RRSPs, Write-Offs, and Refunds: Why Tax Season Confuses So Many Canadians

Every tax season brings the same sense of urgency. Deadlines approach, numbers appear on slips, and decisions get made quickly — often without much context. It’s also the time of year when misconceptions about tax planning surface most clearly. Many Canadians still believe that writing something off means getting the money back, that maxing out an RRSP guarantees a refund, or that a large refund is proof they paid less tax. None of these assumptions are entirely accurate, but they persist because the mechanics of the tax system are rarely explained in plain terms.