Sudbury

TFSA contribution limit info has been unavailable since mid-April, CRA confirms

For more than a month, Canadians looking for their remaining contribution room in their tax-free savings accounts (TFSA) on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website have been out of luck.

Over contributions to the tax-free accounts are charged 1% interest per month

A sign outside the Canada Revenue Agency is seen Monday May 10, 2021 in Ottawa.
The Canada Revenue Agency says it has faced delays processing tax-free interest account information. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

For more than a month Canadians looking to see how much contribution room is remaining in their tax-free savings accounts (TFSA) on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website or phone service have been out of luck.

In an email to CBC News, CRA spokesperson Nina Ioussoupova confirmed that information has been unavailable since mid-April.

"There have been delays in processing TFSA annual information returns this year," Ioussoupova said in the email.

"To avoid displaying erroneous information on My Account, the display of TFSA information, including TFSA contribution room, has been blocked since April 17, 2025."

A screen capture of a website that says,  "This service is not available at this time. Please try again later."
People who search for their tax-free-savings account contribution on the Canada Revenue Agency get this message. (Canada Revenue Agency)

The tax-free savings accounts were introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government in 2009.

Each year, Canadians who are at least 18 years old receive an increase to the amount of money they can invest. In 2025, for example, the additional contribution limit is $7,000.

If someone was 18 in 2009, has lived in Canada since then and never contributed to their TFSA, their total contribution limit would be $102,000 as of Jan. 1, 2025.

But if a person contributes every year, but doesn't reach the limit, it can be more difficult to calculate. Withdrawals are also added to a person's contribution limit the following year.

Ioussoupova said in her email that the CRA is working to update TFSA contribution information "as quickly as possible."

She added that to "avoid over-contributing, review the records provided by your issuer."

Ioussoupova said taxpayers can fill out what's called a RC343 Worksheet to estimate their TFSA contribution room for the year.

Philip Spagnolo, a senior accountant with Jakubo Chartered Professional Accountants in Sudbury, said it's important people are aware of the TFSA contribution room before they invest funds.

"There's a one per cent interest [per month] that's charged on the amount that you over contribute. So you want to be aware of that so you don't run into that problem," he said.

Spagnolo said it's possible to file an appeal with the CRA if someone is charged interest for over-contributing to their TFSA, but there's no guarantee they would be successful.

"It's best not to get into that situation in the first place," he said.