Financial Calculators

RRSP vs TFSA

Free Canadian financial calculators built for Canadian tax rules, contribution limits, and rates, covering mortgages, TFSA & RRSP growth, RESP with CESG, GIC compounding, RRIF withdrawals, HELOC, and debt repayment. No sign-up required.

Which account gives you more after-tax money based on your tax rates now and in retirement?

Utility calculators

Quick-answer tools for specific numbers — mortgages, registered accounts, savings, and debt

Your Situation

$

Same amount contributed to each account for a fair comparison.

years
%

Tax Rates

%

Your combined federal + provincial rate today.

%

Your expected rate when you withdraw in retirement. Often lower due to reduced income.

RRSP contributions reduce your taxable income now (earning a refund at your current rate) but withdrawals are taxed in retirement. TFSA contributions are made with after-tax dollars but all growth and withdrawals are completely tax-free.

Head-to-Head Result

RRSP wins by $58,156

Your expected retirement rate (30%) is lower than your current rate (40%), so your RRSP deductions are worth more than the tax owed at withdrawal, especially when refunds are reinvested.

TFSA

Tax-Free Balance

$581,564

 

Total contributed$250,000
Tax-free growth$331,564

RRSP + Refunds

Total After-Tax Value

$639,720

account + reinvested refunds

RRSP after-tax$407,095
Annual refund$4,000
Refunds (grown)$232,626

Assumes annual RRSP refunds are reinvested and grow at the same rate. This is the standard academic comparison and the fairest way to evaluate both accounts on equal footing.

After-Tax Total Value Over Time

12345678910111213141516171819212325$0$200.0K$400.0K$600.0K$800.0K
  • TFSA
  • RRSP + Refunds

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