Rising RRSP contribution limits
Inflation additionally influences RRSP most contribution financial savings limits. In 2021, the restrict was $27,830. For 2024, it’s $31,560, which is a distinction of 13.4%. Over an identical time interval, 2018 to 2021, it rose from $26,230 to $27,830, a distinction of 5.7%.
“Thus, latest inflation brought about the RRSP restrict to greater than double over an identical time interval,” Ardrey concludes. “This in fact can improve your tax-deferred financial savings and likewise your annual tax deduction on your RRSP contribution.”
OAS clawback threshold additionally rises
Among the many goodies that can attraction to Canadian retirees is the rising threshold the place they could encounter clawbacks of OAS advantages. Many retired {couples} in Canada pay shut consideration to this on the finish of each calendar yr.
The purpose is for every member to maximise retirement revenue from all sources (pensions, investments, and many others.) however to remain barely beneath the purpose the place Ottawa begins clawing again OAS advantages.
In spite of everything, OAS funds are for a lot of a welcomed $690-a-month fee (that’s earlier than tax) or $8,300 a yr, and it’s inflation-indexed as well. In 2020, the brink at which OAS advantages started to get clawed again was $79,054, in line with Hector, however that quantity has risen yearly: to $86,912 in 2023 and a projected $90,997 in 2024.
So, senior {couples} with related incomes in Canada ought to have the ability to earn virtually $182,000 between them earlier than even beginning to see their OAS advantages get clawed again. And if that does occur, that’s what many would describe as a “good downside to have.”
Is CPP inflation hedging a motive to take CPP a bit early?
Happily, CPP advantages are not clawed again at any stage, though in fact they’re nonetheless taxable. Right here too, inflation indexing involves the rescue for retirees and semi-retirees. Actually, for the second yr in a row semi-retired actuary Fred Vettese argued that Canadian near-retirees hoping to maximise CPP payouts by ready to age 70 may as an alternative take it a yr or two early to reap the benefits of inflation changes that kick in every January.
Vettese recommended that in late 2022—and extra not too long ago in this article—that these considering of beginning CPP in 2024 ought to begin it earlier than the brand new yr. He responded in an e-mail to me: “I made up my mind it undoubtedly made sense to start out it in late 2023 as an alternative. Doing so is value an additional few thousand {dollars}.”