RRSP Deadline 2026: How to Contribute Before March 2 (Even If You Waited Until Now)

The Bottom Line: The RRSP deadline for the 2025 tax year is March 2, 2026, with a contribution limit of $32,490. Wealthsimple’s Instant Deposit lets you fund your RRSP in minutes — even on the weekend — but the cutoff is 6 PM EST, not midnight.

• Your limit is $32,490 (or 18% of 2024 income, whichever is lower)
• Instant Deposit works on Saturday and Sunday — no branch visit needed
• Miss March 2 and your contribution counts toward 2026, delaying your refund a full year

When is the RRSP contribution deadline for the 2025 tax year?

The deadline is usually March 1, but March 1 falls on a Sunday in 2026 — so the CRA extends it to March 2, 2026.¹ One extra day, but not much breathing room if you haven’t contributed yet.

What is the RRSP contribution limit for 2025?

The maximum RRSP deduction limit for the 2025 tax year is $32,490, or 18% of your 2024 earned income — whichever is lower.² This is separate from the 2026 tax year limit of $33,810, which applies to contributions made after the deadline.

If you have unused contribution room from previous years, that carries forward and adds to your current limit. You can check your exact contribution room through CRA My Account or on your most recent Notice of Assessment.

The $2,000 buffer: The CRA allows a lifetime over-contribution cushion of $2,000 without penalty. Beyond that, over-contributions are penalized at 1% per month on the excess amount.³

Why are traditional bank deposits risky near the RRSP deadline?

Traditional funding methods carry real risk in late February because bank transfers and cheques can take days or weeks to settle, potentially causing you to miss the March 2 deadline:

• Bill payments from external banks can take 3-5 business days to settle
• Cheques and bank drafts can take 4-8 business days to clear⁴
• Account transfers between institutions typically take 2-4 weeks⁵

A bill payment sent after approximately February 24 may not arrive before the deadline. A cheque mailed in late February almost certainly won’t.

This is where most Canadians get stuck. They intend to contribute, but the banking system’s settlement times turn a “last week” decision into a missed deadline.

Can I instantly deposit to my RRSP with Wealthsimple?

Yes. Wealthsimple’s Instant Deposit feature eliminates settlement risk by making funds available in your RRSP immediately — even on weekends.⁶ When you link your bank account and initiate a deposit, there is no waiting for the standard 3-5 day clearing period.

Managed Investing note: If you use Wealthsimple’s Managed Investing (robo-advisor), “Instant Deposit” refers to the transfer, not the investment. The robo-advisor often takes 1-3 business days to actually purchase your ETFs. Don’t stress if your dashboard shows cash sitting uninvested on deadline day — as long as the deposit is dated March 2, the tax deduction is secure.

For a detailed breakdown of what you get at each tier, see our Core vs Premium vs Generation comparison.

Weekend and holiday processing: Instant Deposits work on weekends, including Sunday March 1.⁶ This matters because the actual calendar deadline (March 2) is a Monday — meaning you can deposit on Saturday or Sunday and still receive your 2025 tax receipt.

Deposit limit resets: If you need to deposit more than your instant limit, the limit resets after 3 business days. For most contributors, the Core tier’s $50,000 limit covers the full annual maximum of $32,490 with room to spare. If you don’t have cash on hand, Wealthsimple’s RRSP Boost lets you borrow against existing investments at ~4% interest.

Should you transfer your existing RRSP before the deadline?

Generally, no. If you’re considering transferring an existing RRSP from another institution (TD, RBC, Questrade, etc.) to Wealthsimple to take advantage of the 1% match promotion, timing matters.

RRSP transfers between institutions typically take 2-4 weeks.⁵ If you initiate a transfer now, your money could be in “transfer limbo” — removed from your old institution but not yet arrived at Wealthsimple — right when the deadline hits.

The smarter approach:

1. Now: Open a new Wealthsimple RRSP and contribute fresh cash via Instant Deposit before March 2
2. After March 2: Initiate the transfer of your old RRSP to Wealthsimple at your own pace
3. Result: You lock in your 2025 tax deduction immediately and still get the transfer match when your old funds arrive

This approach secures your deadline contribution instantly while avoiding any transfer-related anxiety. The Wealthsimple match promotion applies to both new contributions and transfers, so you don’t lose anything by separating the two.

