See how much the government adds to an RESP contribution through the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) — official CRA rules.
A cash gift to a child's RESP isn't just a gift — the federal government matches part of it automatically through the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). This tool uses the exact official CRA rules, not a survey estimate, to show how much extra a contribution actually brings in.
The holiday gift budget figure on the other tab is a genuine national survey average, shown separately since it's a different kind of data (a trend, not a government formula).
| Basic CESG match | 20% of contributions, up to $500/yearon the first $2,500 contributed |
| Additional CESG (lower income) | +20% on the first $500family net income under $57,375 (2025) |
| Additional CESG (middle income) | +10% on the first $500$57,375-$114,750 (2025) |
| Lifetime CESG limit | $7,200 per beneficiary |
| RESP lifetime contribution limit | $50,000 per beneficiaryno annual limit, 1%/month penalty if exceeded |
| Average holiday gift budget | $975Retail Council of Canada × Leger, Oct 2025 |
* Income thresholds are for 2025 and may be adjusted for inflation in later years. This calculator models a single year's contribution and does not track prior years' used grant room or lifetime totals.
On top of the basic 20% match, families with lower adjusted net income get an extra 20% (or 10% for the middle bracket) on the first $500 contributed each year — meaning a $500 contribution from a lower-income family can bring in $200 in grants rather than $100.
As of October 2026 · Sources: Canada Revenue Agency (canada.ca) CESG rules, Retail Council of Canada × Leger holiday spending survey (Oct 2025)