Contributing to your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSPs

Contributions you make to a spousal or common-law partner RRSP reduce your RRSP deduction limit. The total amount you can deduct for contributions you make to your spouse's RRSP or common-law partner's RRSP and your RRSP cannot be more than your RRSP deduction limit. For more information, see How much can I contribute and deduct?

If you cannot contribute to your RRSP because of your age, you can still contribute to your spouse's RRSP or common-law partner's RRSP until the end of the year he or she turns 71. For more information, see RRSP options when you turn 71.

Example
Joey's 2011 RRSP deduction limit is $9,500. Joey contributes $4,000 to his RRSP in 2011, and $6,000 to his common-law partner Ghislaine's RRSP in 2011. Joey deducts the $4,000 he contributed to his RRSP on line 208 of his 2011 return. Although Joey contributed $6,000 to his common-law partner's RRSP in 2011, he can only deduct $5,500 of this contribution on his 2011 return ($9,500 - $4,000). He may be able to deduct the remaining $500 on a future year's tax return.

Funds in an RRSP cannot be moved or transferred to an RRSP that does not have the same annuitant as the RRSP where the money is coming from. For example, you cannot transfer funds in your RRSP to a spousal or common-law partner RRSP.

Contributions made after death

No contributions can be made to a deceased individual's RRSP after the date of death. However, the deceased individual's legal representative can make contributions to the surviving spouse's RRSP or common-law partner's RRSP in the year of death or during the first 60 days after the end of that year. Contributions made to a spouse's RRSP or common-law partner's RRSP can be claimed on the deceased individual's return up to that individual's RRSP deduction limit for the year of death.

Example
Dave died in August 2011. His 2011 RRSP deduction limit is $7,000. Before he died, Dave did not contribute to either his RRSP or his wife's RRSP for 2011. His wife Paula is 66 years old in 2011. On Dave's behalf, his legal representative can contribute up to $7,000 to Paula's RRSP for 2011. The legal representative can then claim an RRSP deduction of up to $7,000 on line 208 of Dave's 2011 final return.

If you have contributed to a spousal or common-law partner RRSP, refer to How much can I contribute and deduct? for information on claiming a deduction.

Note
If you contributed amounts to your spouse's RRSP or common-law partner's RRSP in 2009, 2010, or 2011, you may have to include in your 2011 income all or part of the amount your spouse or common-law partner withdrew in 2011 from his or her spousal or common-law partner RRSP.

If you have made a withdrawal from a spousal RRSP, refer to Withdrawing from spousal or common-law partner RRSPs for information on reporting the income.

Forms and publications

• Guide T4040, RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement
• Information Circular IC72-22R, Registered Retirement Savings Plans
• Interpretation Bulletin IT-124R, Contributions to Registered Retirement Savings Plan

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