How to claim your RRSP deduction

Deduct your RRSP contributions on line 208 of your return.

Generally, the total amount you can deduct for contributions you make to a spousal or common-law partner RRSP and your RRSP cannot be more than your 2011 RRSP deduction limit.

Note
Your spouse or common-law partner cannot deduct amounts that you contribute to a spousal or common-law partner RRSP for him or her.

Your RRSP issuer will give you an official receipt for the amounts you contributed. If you contributed to your spouse's RRSP or common-law partner's RRSP, the receipt should show your name as the contributor and your spouse's name or common-law partner's name as the annuitant. Attach the receipt(s) with your paper return to support the amount you contributed. If you are using EFILE, show your receipts to your service provider and keep them in case we ask to see them. If you are using NETFILE or TELEFILE, also keep your receipts in case we ask to see them. If you do not get your receipts before the filing deadline, complete and file your return without deducting your contribution. When you get your receipts, see How to change your return for instructions on how to make changes to your return.

If you deduct an amount for 2011 that you contributed to an RRSP from March 2, 1995, to March 1, 2011, which you had not previously deducted, you should have completed and filed a Schedule 7, RRSP Unused Contributions, Transfers, and HBP or LLP Activities, for these contributions. If you did not, you should submit a copy of appropriate Schedule 7, along with the appropriate RRSP receipts, to your tax centre, separate from your 2011 return.

Note
If you made contributions from January 1, 1991, to March 1, 1995, that you did not deduct, and you did not show it on Schedule 7 for 1994, contact us.

You cannot claim a deduction for any of the following:

• amounts you pay for administration services for an RRSP;
• brokerage fees charged to buy and dispose of securities within a trusteed RRSP;
• the interest you paid on money you borrowed to contribute to an RRSP;
• any capital losses within your RRSP.