Should I tithe on gross or net income?

Scripture does not settle it, so this is a matter of conviction. Giving on gross means giving from what came in before any deduction. Giving on net means giving from what lands in your account. Pick the basis you can hold to, and let it grow over time. The calculator shows both, plus a third basis after essentials, so you can see the real numbers before you decide.

Is tithing tax deductible in Canada?

A gift to a registered charity, which includes most churches, earns a donation tax credit that comes off the tax you owe. Keep the official receipt. For 2026 the federal credit is 14% on the first $200 you give in the year and 29% above that, rising to 33% on the part matched by taxable income over $258,482. Your province adds its own credit on top.

How do I calculate a tithe from my paycheque?

Multiply one pay by your giving percentage. At 10%, a $3,000 bi-weekly gross pay gives $300 each pay. If you give on net, start from the deposit instead. