Navigating the New TFSA Contribution Room Limits in 2025

You can grow your wealth significantly with $7,000 invested in Fortis (TSX:FTS) stock in a TFSA.

| More on:
TFSA (Tax free savings account) acronym on wooden cubes on the background of stacks of coins

Source: Getty Images

Last week, the Canadian Government and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revealed the new TFSA contribution limit for 2025. The new annual limit is unchanged from 2024; however, the amount is in addition to amounts from prior years. So, if you had any contribution room this year, you’ll have some next year – even if you maxed out your prior limit. In this article, I will explore the new TFSA contribution room limit for 2025 as well as the cumulative amount that has accumulated since the TFSA launched in 2009.

$7,000 for the year

The annual TFSA contribution room limit for 2025 is $7,000. This amount is how much you can contribute to the TFSA, total, if you turn 18 in 2025. If you turned 18 before 2009, it represents how much room will be added to your existing room next year. Speaking of cumulative contribution room, I will explore that amount in the next section.

$102,000 cumulative

For Canadians who turned 18 in 2009 or earlier, $102,000 worth of contribution room has accumulated over their adult lives. That means, if you are at least 33 years old today and have not contributed to a TFSA before, you’ll have $102,000 worth of accumulated TFSA room next year. If you were younger than 33 in 2009, then you have however many dollars of contribution room accumulated over your adult life. For example, if you turned 18 this year, you will have $14,000 worth of room next year ($7,000 for this year plus $7,000 for next year).

How to invest your TFSA

Having and contributing to a TFSA is one thing, but making the most of owning one is another matter entirely. In order to get value from your TFSA you need to invest successfully – if you simply let your account sit in cash, then you will realize no tax benefits. The whole point of a TFSA is to boost your returns by removing the taxes you’d otherwise have to pay on investments. With that in mind, here’s how to invest in a TFSA successfully.

Among the best assets to hold in a TFSA are dividend stocks. Such stocks pay quarterly cash dividends that are immediately taxable if earned outside of a TFSA or RRSP. By contrast, non-dividend stocks are not taxed until you sell. This makes dividend stocks (and interest-bearing bonds) especially well suited to being held in a TFSA.

Consider Fortis Inc (TSX:FTS), for example. It’s a Canadian stock that has a relatively high dividend yield. If you hold it in a taxable account, you’ll pay taxes on those dividends (albeit offset by the dividend tax credit).

Fortis stock currently pays a $0.62 quarterly dividend. That works out to $2.48 per year. At today’s stock price of $62.99, that $2.48 provides a 3.9% dividend yield. So, if you invest $100,000 into FTS in a TFSA – definitely doable if you were 18 or older in 2009 – then you can get $3,930 back each year in income.

COMPANYRECENT PRICENUMBER OF SHARESDIVIDENDTOTAL PAYOUTFREQUENCY
Fortis$62.991,588$0.62$984.56 per month ($3,938 per year)Monthly
Fortis stock: dividend math

As you can see, you can generate considerable passive income by holding Fortis stock. And if you hold it in a TFSA, it’s tax free!

Now, this isn’t meant to say that you should actually invest your entire $100,000 TFSA into Fortis –especially not if that TFSA represents your total portfolio. Diversification is important. However, the table above does show what can happen with high yields and tax-free compounding.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Andrew Button has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Fortis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Dividend Stocks

Canadian Red maple leaves seamless wallpaper pattern
Dividend Stocks

5 Canadian Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next 20 Years

These Canadian stocks have paid dividends for decades, making them reliable investments to generate regular passive income.

Read more »

Dividend Stocks

3 Canadian REIT Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Next Quarter-Century

These three Canadian REITs trade cheaply and are highly reliable, making them some of the best stocks you can buy…

Read more »

A train passes Morant's curve in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies.
Dividend Stocks

1 Practically Perfect Canadian Stock Down 24% to Buy Now and Hold for Life!

CNR stock is a top Canadian stock for investors, especially with shares down on the TSX today.

Read more »

Canada national flag waving in wind on clear day
Dividend Stocks

The Best Canadian Stocks to Buy Right Away With $30,000

If you have $30,000 you're willing to invest, these are some of the first Canadian stocks to consider on your…

Read more »

rail train
Dividend Stocks

What to Know About Canadian Pacific Railway Stock for 2025

CP stock has now gone through a major merger, so what do investors have to look forward to?

Read more »

ways to boost income
Dividend Stocks

Top Canadian Value Stocks I’d Buy for Dividend Growth and Appreciation

If you are looking for income and capital appreciation, here are three Canadian value stocks for a great total return…

Read more »

coins jump into piggy bank
Dividend Stocks

The Smartest Canadian Stock to Buy With $2,000 Right Now

The company’s powerful combination of growth, income, and value, positions it well to deliver solid returns, making it a smart…

Read more »

Transparent umbrella under heavy rain against water drops splash background. Rainy weather concept.
Dividend Stocks

This 10.6 Percent Dividend Stock Pays Cash Every Single Month

Are you looking to invest for a rainy day? This 10.6% dividend stock pays cash every month, irrespective of the…

Read more »