSP between March and December, you’ll likely receive your receipt by the end of February the following year. If you contributed between January and February, you’ll likely receive your receipt by end of March in the same year.
Yes, you or a Sun Life advisor on your behalf, can transfer funds or securities from a different Sun Life account to a Sun Life RRSP.
For a transfer from a non-registered Sun Life account to a Sun Life RRSP account, the transfer can be made either in-cash or in-kind. Transfer times may vary.
For a transfer from a Sun Life RRSP to another Sun Life RRSP, a direct transfer can be made either in-cash or in-kind. Transfer times may vary.
Important:
This tool will help you see how changing what you put in your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) can affect your retirement savings.
Find your annual RRSP contribution room, what happens if you over-contribute, what happens to unused contribution room, and more.
Not sure whether to put your savings in an RRSP or a TFSA? Here’s how they work and how they’re different.
Want to turn your savings into as much retirement income as you can? Try looking at your retirement income through a tax lens.
Overcontributing to an RRSP or TFSA is an easy mistake to make. You may face overcontribution taxes. Here’s how it can happen, and how to deal with it.
RRSP contributions can lead to a nice surprise at tax time because they’re deductible. But everything has its limits, including your RRSP.
This information is meant for educational and illustrative purposes only. Some conditions, exclusions and restrictions apply.
Legal notes and footers:
1 Date subject to change because of leap years or if the 60th day of the year falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday. The government has also extended the deadline when natural disasters have occurred that could have interfered with people making their RRSP contributions (like the Quebec ice storm in 1997-1998).
2 See a tax advisor for assistance.
