Your teen was born in 2011? Then the RESP age 15 deadline is 31 December 2026. It decides whether the Government of Canada keeps paying the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) into your child's RESP at ages 16 and 17. Miss it and up to $2,000 of basic grant for those two years is gone for good. For Durham Region parents with a Grade 10 student in Whitby, Ajax or Pickering, one $2,000 RESP contribution before New Year's Eve keeps that door open.
Key takeaways
- A beneficiary born in 2011 must meet the CESG contribution requirements by 31 December 2026: at least $2,000 contributed to the RESP and not withdrawn, or at least $100 a year (not withdrawn) in at least four years before the year the child turns 16.
- If the test is not met by the end of the calendar year the child turns 15, no CESG is paid on contributions made in the years the beneficiary turns 16 and 17.
- The basic CESG is 20% of the first $2,500 contributed each year ($500), and up to $1,000 a year when there is unused grant room from earlier years.
- The lifetime maximum CESG is $7,200 per beneficiary, and the government grant stops at the end of the year the child turns 17.
- A grandparent's RESP contribution counts towards the $2,000 test, because the government looks at total contributions made for the child across every RESP.
RESP age 15 deadline: Canada Education Savings Grant contribution requirements
An RESP is a tax-sheltered account for a child's education after high school: the subscriber opens it, the child is the beneficiary, and the government adds the CESG on top of what you contribute.
Every child who lives in Canada earns $500 of CESG room each year from birth, whether or not an RESP exists. That room carries forward until the end of the year the child turns 17.
There is one catch for older teens. Under the federal CESG eligibility rules, a beneficiary aged 16 or 17 may be eligible for the CESG only if one of the following was true by the end of the calendar year they turn 15:
- A total of at least $2,000 was contributed to the RESP and not withdrawn.
- An annual contribution of at least $100 was made (and not withdrawn) in at least four years before the year the beneficiary turns 16.
That is the whole age 15 rule. It is a gateway test: pass it and the CESG keeps flowing at 16 and 17, fail it and every contribution in those two years earns nothing extra.
Registered education savings plan deadline by birth year
| Child born in | Turns 15 in | Age 15 deadline | Last year of CESG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2027 | 31 December 2027 | 2029 |
| 2011 | 2026 | 31 December 2026 | 2028 |
| 2010 | 2025 | Passed | 2027, only if the test was met |
| 2009 | 2024 | Passed | 2026, only if the test was met |
One thing about the four-years path: if you have never made a contribution, it is already closed for a child born in 2011. You cannot fit four separate years of $100 into one calendar year. For you, the $2,000 path is the only one left.
RESP catch up grant and the contribution limit
The CESG pays 20% on the first $2,500 you contribute in a year, so $500. If you skipped earlier years you can catch up, but only one extra year at a time, so the yearly cap on the basic CESG with carry-forward is $1,000, which takes a $5,000 contribution.
| Canada Education Savings Grant 2026 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic rate | 20% of each contribution |
| Basic grant per year, no unused room | $500 (on $2,500) |
| Basic grant per year, with unused room | $1,000 (on $5,000) |
| Additional amount, family income $58,523 or less (2026) | Extra 20% on first $500 = $100 |
| Additional amount, family income $58,523 to $117,045 (2026) | Extra 10% on first $500 = $50 |
| Lifetime maximum per beneficiary | $7,200 |
| Lifetime contribution limit per beneficiary | $50,000 |
The additional CESG cannot be carried forward; only the basic 20% amount builds up unused room. Low-income families may also qualify for the Canada Learning Bond, which adds up to $2,000 with no contribution needed. Ontario has no provincial RESP grant of its own, unlike British Columbia and Quebec, so the federal CESG is the whole grant for a Durham family. Figures above come from the federal government and the CRA RESP guide RC4092, checked 16 October 2026.
Whitby worked example: RESP contribution plan for a 2011 beneficiary
Priya and Marc live in Whitby. Their daughter Leah was born in May 2011 and is in Grade 10 this fall. They never opened an RESP. Their family income is $165,000, so Leah gets the basic CESG only. In October 2026 they open an RESP and plan a $5,000 contribution each year.
| Year | Leah's age | Contribution | CESG paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | $5,000 | $1,000 |
| 2027 | 16 | $5,000 | $1,000 |
| 2028 | 17 | $5,000 | $1,000 |
| Total | $15,000 | $3,000 |
The 2026 contribution does two jobs. It earns $1,000, and it passes the $2,000 test, so 2027 and 2028 qualify too. If they waited until January 2027 to open the RESP, Leah would get $0. Same daughter, same plan, $3,000 less.