How to fund your RRSP instantly before March 2

Whether you already have a Wealthsimple account or need to open one, here’s the process:

If you don’t have a Wealthsimple account yet

1. Sign up online — In our experience, account creation takes about 5 minutes with no branch visit required. Use a referral code to receive a $25 cash bonus when you deposit at least $1
2. Verify your identity — Wealthsimple uses digital verification, so you don’t need to mail documents. We’ve found that if the automated ID scan fails (often due to glare on driver’s licenses), manual review can take 1-2 business days — so if you’re opening an account on the deadline weekend, get the lighting right on your first attempt
3. Open an RRSP — Select RRSP as your account type during setup
4. Link your bank — Connect your external bank account for Instant Deposit
5. Deposit and invest — Your funds arrive instantly. Choose your investments or use Wealthsimple’s managed portfolio

If you already have a Wealthsimple account

1. Open an RRSP if you don’t have one (you can hold multiple account types)
2. Deposit via Instant Deposit — the funds appear immediately
3. Invest the cash into your chosen portfolio or individual stocks/ETFs

The entire process from account opening to funded RRSP can be completed in under 15 minutes.

Weekend trading note: While you can deposit instantly on Sunday, March 1, remember that stock markets are closed. If you’re a self-directed investor, your cash will be available immediately, but buy orders will sit as “Pending” until markets open Monday at 9:30 AM ET.

When will I receive my RRSP contribution receipt?

Wealthsimple typically issues digital RRSP contribution receipts for the “first 60 days” period in mid-March. This receipt covers all contributions made between January 1 and March 2, 2026, and you can apply them to either your 2025 or 2026 tax return.

If you use Wealthsimple Tax to file your return, your RRSP contribution data is autofilled automatically — no manual entry needed.⁷

The official tax slip may take a few weeks to generate after your contribution. Historically, Wealthsimple releases the “First 60 Days” contribution slips around March 16–18. You don’t need to wait for the slip to file — you can use the exact contribution amount from the Activity section in the Wealthsimple app and file your return right away.

What is the difference between the 2025 and 2026 RRSP limits?

The $32,490 limit applies to the 2025 tax year (deadline March 2, 2026), while the $33,810 limit applies to the 2026 tax year (deadline March 1, 2027). This is a common point of confusion when people search “RRSP limit 2026.”

If you’re contributing before March 2, 2026, you’re working with the $32,490 limit (the 2025 tax year).² The $33,810 limit applies to contributions made for the 2026 tax year.

What happens if you miss the March 2 deadline?

If you miss the March 2 deadline, your contributions count toward the 2026 tax year instead of 2025, delaying your tax refund by a full year. Specifically:

• Contributions made after March 2, 2026 count toward the 2026 tax year instead
• You won’t be able to deduct those contributions on your 2025 return
• Your 2025 tax refund will be lower (or non-existent) compared to what it would have been with the RRSP deduction
• The unused contribution room carries forward, so it’s not lost permanently

The financial impact depends on your marginal tax rate. For someone in a 40% combined marginal bracket contributing $10,000, missing the deadline means waiting an extra year for approximately $4,000 in tax savings.

Stack your bonuses: referral + match + contest

If you’re opening a new Wealthsimple account for your RRSP contribution, you can combine multiple promotions at the same time:

• Referral bonus: $25 cash when you sign up and deposit $1+
• The (Un)Real Deal: Up to 3% match on transfers of $25,000+ from another institution⁸
• $3.3M Home Giveaway: Entry into the draw when you register and fund your account⁸

These promotions stack — you don’t have to pick just one. Sign up with the referral code first, then enroll in the (Un)Real Deal through the app before transferring assets. See the full breakdown on our Wealthsimple promotions page.

Summary: Secure your 2025 tax deduction before March 2

The March 2, 2026 RRSP deadline is rapidly approaching. If you’ve been putting it off, Wealthsimple’s Instant Deposit means “too late” is a much smaller window than it used to be. You can open an account, fund your RRSP, and secure your 2025 tax deduction in the same sitting — even on a Sunday night.

For a comparison of how Wealthsimple’s RRSP promotions stack up against Questrade, TD, and RBC, see our 2026 RRSP Match Wars comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RRSP contribution deadline for the 2025 tax year?

The deadline is March 2, 2026. Contributions made by this date can be deducted from your 2025 taxable income. The usual deadline of March 1 shifts to March 2 because March 1, 2026 falls on a Sunday.

Can I contribute to my RRSP on a weekend with Wealthsimple?

Yes. Wealthsimple Instant Deposit works on weekends, including Sunday, March 1. As long as your deposit is completed by the deadline, you will receive a tax receipt for the 2025 tax year.

How much can I instantly deposit into my Wealthsimple RRSP?

Core clients can instantly deposit up to $50,000, while Premium and Generation clients can deposit up to $250,000. The limit resets every 3 business days.

Should I transfer my existing RRSP to Wealthsimple before the deadline?

Generally, no. RRSP transfers between institutions can take 2-4 weeks. Instead, open a new Wealthsimple RRSP and contribute fresh cash via Instant Deposit before the deadline, then schedule your transfer for after March 2.

What happens if I miss the RRSP deadline?

Any contributions made after March 2, 2026 cannot be deducted on your 2025 tax return. They would count toward the 2026 tax year instead, delaying your tax refund by a full year.

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