The Tax-Free Savings Account annual contribution limit is $6,000 for 2022. Here is the 2022 TFSA Explained, so you can make the most of your money in the New Year.
In this post we explain everything you need to know about the Tax-Free Savings Account!
Keep reading or jump directly to a section below:
- TFSA 101: What it is and how it works
- The 2022 TFSA Annual & Lifetime Contribution Limits
- How to Calculate Your TFSA Contribution Limit
- What happens if I over-contribute to a TFSA?
- How to open a TFSA
- The Best TFSAs to Invest Your Money
- Making a withdrawal from a TFSA
Here is everything you needed to know about the new 2022 TFSA explained, so you can get the most bang for your buck.
TFSA 101: what it is and how it works
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) provides Canadians with a tax-sheltered account to grow their money. As the name implies, you will never pay taxes on the investment income earned inside of the TFSA.
The TFSA allows you to earn tax-free investment income on the money you put into the account. Used correctly, your TFSA can become a $1 million dollar asset.
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is hands-down the best savings and investment vehicle available to Canadians, but few understand how it works. Many use it incorrectly and even more people don’t use the TFSA at all!
Why the name “Tax-Free Savings Account” doesn’t make any sense
The designation as “Savings Account” is inaccurate, because your TFSA doesn’t actually have to be a savings account. “Investment Account” would be a better description, as you can hold investments like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs in your Tax-Free Savings Account.
When you invest in a TFSA, all of the interest, dividends, and capital gains you earn are tax-free. Investing is actually the best way to utilize the power of the Tax-Free Savings Account since you typically earn higher returns investing in the stock market compared to saving in a bank account. The higher your investment income in a TFSA, the greater the benefit you’re getting from its tax-free power.
So what’s the point of a TFSA?
The TFSA is a long-term investment vehicle. It’s best use is for saving for retirement!
Who is eligible for a TFSA?
Are you 18 years of age or older? Do you have a valid SIN number? Are you a resident of Canada? If you answered yes to all three questions, CONGRATULATIONS! You can open a TFSA!
Well, except where the age to enter into legal contracts is 19 years of age. In those provinces and territories, you will have to wait until you are 19 years old to open a TFSA. Fortunately, the contribution limit room for the year you turn 18 is added to your total contribution limit.
Do you spend a lot of time outside of Canada? You MAY be considered a “non-resident” for tax purposes. Check the CRA guidelines on what constitutes a non-resident for tax purposes with your TFSA.
Understanding the TFSA Contribution Limits
If you’re wondering how much money you can put in a TFSA, the answer depends on a few things. There are two numbers you need to be aware of: the annual contribution limit and the lifetime contribution limit.
The annual 2022 TFSA contribution limit: $6,000
The TFSA limit for 2022 is $6,000. However, you might be able to put away even more depending on your age and how much you’ve put away in a TFSA so far!
The TFSA annual contribution limit is fixed each year. When the Tax-Free Savings Account was first introduced in 2009, the annual contribution limit was $5,000. It went as high as $10,000 one year, then dropped back down to $5,500 and has been increased again to $6,000 where it has remained for the past 3 years.
You can see the yearly breakdown for the TFSA contribution limits set by the Canada Revenue Agency here.
The lifetime TFSA contribution limit: $81,500
The TFSA lifetime contribution limit is the cumulative total of annual contribution limits from the year you turned 18 and were a resident of Canada. If you were 18 years old in 2009, then you are entitled to the full lifetime contribution room of the TFSA which is $81,500.
If you didn’t turn 18 until after 2009, you’re only entitled to the cumulative total of annual contribution room beginning in the year you turned 18.
How to calculate your 2022 TFSA contribution limit
If you have never had a Tax-Free Savings Account, or if you have not been contributing the maximum to your TFSA each year, you can catch up on the unused contribution room now. This means you may be able to contribute more to your TFSA than the 2022 limit of $6,000.
The new 2022 Tax-Free Savings Account contribution limit of $6,000 brings the TFSA lifetime contribution limit to $81,500.
If you were over the age of 18 in 2009, you’re entitled to the full $81,500 of TFSA contribution room, minus any contributions you’ve already made.
If you want a more detailed explanation, check out the post How to Calculate Your TFSA Contribution Limit.
What Happens If I over-contribute To My TFSA?
If you end up putting more into your TFSA than the contribution limit allows, you can expect to be taxed. The tax comes at a rate of 1% per month on the highest excess of your contribution, until withdrawn or until your contribution limit increases enough to make up the room.
If you over-contribute to your TFSA, you must withdraw the money to avoid penalties.
How your TFSA over-contribution penalty is calculated
For example, if you were $2,000 over your contribution limit for 2 months, you would be taxed:
$2,000 x 1% x 2 months = $40 of tax.
Interesting point: you are taxed on the highest amount of excess until the entire balance is within your contribution limit.
Say you forgot your limit and went $4,500 over. You realize this a month later, but only take out $4,000, thinking you had the extra wiggle room. 3 months later, it is the new year and your contribution limit increases. Here, you’d be charged interest as follows:
$4,500 x 1% x 4 months = $180.
