TFSA Growth Calculator 2026
Project your Tax-Free Savings Account growth. 2026 contribution room: $7,000 ($102,000 lifetime if eligible since 2009).
Your account & growth assumptions
2026 annual limit: $7,000
Historical balanced portfolio: 5–7%
💰Projected Balance
—
Slide to calculate
📈Tax-Free Growth
—
Slide to calculate
💳Total Contributions
—
Slide to calculate
Data sources & methodology — see full methodology · editorial standards
TFSA projections use compound annual growth on existing balance plus new contributions, applied against official CRA annual and cumulative contribution limits. All growth and withdrawals are modelled as tax-free.
Sourced from: CRA — TFSA contribution room
How this TFSA growth projection works
This calculator starts with the TFSA balance you enter and projects it forward from your current age to your target age. In each projected year, it combines the account value with your planned annual contribution and applies the annual return assumption. The chart shows the resulting balance over time, while the milestone table separates the amount contributed from estimated investment growth. The projected balance is therefore a planning illustration, not a statement of what an investment will earn.
A TFSA can hold cash, GICs, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities, so the return actually experienced depends on the investments and fees in the account. Unlike an RRSP, qualified TFSA withdrawals are generally not taxable, and investment income earned inside the account is generally not reported as taxable income. The tax-free benefit shown here compares the estimated growth with an equivalent taxable-account scenario used by the calculator; it is not a personalized tax calculation.
Inputs and assumptions to review
The annual contribution is treated as a consistent yearly deposit. Your actual timing matters: monthly deposits, a January lump sum, and a year-end deposit will not compound in exactly the same way. The return rate is also a steady annual assumption. Markets do not deliver a smooth return every calendar year, and a diversified portfolio can still lose value for a period. Consider using a lower rate as a cautious case and a higher rate only as a comparison case.
Contribution room is personal. It depends on age, Canadian residency, prior contributions, withdrawals, and unused room carried forward. The displayed annual limit is useful context, but it does not confirm your available room. Check CRA My Account or your latest notice of assessment before contributing, and leave room for transactions that may not yet be reflected in the displayed balance. Overcontributions can lead to a monthly tax, so an estimate should not replace that check.
Reading the result
Compare total contributions with tax-free growth rather than focusing only on the ending balance. Early in the projection, new deposits may account for much of the change. As the balance grows, compounding can become more visible because returns are earned on prior gains as well as on the original deposits. A long time horizon can be valuable, but it does not remove investment risk or guarantee an outcome.
Use the milestone rows to ask practical questions: when might the account reach a savings goal, how much difference would another contribution make, and how sensitive is the result to the return assumption? If your target is near, it may be more useful to emphasize the contribution plan and a range of returns than a distant endpoint. If the target is decades away, revisit the estimate periodically as income, savings capacity, and investment mix change.
Scenario testing and next steps
Try at least three scenarios: a baseline based on your current plan, a conservative case with a lower return or smaller contribution, and an optimistic case. You can also test the effect of beginning now versus waiting a year, or directing an annual raise to the TFSA. Keep the assumptions internally consistent: a portfolio designed for lower volatility may reasonably have a different expected return than an equity-heavy portfolio.
After choosing a working scenario, confirm your available room, automate contributions if that fits your cash flow, and decide how the investments match your timeline and risk tolerance. Keep an emergency fund and high-interest debt in view; a TFSA is flexible, but withdrawing for a short-term need changes the investment plan. Withdrawn room is generally added back in the following calendar year, not immediately. For decisions involving taxes, estate planning, or a substantial portfolio, consider advice from a qualified Canadian professional.