Knowing your exact TFSA contribution room is essential before contributing — over-contributions are penalized at 1% per month with no buffer. Here is how room accumulates, the full cumulative table, and how to check your precise available room.
If you are trying to turn that headline number into a safe next contribution, it helps to pair this with how to tell whether your TFSA is already maxed out, when TFSA room resets after a withdrawal, the TFSA contribution room calculator, the TFSA withdrawal rules, and our guide to how much is enough in your TFSA.
How TFSA contribution room works
TFSA contribution room accumulates differently from RRSP room:
- Fixed annual amounts — not based on your income (unlike RRSP)
- Room starts at age 18 (or 2009, whichever is later)
- Unused room carries forward indefinitely
- Withdrawals restore room — but only on January 1 of the following year
- No income requirement — anyone who is 18+, Canadian resident, and has a valid SIN accumulates room
TFSA annual contribution limits by year
| Year | Annual limit | Cumulative limit (if eligible all years) |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| 2010 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| 2011 | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| 2012 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| 2013 | $5,500 | $25,500 |
| 2014 | $5,500 | $31,000 |
| 2015 | $10,000 | $41,000 |
| 2016 | $5,500 | $46,500 |
| 2017 | $5,500 | $52,000 |
| 2018 | $5,500 | $57,500 |
| 2019 | $6,000 | $63,500 |
| 2020 | $6,000 | $69,500 |
| 2021 | $6,000 | $75,500 |
| 2022 | $6,000 | $81,500 |
| 2023 | $6,500 | $88,000 |
| 2024 | $7,000 | $95,000 |
| 2025 | $7,000 | $102,000 |
| 2026 | $7,000 | $102,000 (as of Jan 1, 2026) |
Note: New 2026 room added January 1, 2026 — total as of start of 2026 is $102,000 if you have never contributed and were eligible since 2009.
Room by birth year (never contributed, as of January 1, 2026)
| Birth year | Age on Jan 1, 2026 | First eligible year | Total cumulative room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 or earlier | 35+ | 2009 | $102,000 |
| 1992 | 34 | 2010 | $97,000 |
| 1993 | 33 | 2011 | $92,000 |
| 1994 | 32 | 2012 | $87,000 |
| 1995 | 31 | 2013 | $82,000 |
| 1996 | 30 | 2014 | $76,500 |
| 1997 | 29 | 2015 | $71,000 |
| 1998 | 28 | 2016 | $61,000 |
| 1999 | 27 | 2017 | $55,500 |
| 2000 | 26 | 2018 | $50,000 |
| 2001 | 25 | 2019 | $44,500 |
| 2002 | 24 | 2020 | $38,500 |
| 2003 | 23 | 2021 | $32,500 |
| 2004 | 22 | 2022 | $26,500 |
| 2005 | 21 | 2023 | $20,000 |
| 2006 | 20 | 2024 | $13,500 |
| 2007 | 19 | 2025 | $6,500 (only 2025 room added; 2026 adds another $7,000 Jan 1) |
| 2008 | 18 | 2026 | $7,000 |
These are the room amounts before any contributions. Your actual available room = cumulative limit – contributions made + withdrawals made in prior calendar years.
How to check your exact available TFSA room
CRA My Account (recommended)
- Log in at canada.ca/my-account
- Navigate to the TFSA section (often under “RRSP and FHSA” menu, or search “TFSA contribution room”)
- Your TFSA contribution room for the current year is shown
Important: The figure shown in My Account is calculated based on contributions and withdrawals reported to CRA by financial institutions, as well as your status (resident/non-resident). Reports from financial institutions may be delayed — if you made a contribution in 2026, My Account may not reflect it until January 2027.
To account for current-year activity, subtract your 2026 contributions from the shown room to get your true available room.
By phone
Call CRA at 1-800-959-8281. An agent can confirm your TFSA contribution room as of the latest update. You must pass identity verification.
What reduces your TFSA room permanently (and what does not)
| Event | Effect on room |
|---|---|
| Making a contribution | Reduces available room this year |
| Withdrawing from TFSA | Room restored January 1 of the following year |
| Over-contributing | 1%/month penalty; no buffer |
| Contributing as a non-resident | Permanent reduction — room used, but contribution is taxed at 1%/month |
| Account growth (investment gains) | Does NOT reduce room — growth is tax-free and above your cost base |
| Account declines (investment losses) | Does NOT restore room — losses within TFSA are not recoverable |
The withdrawal re-contribution trap
A very common costly mistake:
- You have $20,000 in your TFSA, fully contributing to your room
- You withdraw $15,000 in June 2026
- You think you can re-contribute $15,000 in November 2026 — you cannot
- Re-contributing $15,000 before January 1, 2027 is an over-contribution
- CRA charges 1%/month on the $15,000 over-contribution from November 2026 to when you withdraw it
The rule: Withdrawn amounts return to available room only on January 1 of the year following withdrawal. This catches many people who withdraw and re-contribute in the same calendar year.
TFSA vs RRSP: which to fill first?
| Your situation | Prioritize |
|---|---|
| Income under $50,000 | TFSA first (tax bracket in retirement likely similar; RRSP deduction less valuable) |
| Income $50,000–$100,000 | Mix — TFSA + RRSP |
| Income over $100,000 | RRSP first (large immediate deduction at 43%–53% marginal rate) |
| Close to OAS clawback ($90,997 threshold) | TFSA strongly preferred (withdrawals don’t count as income) |
| Significant pension income expected | TFSA strongly preferred |
Related resources
- How Much RRSP Room Do I Have? — The other registered account to track
- How Much Is Enough in My TFSA? — Goal-setting for TFSA balances
- How to Use CRA My Account — Check your TFSA room online