If you were able to set aside some CERB funds, placing a portion of it in an RRSP ahead of the March 1 deadline may save you a bit in taxes. Here’s how:
Individuals are taxed on their income from the previous year, which will include CERB if you were a recipient. The amount of funds you put into your RRSP will not be considered part of your annual income, and will reduce the amount of taxable income you report.
“That RRSP amount will be deducted from the income, so your taxable income in less,” Xu said. “It’s kind of tax-deferral, you put that money away and you don’t get taxed on it, later on whenever you take that out you get taxed, less.”