How to Check Your RRSP Contribution Room (3 Ways)

There are three ways to find out your RRSP contribution room: check CRA My Account online, look at your Notice of Assessment, or call CRA directly. Here’s how each method works and what to do if the number doesn’t match what you expected.

Method 1: CRA My Account (Fastest)

Log into CRA My Account and look under the “RRSP and TFSA” section. Your current RRSP deduction limit will be displayed there, along with any unused contributions you’ve already made but haven’t deducted yet.

If you don’t have a CRA My Account, you’ll need to register. You can sign in using a CRA user ID and password (CRA will mail a security code to your address on file), or you can use a sign-in partner like your bank. Most major banks support this — TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, and others let you use your online banking credentials to verify your identity with CRA.

One thing to know: CRA’s online figures can be delayed, especially early in the year. Your financial institution may not have reported your recent contributions yet. If you made contributions in January or February 2026 for the 2025 tax year, those might not show up in My Account until later in the spring.

Method 2: Notice of Assessment

Your Notice of Assessment (NOA) is the letter CRA sends after processing your tax return each year. It shows your assessed income, any balance owing or refund, and — right there on the page — your RRSP deduction limit for the following year.

The NOA is the most authoritative source for your RRSP room. If there’s a discrepancy between what CRA My Account shows and what your NOA says, go with the NOA.

You can find past NOAs in CRA My Account under “Tax returns” > “Notice of assessment.” They go back several years.

Method 3: Call CRA

If you can’t access My Account and don’t have your NOA handy, call the CRA individual tax inquiries line at 1-800-959-8281. After verifying your identity, the agent can tell you your current RRSP deduction limit. Wait times vary, but mornings on weekdays tend to be the least busy.

Check how much tax an RRSP contribution will save you →

How RRSP Room Is Calculated

Your annual RRSP room equals 18% of your previous year’s earned income, up to the annual maximum. For 2025, the maximum is $32,490 (based on your 2024 earned income).

The full formula:

RRSP Deduction Limit = 18% of prior year earned income (up to annual max) + unused room from previous years − pension adjustment (PA)

Unused room carries forward. If you had $20,000 in room last year and contributed $0, that $20,000 rolls into this year’s limit on top of any new room you’ve earned.

What Counts as “Earned Income”

Not all income creates RRSP room. Here’s what qualifies:

Employment income (T4 box 14)
Net self-employment income
Net rental income
Alimony or support payments received
CPP/QPP disability payments
Research grants

And here’s what does not count:

Investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains)
Pension income
Employment Insurance benefits
Workers’ compensation
Old Age Security
Social assistance payments

This distinction catches people off guard. If you earned $80,000 in salary and $20,000 in dividends, only the $80,000 generates RRSP room. Your 18% is calculated on $80,000, giving you $14,400 in new room — not the $18,000 you might expect from your $100,000 total income.

Calculate your RRSP room and tax savings →

The Pension Adjustment

If your employer offers a registered pension plan (defined benefit or defined contribution), your T4 will include a pension adjustment (PA) in box 52. This amount reduces your RRSP room because, from CRA’s perspective, you’re already saving for retirement through the pension.

A large PA can significantly eat into your RRSP room. Someone with a generous defined benefit pension might find their RRSP room is only a few thousand dollars per year, even on a six-figure salary.

Why Your Room Might Be Lower Than Expected

If you log in and the number seems wrong, check these common causes:

Pension adjustment: Your workplace pension reduces your room. Look at box 52 on your T4.
Unfiled tax returns: CRA calculates your room based on returns you’ve actually filed. If you skipped a year, CRA has no earned income to work with for that period. File the missing returns and your room should update.
Recent contributions not yet processed: Contributions made in the last few months may not be reflected yet.
Prior-year deductions: If you contributed in a previous year but chose to defer the deduction, CRA still tracks the contribution. The room is used even if the deduction isn’t.

If you’ve never filed a tax return, your RRSP room could be sitting at $0, regardless of how much you’ve earned. CRA needs your filed returns to calculate earned income. File those returns — even late ones — and the room will appear.

Estimate your total income tax for 2025 →

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Calculations based on 2025 CRA-published rates. Disclaimer