Saving for retirement
Make a contribution to your RRSP for 2007
Your contribution limit for 2007 is 18% of your 2006 earned income (to a maximum of $19,000) less the value of any benefits that accrued to you in 2006 as a member of a Registered Pension Plan or a Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (your Pension Adjustment—PA). Your PA was reported by your employer on your 2006 T4 slip. Also, your 2006 Notice of Assessment should include the CRA’s calculation of your 2007 contribution limit, with any unused amounts carried forward from previous years. This information is also available on the CRA’s “My Account” service.
Your RRSP contribution must be made on or before February 29, 2008 to be deductible for 2007. If you don’t have the necessary funds, consider borrowing to make the contribution. Although interest on an RRSP loan is not deductible, borrowing still makes sense if you can repay the loan within a year. If you receive a tax refund, you can apply it to the loan to reduce the balance outstanding.
If you decide not to contribute for 2007, your ability to do so carries forward indefinitely. However, even if you don’t need the deduction for 2007, you should still make the contribution if you have excess funds which would otherwise earn taxable income in your hands. You can claim the deduction in any future year. The income from the funds will accumulate tax-free in your RRSP.
If you have excess investment funds, make your RRSP contribution for next year as soon after December 31st as possible, to maximize the deferral of income earned in the plan. For 2008, the RRSP limit is the lesser of 18% of your 2007 earned income (less your 2007 PA) or $20,000.
You can also make a one-time overcontribution to your RRSP. Penalties do not apply if the amount is less than $2,000 and, as noted above, income from the funds will accumulate tax-free in your RRSP. You should keep in mind that the CRA does track RRSP overcontributions, and penalties apply on most overcontributions in excess of $2,000.
Withdraw RRSP funds in low income years
If your income is abnormally low, consider withdrawing funds from your RRSP before the end of the year. This alternative would generally only appeal to someone in the lowest tax bracket who would otherwise waste available deductions and credits.
Keep in mind that once RRSP funds are withdrawn, the amounts can only be recontributed to the extent you have RRSP contribution room available in the future. Also, income earned on the funds withdrawn will no longer benefit from tax-free accumulation in the RRSP.
When you withdraw funds from your RRSP, you’ll receive a T4RSP slip showing the amount of the withdrawal and the tax withheld. When you file your tax return, include the amount in income, calculate the final tax and claim the withholdings as a tax payment.
Ensure that your 2007 earned income allows the maximum 2008 RRSP contribution
Your right to make an RRSP contribution for one year depends on your earned income for the previous year. For 2008, your contribution will be limited to 18% of your 2007 earned income, to a maximum of $20,000. Therefore, you need at least $111,111 of earned income in 2007 to maximize your 2008 contribution. This limit is further reduced by your PA for 2007.
In general terms, earned income is income you receive from employment, business or the rental of real property, as well as any alimony and taxable maintenance. It is reduced by business or rental losses and any alimony and maintenance payments made. If you have some control over your income level, ensure that it’s high enough to allow the maximum RRSP contribution. For instance, if you carry on business through a corporation, ensure that your 2007 salary is at least $111,111 to allow a full $20,000 contribution in 2008.
Sell non-qualified assets in your RRSP before December 31st
There are specific rules as to the types of assets your RRSP can hold. If you have a self-directed RRSP, you may have purchased assets which don’t qualify. When you purchase a non-qualifying asset, the cost of the asset is included in your income in the year of purchase. You’re allowed a deduction for the amount of the proceeds when the asset is sold, up to the original inclusion. Therefore, if the purchase and sale are in the same year, the deduction may offset a part or all of the income. So, make sure your RRSP sells non-qualifying assets before December 31st.
Purchase an annuity or RRIF to claim the pension income credit
If you’re 65 or over, you’re entitled to claim a federal tax credit on your first $2,000 of pension income. The credit is equal to the tax that would be paid on the income at the lowest tax bracket. If you don’t currently receive pension income and are in the lowest tax bracket (income less than $37,178 for 2007 federal tax purposes; threshold varies by province/territory), consider transferring funds to a registered retirement income fund (RRIF) and withdraw $2,000 per year. If you’re in the low tax bracket, the income will effectively be received tax-free federally. Note, however, that some of the pension income will be taxed in most provinces (provincial pension credit amounts vary, but most credit amounts are less than $2,000). If you’re in a higher bracket, there will be a tax cost, depending on your marginal tax rate. This strategy will also work if you use a portion of your RRSP funds to purchase an annuity which pays at least $2,000 per year.
