The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is how Canadian families save for a child’s education after high school, with federal grants added to what they put in. These guides are grouped by the question they answer. For the full overview in one place, begin with the complete RESP guide.
Start here
- How an RESP works: the complete guide, including the Canada Learning Bond
- RESP calculator: project contributions, grants and growth
- Where to open an RESP: providers and plan types compared
Government grants
- How to get the most CESG: the yearly amount, catching up missed years, the income-tested top-up and provincial grants
- CESG deadlines: the December 31 cutoff, the last grant year and the age-16/17 test
Contributing
- RESP overcontribution: the lifetime limit, the monthly tax and the fix
- Family RESPs for siblings: one plan for several children
- RESPs for separated or divorced parents
Taking money out
- RESP withdrawal strategies: EAPs, contribution refunds and the student’s tax
- When your child turns 18: who controls the plan and what changes
- Trade school, college and apprenticeships: which programs qualify
- Schools outside Canada
When plans change
- If your child doesn’t go to post-secondary school: every option compared
- Transferring RESP earnings to an RRSP: accumulated income payments and the rollover
- Changing the beneficiary
Comparing accounts
- RESP vs TFSA for education savings
- RRSP vs RESP, including the Lifelong Learning Plan
- RESP vs an in-trust account
- RESP savings vs student loans
Browse All RESP Guides for Canadian Families: Grants, Contributions and Withdrawals Articles
Browse all 17 articles in this section.
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- RESP Beneficiary Change Canada: Rules, Grants and How to Do It
- RESP Calculator: Project Contributions, CESG and Growth
- RESP CESG Deadline Canada: Last Age and Year to Get Grants
- RESP for Divorced or Separated Parents in Canada: Rules and Options
- RESP Guide Canada (2026): How Registered Education Savings Plans Work
- RESP Overcontribution in Canada: The 1% Monthly Tax and How to Fix It
- RESP vs TFSA for Education Savings: Which to Use in Canada
- RESP Withdrawal Strategies: EAPs, Contribution Refunds and Tax
- RRSP vs RESP for Education: Which Account to Use
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on August 29, 2026. How we check facts.
- Canada Revenue Agency: Closing your fhsa
- Canada Revenue Agency: Definitions
- Canada Revenue Agency: Document
- Canada Revenue Agency: Reporting fhsa activities income benefit return
- Canada Revenue Agency: What happens contribute transfer too much
- Justice Laws (Canada): Income Tax Regulations
- Revenu Québec: Payment out of an fhsa