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Resources for Registered Education Savings Plan promoters

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

Important: Cancellation of the Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES)

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced its intention to cancel the Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES). The Canada Education Savings Program (CESP) is currently developing timelines for phasing SAGES out. Please see the Information Bulletin below for some key dates. All CESP web pages will be updated soon.

This page is for Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) providers and it provides important information relating to RESPs and education savings incentives.

Note: For general information, visit the Education savings section.

Disclaimer: RESP promoters

Please check this page often for newer versions. If there are discrepancies in the information provided on this page, the applicable laws and regulations take precedence.

List of laws and regulations
  • Income Tax Act
  • Canada Education Savings Act
  • Canada Education Savings Regulations
  • The Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES) Act
  • The Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES) Regulations
  • Special Accounts Appropriation and Control Act
  • British Columbia Training and Savings Program Regulation

Please visit our information bulletins to ensure you are aware of any RESP changes, policy revisions or updated forms. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is responsible for the administration and delivery of RESPs and the education savings incentives. This site provides RESP providers with information relating to RESPs and the incentives. If you have any questions or comments about this content, please contact us.

Training

RESP promoter training

To register for the RESP training, please view our schedule below and complete our new online bilingual registration form.

Here are the course descriptions:

RESP fundamental principles

Schedule: The delivery of this course is over 3 consecutive days, 2.5 hours a session.

This course provides a general overview of RESPs and education savings incentives. We strongly encourage employees with minimal experience with RESPs to register. Participants for this course typically include:

  • financial advisors
  • sales representatives
  • call-center agents
  • trainers
  • administrative staff or staff that needs to understand how RESP work

Processing of RESP transactions

(Prerequisite - RESP fundamental principles)

Schedule: The delivery of this course is over 3 consecutive days, 2.5 hours a session.

This course focuses on transactional and system information throughout the production cycle. Participants will be able to apply troubleshooting techniques and solve common processing problems. Participants for this course typically include:

  • system analysts and developers
  • data integrity and compliance staff
  • trainers
  • administrative services staff who interpret error reports

Note: Please note that these sessions will take place virtually in Eastern Time (ET).

Training sessions schedule

Table 1: Training sessions
Training sessions Language

Fundamental principles:

  • part 1: March 20, 2023,
    9:00 am to 11:30 am
  • part 2: March 21, 2023,
    9:00 am to 11:30 am
  • part 3: March 22, 2023,
    9:00 am to 11:30 am
 French

Processing of transactions:

  • part 1: April 3, 2023,
    1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
  • part 2: April 4, 2023,
    1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
  • part 3: April 5, 2023,
    1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
 English

Fundamental principles:

  • part 1: April 17, 2023,
    1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
  • part 2: April 18, 2023,
    1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
  • part 3: April 19, 2023,
    1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
English

Fundamental principles:

  • part 1: May 8, 2023,
    9:00 am to 11:30 am
  • part 2: May 9, 2023,
    9:00 am to 11:30 am
  • part 3: May 10, 2023,
    9:00 am to 11:30 am
English

Note: This training is for representatives of financial institutions that administer RESPs and not for the general public.

For registrations only, please complete the online bilingual registration form and if you have any questions regarding our RESP training, please complete the contact form.

Note: If you can no longer attend our virtual training, please advise us as soon as possible as space is limited.

User guides and publications

User Guides and Publications

  • RESP Provider User Guide: Provides information about Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) and the education savings incentives administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It also assists the financial industry to successfully complete and submit RESP transactions to the Canada Education Savings Program (CESP) system.
  • InfoCapsules: One-page quick-reference documents that explain the RESP and the education savings incentives administered by ESDC.
  • InfoBulletins: Provides information about updates and changes to the RESP and the education savings incentives administered by ESDC.
  • CESP Statistical Reviews: These reports inform you of the statistics on the incentives offered by the CESP, that is, on RESPs, the CESG and the CLB.
Systems documentation

Systems Documentation

  • Understanding Error Codes: Explains error codes generated by the Canada Education Savings Program (CESP) system and provides guidance on how to resolve them.
  • Understanding Refusal Reasons: Indicates and explains why refusal reasons are generated by the CESP system for transactions requesting grant or bond, which met all formatting rules, and were processed but did not receive full grant or bond payments.
  • Data Operations and Connectivity: Provides detailed information about how to set up secure encrypted bi-directional telecommunications operations between financial institutions and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
  • Industry Testing Guide: Outlines the guidelines and processes for Industry Testing of the CESP system. It should be read in conjunction with the Interface Transaction Standards.
  • Interface Transaction Standards: Contains the detailed data formats for electronically exchanging financial and contract transactions with the CESP.
  • Production Cut-Off Dates: Provides the production cut-off dates for monthly production runs.
Forms

Forms

Important, this site uses PDF form technology.

  • To print these high-quality PDF forms, you must have a PDF reader installed
  • If you do not have a PDF reader installed, there are several available on the internet for download, such as:
    • Adobe Reader
    • Foxit Reader

Application forms

ESDC Application form for Education Savings Incentives

The ESDC application for education savings incentives consists of a main form and annexes. The application form is to request the:

  • Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG)
  • Canada Learning Bond (CLB)
  • Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES)
  • British Columbia Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG)

You can download and complete the Annexes separately.