Even though you were $4,500 over your limit for one month, you would be taxed as if you were over it for 4 months. The highest amount is taxed until the full amount is brought back under the contribution limit. Clear as mud? The CRA has more examples here.
What to look for when choosing a TFSA
Most people typically go to their bank for financial information. Society has been conditioned to do so. With the advent of the internet, it is much easier to compare company products, including the tax-free savings account.
As long as the institution you will be working with is a member of, or keeps your money with members of the Canadian Investors Protection Fund (CIPF) you should not have too much to worry about. Being a member of the CIPF essentially means that you can get your money back in the event of the company going bankrupt, up to $1 Million.
Avoiding fees
When choosing where to open your TFSA, one of the main focuses should be the cost. High fees can eat into your investment returns, and reduce the amount of money you’re earning tax-free, completely defeating the purpose of using a Tax-Free Savings Account!
Read the fine print and watch out for any of the following:
- account fees
- minimum balance requirements
- transfer fees
- inactivity fees
- management fees
- trading commissions
Fees can be flat rate charges or a percentage of your balance or investment returns. Try to look for a TFSA that provides no account, minimum balance, or inactivity fees. If you have a TFSA investment account, try to keep management fees under 1% and trading commissions should be less than $10 per trade.
How to open a TFSA
Opening a TFSA is as easy as opening a standard bank account! You basically just need to go to your preferred financial institution with government-issued identification and your Social Insurance Number and you can set one up. Or more! Remember, there’s no limit to how many TFSAs you set up, just a contribution limit!
Don’t feel like leaving the house? The internet is great for avoiding human contact in these situations! Yes, you can even register for a TFSA online! Just make sure you still have your government I.D. and Social Insurance Number handy. You’ll need to give the exact information requested as printed on your documents to open your account.
Can I have more than one TFSA?
There is no limit to the number of Tax-Free Savings Accounts you can have. You might choose to have one TFSA to invest in the stock market and another TFSA for cash savings only. You can have as many TFSAs as you want, but you have to stay within your annual and lifetime Tax-Free Savings Account contribution limits.
The Best Tax-Free Savings Accounts available to Canadians
You have a lot of choices of where to open a TFSA, but here are our best recommendations:
1. Wealthsimple TFSA
Wealthsimple allows you to invest in the stock market in your Tax-Free Savings Account. And you don’t have to lift a finger!
Wealthsimple is a roboadvisor. This doesn’t mean your money is managed by a robot, but it does mean that it’s managed automatically. There is a real live person making the investment decisions behind the scenes, but they’ll be investing your cash based on your investor profile and financial goals. All you need to do is put money into the account.
This is perfect for new investors who want to get into the stock market but aren’t sure where to start. It’s also great for knowledgeable investors who don’t want the hassle of managing their portfolios. Get $50 free when you open an account with Wealthsimple with at least $500 by clicking here!
2. Questrade TFSA
Questrade is an online broker designed for people who want to keep the fees down. Their fee structure is really quite impressive! They have a self-directed investor route that charges $4.95 to $9.95 per stock trade (1 cent per stock, with a minimum charge of $4.95). You can actually purchase ETF’s, for FREE! Selling them is the same price as selling stock.
QuestWealth Portfolios is the name of their other avenue, where they manage your money based on your investor profile. Instead of 1-4% fees like traditional investment firms, they charge 0.25% management fee! Build up $100k in your account and this drops to 0.20%!
3. EQ Bank TFSA
EQ Bank recently launched both RSP and TFSA accounts. If you’re not comfortable investing your TFSA in the stock market, this is your next best bet.
EQ Bank will pay 2.30% interest on your TFSA.
Making a withdrawal from a TFSA
You can withdraw money from your Tax-Free Savings Account without penalty at any time. Unlike the RRSP, you don’t have to be retired or a certain age to withdraw from your TFSA. You can also spend your money however you please without consequence. The Government of Canada won’t know (or care) if you use your TFSA to go on a trip or to save for something else.
Your TFSA withdrawals do NOT count as income.
However, it’s important to remember that the TFSA is best utilized as a retirement savings vehicle and that should be your goal with this account. You don’t need to earn tax-free investment returns on your vacation savings, but you do need tax-free investment returns on your retirement savings. Choose wisely.
When you make a withdrawal from a Tax-Free Savings Account, the amount you withdraw is added to your contribution limit the following year. You never lose TFSA contribution room, which is another powerful characteristic of this account.
The TFSA Explained
Tax-Free Savings Accounts are great! The new 2022 TFSA got even better with a contribution limit increase to $6,000.
Since you can have more than one Tax-Free Savings Account, they can be used for several purposes. The TFSA is a great place to stash your emergency fund, save up for a downpayment, and build your retirement nest egg. Just be sure to stay within your contribution limit, and choose a cost-effective investment account for your TFSA. Watch the balance grow and enjoy your journey to financial freedom!
2 Comments. Leave new
I just recently opened a TFSA with CIBC. How do I withdraw momey from TFSA. Example would be all of it out from Revenue Canada?
Hi Leanne, you cannot withdraw more from a TFSA than you have put in. If you do not have any money in your TFSA, you cannot take any money out. Withdrawing from a TFSA is as simple as making a transfer from the TFSA to your chequing account. If you get stuck, contact your bank for help!