RESP Calculator
with CESG Grant
See how much the government adds to your RESP and what the account could be worth when your child turns 18. The calculator applies the basic and additional CESG, grant room carry-forward and the age 16 and 17 rules.
Your RESP details
Your RESP projection
Projections assume the contributions and return you enter, with contributions made at the start of each year and the grant paid at that time. Real returns vary. Grant rules are from the federal government. Not financial advice. Terms →
Year by year
Balance at the end of each year, using your inputs.
| Child age | Contribution | CESG paid | Balance at year end |
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How the RESP and the CESG grant work
A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) lets you save for a child's education after high school. Contributions are not deductible, but the growth is tax-sheltered, and the federal government adds the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) on top of what you put in. When the child studies, the withdrawals of growth and grants are taxed in the student's hands, usually at little or no tax.
The basic CESG: 20% on up to $2,500 a year
The government adds 20% of your contributions each year, up to $500 a year on a $2,500 contribution. If you miss a year, the unused grant room carries forward. Grant room builds at $500 a year from the year the child is born. With carried-forward room you can receive up to $1,000 of CESG in a single year, which requires a $5,000 contribution. The lifetime limit is $7,200 per child.
The additional CESG for lower and middle incomes
Families with lower net income get an additional grant on the first $500 contributed each year: 20% (an extra $100) if family net income is at or below $58,523, and 10% (an extra $50) if it is above that and at or below $117,045. The additional grant does not carry forward. Both thresholds are the 2026 federal bracket limits.
Example: $2,500 a year from birth
If you contribute $2,500 every year from birth until age 17 at a 5% annual return, with a middle family income, the projected balance when the child turns 18 is about $86,967. You put in $45,000 and the government adds $7,200. Both income bands reach the $7,200 lifetime cap, but a lower-income family gets there sooner because of the additional grant, so the projected balance is slightly higher at about $87,286. Starting at age 5 with the same $2,500 a year, the projection is about $56,726, because there is less time to grow and less grant room.
Rules at ages 16 and 17
CESG is paid on contributions up to the end of the year the child turns 17, but at 16 and 17 the child must meet a contribution history test. By the end of the year the child turned 15, either at least $2,000 must have been contributed and not withdrawn, or at least $100 a year must have been contributed in any four earlier years. If the test is not met, the calculator shows no grant for those years.
Contribution limits
- There is no annual limit on RESP contributions, but the lifetime limit is $50,000 per child.
- Over-contributing is penalized at 1% a month on the excess.
- Contributing more than $2,500 a year without carry-forward room gives no extra grant on the excess.
Using the money
When the student enrols in a qualifying program, they can receive Educational Assistance Payments (EAPs), which are the grants and the growth. These are taxable to the student, who usually has little other income and a large basic personal amount. Your original contributions come back to you tax-free. If the child does not go to school, the grants must be returned, and the growth can be moved to your RRSP up to the limits or withdrawn with extra tax.
Canada Learning Bond
Families with low income may also qualify for the Canada Learning Bond, which adds up to $2,000 with no contribution required. It is not modelled in this calculator. Check eligibility with Employment and Social Development Canada.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the government add to an RESP?
The CESG adds 20% of the first $2,500 you contribute each year, up to $500 a year, and up to $7,200 in total per child. Lower incomes get an additional grant on the first $500.
How much should I put in an RESP each year?
$2,500 a year earns the full basic grant. If you missed earlier years, up to $5,000 in one year can earn up to $1,000 of CESG using carried-forward room.
Is there a lifetime RESP contribution limit?
Yes, $50,000 per child. There is no yearly limit. Excess contributions are charged 1% a month.
What happens if my child does not go to school?
The CESG must be returned. You can take your contributions back tax-free. The growth can be moved to your RRSP if you have room, within limits, or withdrawn and taxed with an additional charge.
Is RESP growth taxed?
Not inside the plan. When the student receives it as an educational assistance payment, it is taxed as the student's income, which is often little or no tax.
Can I still get the grant at 16 or 17?
Only if the child meets the contribution history test by the end of the year they turn 15: $2,000 contributed, or $100 a year for four years.
What return should I assume?
The calculator uses your number. A balanced portfolio historically earns less than a pure stock fund and a GIC-style account earns less still. Use a conservative figure if you plan to depend on the result.
Does this include the Canada Learning Bond?
No. It adds up to $2,000 for eligible low-income families. Check eligibility separately.