Investment · Education
CESG catch-up calculator.
Missed years of RESP contributions? Unused Canada Education Savings Grant room carries forward — see how much you can claim this year and how much runs out when your child turns 17.
The basic CESG is 20% of the first $2,500 you contribute each calendar year, so $500. With unused room from earlier years you can contribute up to $5,000 in one year and get up to $1,000 of CESG. The lifetime maximum is $7,200 per child, and unused room stops accumulating at the end of the year the child turns 17.
Inputs
Result
Fill the form and press Calculate catch-up.
The rule, exactly
The basic CESG matches 20% of the first $2,500 contributed to an RESP in a calendar year, a maximum of $500. Unused CESG amounts from previous years accumulate until the end of the year the child turns 17. When there is unused room, the subscriber can contribute more than $2,500 in a year and receive 20% of up to $5,000, so a child can get up to $1,000 of CESG in a calendar year. Carry-forward only works while the $7,200 lifetime maximum is not exceeded. The grant is available until the end of the calendar year the child turns 17, and 16- and 17-year-olds must meet extra conditions (at least $2,000 contributed and not withdrawn, or at least $100 a year in four earlier years, before the end of the year they turn 15).
Worked example
A child turns 8 this year, has $2,000 of unused basic room and has received $2,000 of CESG so far. This year's room is $500 + $2,000, capped at $1,000. A $5,000 contribution earns 20% = $1,000 (versus $500 on $2,500 with no catch-up), leaving $1,500 of backlog ($2,000 + $500 new room − $1,000 used). The child has 10 years left (ages 8 to 17), and each year can use at most $500 of backlog on top of that year's $500, so the $1,500 backlog can be fully used if you keep contributing $5,000 for three more years.
How this calculator works
Room this year = min($500 + unused room, $1,000, $7,200 − grant received). Grant = min(20% × min(contribution, $5,000), room this year). Years left = 17 − age + 1. Backlog that expires = max(0, unused room − $500 × years left), because only $500 of backlog can be added to each year's $500. Future years are assumed to add $500 of room each, the 20% × $2,500 basic rate.
What it does not cover
It models the basic grant only. The Additional CESG (an extra 10% or 20% on the first $500 for lower-income families) is a separate income-tested amount; enter it in “already received” so the $7,200 cap is respected, but it is not projected here. Your promoter or the Canada Education Savings Program statement shows your real unused room, so use that figure as the input. Provincial grants (BC, Quebec) are separate.
Source, read 1 October 2026 (page last updated 10 August 2026): canada.ca — "Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG)", Employment and Social Development Canada.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most CESG I can get in one year?
$1,000 of CESG on a $5,000 contribution, and only if you have at least $500 of unused room from earlier years. Without unused room, the basic CESG tops out at $500 on $2,500.
How far back can I catch up?
Unused amounts accumulate until the end of the year the child turns 17, as long as the $7,200 lifetime maximum is not exceeded. Because each year can use at most $500 of backlog, a large backlog takes several years to use.
Do I need to have had an RESP in the missed years?
No. The page says unused CESG amounts accumulate even if the child was not a beneficiary of an RESP in those years.
Where do I find my unused room?
Ask your RESP promoter, or check the Canada Education Savings Program information available through your plan. Use that number rather than guessing.
Reference only
This is an estimate of the basic CESG using the published rules. Your promoter calculates the actual grant; confirm your unused room and eligibility with them or the Canada Education Savings Program. Not financial advice.