Note: The form ESDC SDE 0093 was updated for accessibility. Until December 31, 2022, you may use:

  • the new version (dated 2021-09); or
  • the previous version (dated 2018-01 for the main form and Annex B and 2017-05 for Annex A, C and D)

All promoters must be using the new version as of January 1, 2023.

Application: Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and Canada Learning Bond (CLB) (SDE 0093)

The RESP subscriber uses this main form to apply for the CESG and the CLB.

  • The beneficiary’s custodial parent or legal guardian must complete Annex B if they are not also the subscriber or joint subscriber to the RESP
  • The primary caregiver or their spouse must complete Annex B if they are not also the subscriber. This is necessary in order to request the additional amount of CESG (Additional CESG) and/or the CLB

Form:

Annex A – Additional beneficiaries (SDE 0093-A)

The custodial parent or legal guardian can use Annex A when there are multiple beneficiaries named to the same RESP.

  • Each custodial parent or legal guardian should complete a separate copy of the annex for their children if there are cousins in the RESP
  • In order to receive the Additional CESG and/or the CLB, all beneficiaries named to the RESP must be siblings

Form:

Annex B – Primary caregiver or their spouse and/or custodial parent/legal guardian (SDE 0093-B)

The primary caregiver or their spouse and/or the custodial parent or legal guardian of the beneficiary must complete Annex B when they are not the subscriber.

Each primary caregiver or their spouse and each custodial parent or legal guardian (as applicable) should complete a separate annex for their respective children if there are cousins in the RESP.

  • The custodial parent or legal guardian must complete the annex to provide the beneficiary’s information, and consent to the use of this information
  • The primary caregiver or their spouse needs to complete the annex to request the Additional CESG and the CLB

Form:

Annex C – Application: Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES) (SDE 0093-C)

The RESP subscriber must use Annex C to apply for SAGES for beneficiaries who are residents of Saskatchewan.

  • You can include multiple beneficiaries named to the same RESP on Annex C, but they must all be siblings in order to receive the SAGES
  • You do not need to complete the main application form again when beneficiaries have an RESP and a previously completed CESP application. You only need to complete Annex C

Form:

Annex D – Application: British Columbia Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) (SDE 0093-D)

The RESP subscriber must use Annex D to apply for the BCTESG for eligible beneficiaries who are residents of British Columbia. The beneficiary must have a custodial parent or legal guardian who is also a resident of British Columbia.

  • You can include multiple beneficiaries named to the same RESP on Annex D, but they must all be siblings in order to receive the BCTESG
  • You do not need to complete the main application form again when beneficiaries have an RESP and a previously completed CESP application. You only need to complete Annex D

Form:

Canada Learning Bond (CLB) Application for Adult Beneficiaries

As of January 1, 2022, RESP beneficiaries between 18 and 20 years of age must use this form to apply for the CLB.

  • When the adult beneficiary is not the RESP subscriber, subscriber authorization to request the CLB is required

Form:

See Appendix A of the RESP Provider User Guide for detailed instructions and checklists for completing these forms properly.

RESP transfer forms

When the same promoter (using the same business number) administers the relinquishing and receiving plans, the transfer form is not required.

When different promoters (using different business numbers) administer the receiving and relinquishing plans, both promoters must use all parts of the transfer form.

Note: The form ESDC SDE 0100 was updated for accessibility. Until December 31, 2022, you may use:

  • the new version (dated 2021-09); or
  • the previous version (dated 2020-07)

All promoters must be using the new version as of January 1, 2023.

Part A: Subscriber request (SDE 0100 – Part A)

Annex 1: Additional beneficiaries (SDE 0100 – Annex 1)

Part B: Receiving promoter (SDE 0100 – Part B)

Part C: Relinquishing promoter (SDE 0100 – Part C)

Saskatchewan form

Note: The Government of Saskatchewan in its 2022 to 2023 budget has announced its intention to cancel the Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES). The last date a subscriber can submit a request for waiver of repayment of SAGES (including all supporting documents) is May 31, 2023. The subscriber must submit this form to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education. On September 1, 2023, promoters will convert all SAGES held in RESPs into accumulated income.

Form:

Additional forms

Promoters list

Promoters List

We provide a list of RESP promoters as an information service for the public.

Get on the list

If you are not on the list and wish to be added there are three requirements:

  1. Your company must have an education savings plan that is registered by the Canada Revenue Agency.
  2. You must be an active Promoter.
  3. You must make your request for addition to the list in writing to:
    • Canada Education Savings Program
    • Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
    • 140 Promenade du Portage, Phase IV, Mailstop: Bag 4
    • Gatineau, Quebec
    • K1A 0J9
    • Fax: (819) 654-8703
    • Contact us: Canada Education Savings Program

We will need your complete company name and address, telephone number and e-mail address for posting on the list. Your application will be considered by CESP as authorization to make the above information available to the public on our site. You should note that the CESP reserves the right to remove inactive promoters from the list.

Update your information

We encourage all promoters to periodically check their company information on the Promoter List. If your company information has changed since it was posted and you want it updated, please make your request in writing to the program.

Laws and regulations

Applicable laws and regulations

  • Income Tax Act
  • Canada Education Savings Act
  • Canada Education Savings Regulations
  • The Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES) Act
  • The Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings (SAGES) Regulations
  • Special Accounts Appropriation and Control Act
  • British Columbia Training and Savings Program Regulation

Related program

Contact the Canada Education Savings Program

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