2022 Income Tax Guide for Canadians: Deadlines, tax tips and more + MORE Feb 27th

Retired Money highlights
Canadians think they need $1.7 million to retire, according to a BMO pollHow to save $1.7 million in RRSPsOther factors for determining how much you need to save for retirement

If you’re just starting out on the long road to saving for retirement, you may have heard about BMO’s recent poll, which found that Canadians say they will need $1.7 million to retire.

Because of inflation, according to the press release, that number is 20% higher than it was in 2020, when it was $1.4 million. I wrote my initial take on the poll on my own site, citing the Canadian Press article in the Financial Post as my main source. I wrote that you’d have to put away $42,400 every year in a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) for 40 years (between the ages of 25 and 65) to reach $1.7 million. That’s more than double what even top earners are allowed to contribute. But, as you can see below, if you start saving in an RRSP early enough, you won’t need to save nearly that much each year…

It’s been quite a year for numbers, hasn’t it? From rising interest rates to steep stock market drops, finances have been headline news throughout 2022. It’s almost enough to make you forget about tax season. But with the tax deadline approaching, you have a few reminders (see the dates below), as well as this, our MoneySense 2022 Income Tax Guide for Canadians.

You’ll find lots of good info to help you prepare. Here’s a table of contents for the guide’s topics, plus in-depth coverage for many of them. 

2022 Income Tax Guide Table of Contents
Tax-related dates to know

Tax claims for Canadians and changes for 2022 income taxes

Prepping your taxes

RRSP contribution room

TFSA contribution room

How GICs are taxed

Tax tips for Canadians

How to get started on your tax return

Complicated tax situations and more

More reading for 2022 taxes

When are T4s due, tax deadline for 2022 and other important dates

April 30th may be burned into your brain as the date when taxes are due, but this year that is not the case—it falls on a Sunday in 2023…

May 1 is the deadline for residents of Ontario to file their 2022 income tax return. Fail to do so and you may face penalties.

The tax savings offered through RRSPs can be a huge boost to your retirement plans, Lesley-Anne Scorgie writes.

Ask MoneySense
I have $119,000 room allowed in my RRSP and $81,000 room in my TFSA.

I am 47, live in B.C., currently not earning income as a caregiver for a parent. I have a business with a registered GST number to claim income now or in the future. But for my question, let’s assume I will be claiming $0 for the next three years. 

I have a sum of $250,000 coming to me as a gift, and I am looking to invest/save it. 

I plan to use the portions not contributed into my TFSA and RRSP in investments that will be earning interest as income—likely mortgage investments.

Based on my income projections, what amount makes the most sense to invest into RRSPs at this time? 

Should I spread the amount out over a period of time? Same question for TFSA. 

—Jennifer 

Maxing out registered accounts: TFSAs and RRSPs

Jennifer, you likely want to maximize your tax-free savings account (TFSA), skip the registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) for now, and put the rest of your money into a non-registered account…