An RESP under the tree: now that’s a gift that makes dollars and sense
It’s the time of year when parents, grandparents—even aunts and uncles are all in search of it.
By ‘it’, we’re talking about the perfect holiday gift for the child on their list.
But before you make a mad dash to grab the latest toy or gaming console, we were thinking of giving something with far more staying power. It’s the kind of gift that will grow over time and lessen financial stress when that child is eventually ready to head off to college or university.
We’re talking about the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) of course.
Okay, so an RESP might not exactly have the immediate wow factor of unwrapping the latest smart device. But be patient, because the wow factor for this particular gift will kick in. You may just have to wait until the moment that first tuition payment comes due.
Now, just in case you still need some convincing as to whether an RESP is indeed the perfect holiday gift, let’s put the cost of higher education into perspective.
According to statistics, Canadian students are graduating from post-secondary education with a debt load in the tens of thousands.
The size of the debt naturally depends on the field of study, with the average amount being as follows:
- $15,300 for college grads
- $28,000 for those who pursued a bachelor’s degree
- $84,172 for medical students
As tuition costs continue to rise year-over-year, that debt load will continue to creep up.
Take a look at 2022-23, for example.
Canadian post-secondary students are paying an average of 2.6% more than the previous academic year—the fourth year in a row where there has been a tuition increase.
Actuarial reports of the Canada Student Loan Program predict that student financial needs will continue to rise in the coming years, which will drive up the amount of student loans required to pay for post-secondary education. In fact, the federal government estimates that tuition fees could rise by as much as 2.5% above the rate of inflation annually over the next several years.
At this rate, annual tuition fees for undergraduate studies could increase to an average of $19,900 a year by the time we hit 2035-36.
Hence the increasing importance of putting money away for tomorrow’s tuition costs, today.
So, an RESP is probably looking like a pretty smart gift option right about now, don’t you think? Plus they have a few perks, which truly makes them the gift that keeps on giving.
Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG): The government will chip in an additional 20% of your RESP investment on the first $2,500 in contributions per year (which equals $500 annually up to a lifetime maximum $7,200 per child).
It’s tax-sheltered: This means you can contribute up to $50,000 per child and the investment will grow, sheltered from tax (similar to a RRSP). When the money is withdrawn, earned investment income (and CESG money) is taxed in the hands of the child (at the child’s tax rate, possibly zero in some cases).
Haven’t been contributing to an RESP and missing out on all that CESG? No problem.
- You can play ‘catch up’—but only up to a certain point
- Unused CESG room automatically builds from the year your child/grandchild is born and is carried forward to the year they turn 17(the final year they qualify)
Keep in mind that the maximum CESG that can be received annually per child when you’re playing catch-up on RESP contributions is $1,000.
If the child on your gift list is 10 years old this year, you may want to pay extra attention to the upcoming December 31st deadline in order to maximize your CESG benefit, since it’ll take roughly 7 years to catch up on the maximum $7,200 in CESG money (that is if you max out your enhanced RESP catch-up contributions at $5,000 a year for the next 7 years).
If your child/grandchild turned 15 this year and still doesn’t yet have an RESP, there’s something else to keep in mind.
No CESG money can be claimed in the remaining two years of eligibility unless $2,000 is contributed to an RESP by the end of this year. Which means you better get on top of those RESP contributions before the December 31st deadline to benefit from the financial perks that come with the CESG.
And finally, what happens if your child/grandchild decides not to pursue post-secondary education?
No worries, you need not close the RESP until the 36th year of the plan. This gives your child plenty of time to pursue higher education. If not, you simply close the RESP and return the CESG portion to the government. The contributions are returned to you tax-free and the income earned can be rolled into your (or your spouse’s) RRSP, provided there is contribution room. If no RRSP room exists, the earned income is then taxed at your marginal tax rate, plus an additional 20%.
When all is said and done and the holidays have come and gone, an RESP from you is a legacy that will last a lifetime.
Far more valuable than any toy or video game and way more appealing than an ugly Christmas sweater, an RESP is a gift that invests in the future of the next generation. As far as holiday gifts go, it really doesn’t get any better than that.
Want to ‘gift-wrap’ that RESP before the December 31st deadline? We can help.
Also be sure to check out our RESP 101 series of articles for more information about the Registered Education Savings Plan:
How to choose the plan that’s right for you
A 3-step guide to maximizing its total savings potential
What you need to know about contributions, withdrawals, and taxes
Sources:
Canadian Post-secondary Tuition Fees Rise for 4th Consecutive Year: StatsCan
https://macleans.ca/economy/canadian-economy-guide-2022-student-debt/
