With 2015 just underway, here are five things you can do this week to kickstart a full year of tax savings.
Make your 2015 RRSP contribution
Sure, we all know that the RRSP deadline isn’t until March 2 (the normal March 1 deadline falls on a Sunday this year so we are given an extra day), but that deadline is only really relevant for procrastinators. In other words, the RRSP deadline is the last day to contribute to your RRSP to claim a deduction on your 2014 tax return, to be filed this spring.
But, if you want to stay ahead of the game and have the funds to do so, why not make your 2015 contribution right now and enjoy a full 14 months of tax-free earnings and growth.
The amount you can contribute for 2015 is based on 18% of your “earned income” from 2014, which generally includes employment, business and net rental income, less any pension adjustment if you were part of an employer sponsored pension plan. The maximum for 2015 is capped at $24,930 which occurs once your earned income reaches $138,500.
Contribute another $5,500 to a TFSA
The new year brings another $5,500 of contribution room to your TFSA, upping the total lifetime cumulative limit to $36,500. If you’ve yet to open up a TFSA, what are you waiting for? After all, there is really no reason anyone should have anything invested in a non-registered account if you haven’t maximized your cumulative TFSA contributions.
Get your kids 2015 Canada Education Savings Grants
If you’ve got minor kids, consider making your 2015 registered education savings plan (RESP) contributions. By contributing at least $2,500 for each child, you can take advantage of the 20% matching Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). If you are catching up and trying to collect prior years’ CESGs, consider contributing $5,000 per child to the RESP so you can collect the annual maximum of $1,000 in CESGs per child.
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