Family · 2026 rules

RESP and CESG

The Canada Education Savings Grant pays 20% on the first $2,500 you contribute each year, to $7,200 per child. It is the highest guaranteed return available in Canadian personal finance.

20% CESG match
$7,200 lifetime grant
Grant carry-forward

Your numberslive

Child's ageGrant is paid to the end of the year the child turns 17.

Current RESP balance

Monthly contribution$208 a month captures the full annual grant.

Expected return5.5%

0%3%5.5%8%10%

Grant history

CESG received to dateOf a $7,200 lifetime maximum.

Unused grant carried forwardYou can claim up to $1,000 of grant in one year by catching up.

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Projected balance at 18

$95,531

$48,936 contributed, $5,400 of grant, $41,195 of growth

Over 16 more years of contributions at 5.5%.

Grant this year

$499

Contribute $4 more to reach the maximum

Lifetime grant remaining

$7,200 claimed of $7,200

Return on the grant alone

20%

Guaranteed, on the first $2,500 a year

What the account is made of at 18

Projected ending balance by source

51%

43%

Your contributions$48,936
Government grant$5,400
Investment growth$41,195

Growth to age eighteen

Balance against cumulative contributions — the gap is grant plus growth

Balance
Contributions

Grant received each year

Age 3$2,496 contributed · balance $12,595	$499
Age 6$2,496 contributed · balance $24,643	$499
Age 9$2,496 contributed · balance $38,847	$499
Age 12$2,496 contributed · balance $55,592	$499
Age 15$2,496 contributed · balance $74,142	$0
Age 17$2,496 contributed · balance $88,007	$0
Age 18$2,496 contributed · balance $95,531	$0
Total grant over the period	$5,400

At withdrawal

Your contributionsThey were never deducted, so they are never taxed	Returned tax-free
Grant and growthPaid out as Educational Assistance Payments	Taxed in the student’s hands
Typical tax on an EAPA student’s income is usually below the basic personal amount	Little or none
If the child does not enrolUp to $50,000 of growth can roll into your RRSP if you have room	Grants are returned

The catch-up ruleYou can claim up to $1,000 of grant in a single year by contributing $5,000 — one year of missed room plus the current year, and no more than that. Starting late means you cannot catch up entirely.

How this is calculated

The basic CESG is 20.0% of contributions to a $500 annual maximum, or $1,000 when catching up one year of unused room, to a $7,200 lifetime limit per beneficiary.

Additional CESG of 10% or 20% on the first $500, and the Canada Learning Bond of up to $2,000 with no contribution required, are available to families under the income thresholds and are not included in these projections.

The lifetime contribution limit is $50,000 per beneficiary. There is no annual contribution limit — only an annual limit on the grant.

These results are illustrative estimates based on published 2026 rates and typical lender rules. They are not financial, tax, or legal advice, and they are not a mortgage or credit approval. See the methodology and disclaimer.

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