Leah still has more room on paper ($500 a year since 2011), but the $1,000 yearly cap means three years can only capture $3,000 of it. The rest is lost for good. That is why families who start their education savings early collect the full $7,200.
What your 2026 contribution gets you
The size of your December contribution sets how much grant the three years can earn. Each row assumes you then contribute $5,000 in both 2027 and 2028.
| Contribute in 2026 | Passes age 15 test? | Total basic CESG (2026 to 2028) | With additional CESG, income $58,523 or less |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | No | $0 | $0 |
| $2,000 | Yes | $2,400 | $2,700 |
| $2,500 | Yes | $2,500 | $2,800 |
| $5,000 | Yes | $3,000 | $3,300 |
The jump from $0 to $2,000 is the one that matters: it is the difference between three years of grant and none.
The smaller-budget path
Cannot find $5,000 by December? Make a $2,000 contribution before 31 December 2026. That earns $400 (20% of $2,000) and passes the gateway test. Then contribute $5,000 in 2027 and again in 2028 for $1,000 each year. Total over three years: $2,400. Even a $2,500 contribution in each of those later years still adds $500 a year.
Is a late RESP the right place for this money?
The 20% grant is hard to beat, but it is not automatic that every dollar belongs in the RESP. Here is how the choice usually breaks down.
| If | Where it usually goes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your teen is likely to attend college, university or a trades program | RESP | The 20% CESG beats any savings rate, and it is only paid inside an RESP. |
| You are unsure about post-secondary, or may need the money back | TFSA instead | If the child does not go on to school, the CESG is returned and the growth is taxed, with a penalty, when you take it out. |
| You want the grant but not all your savings locked in | Split it | Put $2,000 in the RESP to pass the test and earn the grant, keep the rest in a TFSA. |
This is grant and tax reasoning only, not investment advice. A $2,000 RESP contribution to pass the gateway test is the low-risk move for almost every 2011 family, because the test cannot be passed later.
Grandparent contributions and the government grant test
The $2,000 test counts total contributions made for the beneficiary, across every plan and every subscriber. If Leah's grandmother in Ajax opens her own RESP for Leah and makes a $2,000 contribution in December, that counts. Keep in mind the grant limits ($1,000 a year, $7,200 lifetime) are per beneficiary, not per plan, so two plans do not double the government grant.
To check whether a teen has already passed the test, add up every contribution made for them, in any plan and by any subscriber, that has not been withdrawn. If that total reaches $2,000 by the end of the year they turn 15, the gateway is met.
Wondering about the tax side of a grandparent's cash gift? We cover it in is gifted money taxable in Canada. Short version: the gift itself is not taxed when it goes in.
Before you contribute to an RESP: three checks
- Ask your RESP provider for its December cut-off. Many need the money in the account a few business days before 31 December to count for 2026.
- Confirm your child has a social insurance number (SIN). The CESG cannot be paid without one.
- Do not make an RESP withdrawal before the deadline. Taking contributions out can undo the $2,000 test.
An RESP contribution is not tax deductible. When your child later takes money out for post-secondary education, the grant and growth are taxed in the student's hands, usually at a low rate. If the beneficiary does not go on to post-secondary education, the CESG goes back to the government.
FAQ
Is it too late to open an RESP for my 15-year-old?
No. For a child born in 2011, open an RESP and contribute at least $2,000 by 31 December 2026 to keep the CESG flowing at ages 16 and 17.
Can my 16 or 17-year-old still get the CESG?
Only if the age 15 test was met: $2,000 in total, or $100 a year in at least four years, contributed and not withdrawn by the end of the year they turned 15.
How much RESP catch up grant can I get in one year?
The basic amount tops out at $1,000 a year on a $5,000 contribution, or $500 on $2,500 without unused room. The lifetime maximum is $7,200 per beneficiary.
Do grandparent contributions count towards the $2,000 test?
Yes. The government counts every RESP contribution made for the beneficiary, in any plan, by any subscriber. The yearly and lifetime limits still apply per beneficiary across all plans combined.
Lock in the RESP grant before 31 December
A teen born in 2011 has until 31 December 2026 to lock in up to $3,000 of government grant for their education. We help families across Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington, Bowmanville and Uxbridge plan RESP savings around their personal tax and broader family financial planning. Not sure if your child already passed the test? Book a call and we will check it together.
This article is for general information only and does not replace professional tax advice. Tax rules change, and your specific situation matters. Always confirm with a qualified CPA before making tax decisions.