Review pension income splitting with spouse
A new option to split pension income with a spouse is available starting with the 2007 taxation year. If you or your spouse earns pension income eligible for the pension tax credit, the higher income spouse can elect to transfer up to one-half of his or her eligible pension income to the lower income spouse. This is a joint election that can be taken advantage of when filing the 2007 tax returns. The amount transferred reduces the higher income spouse’s net income, and increases the lower-income spouse’s net income so a tax saving should generally arise where the lower-income spouse has a lower marginal tax rate. However, one should keep in mind that there can be negative effects that arise from increasing a lower income spouse’s net income. For example, some tax credit amounts (particularly the age credit) and the OAS clawback are based on net income.
Another possibility to consider if you or your spouse is age 65 or over is whether additional amounts should be withdrawn from your RRIF with a view to splitting some of the additional amount. This could allow you to take further advantage of a spouse’s low tax rates, or a spouse’s losses carried forward (other than capital losses). However, you can only split up to 50% of the additional amount received, so some of the extra RRIF withdrawals will be taxed in your hands — this cost would have to be compared with the tax benefit from splitting more income.
Delay RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) withdrawals until after year-end
If you qualify, you and your spouse can withdraw up to $20,000 tax-free from your RRSP towards the purchase of a principal residence. The home must be purchased by October 1st of the year following the year of withdrawal. Amounts withdrawn must be repaid to RRSPs in 15 equal installments, starting with the second taxation year following the year of withdrawal (amounts not repaid are taxed as an RRSP withdrawal).
If you’re planning on using the HBP towards year-end, consider deferring your withdrawal until after December 31st. This will extend your time period for purchasing your home and repaying the amounts withdrawn by one year. You’ll also want to delay your HBP withdrawal if you won’t be withdrawing the full amount in 2007. Under the HBP rules, multiple withdrawals are possible, but all withdrawals must be made in the same calendar year. Consequently, if you want to withdraw funds in 2008, you shouldn’t make an HBP withdrawal in 2007.
Remember to make your required Home Buyers’ Plan repayment by February 29, 2008
If you participated in the HBP prior to 2006, you have a repayment due in the 2007 taxation year. A repayment made on or before February 29, 2008 will be considered to have been made in the 2007 taxation year. A repayment is made by making a regular contribution to your RRSP. When you file your 2007 tax return, you’ll have to complete Schedule 7. On this form, you’ll designate that the RRSP contribution is to be applied as an HBP repayment and is not a deductible contribution.
If you have already made RRSP contributions during 2007, you can designate an amount to cover your required repayment. The CRA generally sends an HBP notification towards the end of each year.
Remember to collapse your RRSP if you will turn 71 this year
You can’t have an RRSP past December 31, 2007 if you’re 71 or older at year-end (up from age 69 as part of the 2007 federal budget changes). So, prior to December 31, 2007, you must collapse your RRSP and pay tax on the fair market value of the plan’s assets at that time, purchase an annuity or transfer your RRSP assets to an RRIF. No tax is paid on the purchase of annuity or the conversion to an RRIF.
If you will generate RRSP contribution room for 2008 because you have earned income in 2007, but you have to collapse your RRSP before the end of 2007, consider making an overcontribution to your RRSP in December, immediately before collapsing it. The amount of the overcontribution should equal $2,000 plus the 2007 contribution limit. A 1% penalty tax on the overcontribution in excess of $2,000 will apply for December 2007—however, this will end on January 1, 2008 when the new contribution room becomes effective. The basic $2,000 overcontribution will become deductible when you generate additional RRSP room in the future and will never attract the 1% overcontribution penalty tax. Ask your BDO advisor if this type of planning makes sense for you.
If you must collapse your RRSP this year, you can still contribute to your spouse’s RRSP if you have contribution room and your spouse has not reached age 71 by December 31, 2007. This is an excellent way to build up your spouse’s RRSP.
If you want more information on RRSPs, read our bulletin Answering Your RRSP Questions.
Consider contributing to an Individual Pension Plan
In addition to RRSPs, another retirement savings option is available to owners of incorporated businesses, including professionals who have incorporated. Under the rules for defined benefit pension plans, it is possible to set up an individual pension plan or IPP for business owners. Under an IPP, the benefits are set by reference to your salary, and contributions are made to build sufficient funds to fund this defined pension benefit. For many individuals (generally, in their 50s or older), the use of an IPP can allow for greater contributions when compared to an RRSP.
Additional benefits of an IPP include the ability to make up for poor investment performance and the possibility of making lump-sum contributions for past service. As well, historically, IPPs have provided greater protection of assets from business risks. However, with the proposed changes on bankruptcy reform, the treatment of RRSPs will become more consistent with the treatment of pension plans once the proposed changes become law and are proclaimed into force.
Next Section: Deductions and credits
