General information only — not financial advice for your situation.
This is a learning tool. Always check CRA My Account records and talk to a qualified professional for your own numbers.
Plain English
Say you earn around $50,000 in Alberta and put $5,000 into your RRSP before the deadline. At tax time, you'd get back about $1,100 — that's your combined 22.00% rate giving you a direct cash refund.
Show the math
Refund ≈ contribution × marginal rate. $5,000 × 22.00% = $1,100
Combined federal (14.0%) + Alberta (8.00%) at ~$50,000 income.
Caveats
- Estimates only — actual refund depends on total deductions, credits, and exact taxable income
- If contribution pushes you into a lower bracket, blended rate applies
- Doesn't account for Pension Adjustment if you have a workplace pension
- Doesn't account for provincial surtaxes where applicable
RRSP refund estimator
Based on marginal rate. Does not account for tax credits, deductions, payroll timing, or benefit clawbacks.
Pre-computed scenarios
Marginal rate: 22.00%
| Contribution | Estimated refund |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220 |
| $2,500 | $550 |
| $5,000 | $1,100 |
| $10,000 | $2,200 |
| $20,000 | $4,400 |
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About this site
Every number on this site is sourced from CRA publications, the Income Tax Act, or provincial fiscal releases. We show the math, cite the sources, and never tell you what to do with your money.