Tax benefits

An RESP is a tax shelter designed to benefit post-secondary students. With an RESP, contributions (comprising the investment’s principal) are, or have already been, taxed at the contributor’s tax rate, while the investment growth (and CESG) is taxed on withdrawal at the recipient’s tax rate. An RESP recipient is typically a post-secondary student; these individuals generally pay little or no federal income tax, owing to tuition and education tax credits. Thus, with the tax-free principal contribution available for withdrawal, CESG, and nearly-tax-free interest, the student will have a good source of income to fund his or her post-secondary education.