Guides › RRSP Receipts, Schedule 7 and Line 20800: How to Claim

RRSP Receipts, Schedule 7 and Line 20800: How to Claim

Educational information only, not tax advice. We are not the CRA and are not affiliated with it. Check canada.ca. Last checked: 17 October 2026. Anything marked expected should be re-checked. Examples use made-up numbers. This page contains no affiliate links.

Short answer: The CRA says you deduct RRSP contributions on line 20800 of your return. RRSP issuers give you a receipt; paper filers attach receipts, while NETFILE and EFILE users keep them. Schedule 7 is used if you have unused contributions, transfers, or Home Buyers' Plan / Lifelong Learning Plan activity, and the CRA's 2025 wording says to attach receipts for contributions from March 4, 2025 to March 2, 2026, the window matching that year's deadline.

What the CRA pages say (2025 return)

Receipts: if you contributed to a spouse's RRSP, the receipt should show you as contributor and your spouse as annuitant.
Line 20800: enter your RRSP deduction claim; attach Schedule 7 if you must fill it out.
Schedule 7 line items (per the Schedule PDF excerpt): line 1 unused contributions from prior years, line 2 contributions made March 4, 2025 to December 31, 2025, line 3 contributions made January 1 to March 2, 2026.
Unused contributions carry forward and can be deducted up to your deduction limit in a later year.
If you are not deducting everything, fill out Schedule 7; for an already-filed return, the CRA says to send Schedule 7 with a T1 adjustment request and receipts.
Employer PRPP contributions are reported on line 20810, not deducted on 20800.
If you can't get receipts before the filing deadline, the CRA refers to its "Missing slips or receipts" guidance.

For the 2026 return (filed in 2027)

The same structure is expected: contributions from March 3, 2026 to the 2027 deadline (our calculation: March 1, 2027) in the first-60-days window. The 2026 Schedule 7 and dates are not published on the pages we read (key dates).

Practical checklist

Gather receipts: the issuer separates "first 60 days" receipts from the rest.
Check your deduction limit on the notice of assessment (where to find it).
Decide how much to claim; unused amounts go on Schedule 7.
See the return checklist.

FAQ

Do I attach receipts with EFILE? The CRA says show them to your preparer and keep them.

What if I over-contributed? See over-contribution.

What we could not verify

2026 Schedule 7 form and dates (not published).
Line-by-line wording comes partly from search excerpts of the Schedule 7 PDF and Guide T4040.
HBP/LLP repayment detail (not covered).

Sources (official)

Canada Revenue Agency, Line 20800 – RRSP deduction — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/line-20800-rrsp-deduction.html (search excerpt 17 October 2026)
Canada Revenue Agency, How to claim your RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions on your tax return (search excerpt 17 October 2026)
Canada Revenue Agency, Schedule 7 (2025) PDF and Guide T4040 (search excerpts 17 October 2026)
Canada Revenue Agency, What to do with unused RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions (search excerpt 17 October 2026)

RRSP deadline planner → Dates calendar →

Not tax or financial advice. See the disclosure.