The year, 2024 has been exciting for the Modest family as last week, on April 17th, Rich Modest won the lottery for $1 million dollars! Rich has been a saver but never thought of pushing the saving concept on his family, which he regrets. It is therefore with this lottery money, that he thought its best use would be to gift each family member money but only if they used it to contribute to their Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). So far, Rich is the only one with a TFSA where he has contributed the maximum each year except for this year's contribution which he still has to make. No other family member has made any TFSA contributions, and each will need to open a TFSA account (if they are eligible). Rich has asked you to help him determine the maximum amount permitted under the TFSA rules for each family member and to provide him with the family's total TFSA contribution that they could contribute for 2024. (Hint: consider carryforward balances).

Question

The year, 2024 has been exciting for the Modest family as last week, on April 17th, Rich Modest won the lottery for $1 million dollars! Rich has been a saver but never thought of pushing the saving concept on his family, which he regrets. It is therefore with this lottery money, that he thought its best use would be to gift each family member money but only if they used it to contribute to their Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). So far, Rich is the only one with a TFSA where he has contributed the maximum each year except for this year's contribution which he still has to make. No other family member has made any TFSA contributions, and each will need to open a TFSA account (if they are eligible). Rich has asked you to help him determine the maximum amount permitted under the TFSA rules for each family member and to provide him with the family's total TFSA contribution that they could contribute for 2024. (Hint: consider carryforward balances).

Rich Modest (father) turns 65 on December 13, 2024

Alexia (mother) turns 58 on November 10, 2024

Santo and Aitana (Rich’s parents who live with them) both are 85 with birthdays in October.

Children:

Beth turned 20 on April 1, 2024

Twins: Lena turned 18 on December 31, 2023, and Keira turned 18 on January 1, 2024

Vivianne just celebrated her 17th birthday on April 20, 2024

TFSA dollar limits and cumulative totals

Question 39

Answer 1

For the year 2024, the TFSA dollar limit is $6,000.

Here are the maximum TFSA contribution amounts for each family member:

1. Rich Modest (father): Since he turns 65 in 2024, he would have a cumulative total of $75,500 ($6,000 for each year since TFSA inception in 2009 + $3,000 for 2019 and 2020 + $5,000 for 2021, 2022, and 2023 + $10,000 for 2024). Therefore, he can contribute $10,000 in 2024.

2. Alexia (mother): She can contribute $10,000 in 2024 as well since she has never contributed to a TFSA before.

3. Santo and Aitana (grandparents): Each of them can contribute $6,000 in 2024 as they have never contributed to a TFSA before.

4. Beth: She can contribute $15,000 in 2024 since she turned 18 in 2022 and has not yet made any TFSA contributions.

5. Lena and Keira (twins): Both Lena and Keira can contribute $15,000 each in 2024 since they turned 18 in 2023 and 2024 respectively, and have not made any TFSA contributions.

6. Vivianne: She can contribute $6,000 in 2024 since she just turned 18 and has not yet made any TFSA contributions.

The total TFSA contribution that the family could make for 2024 is $88,000 ($10,000 + $10,000 + $6,000 + $6,000 + $15,000 + $15,000 + $6,000 + $6,000 + $6,000).

Rich Modest should encourage each family member to open a TFSA account and take advantage of this opportunity to save for the future.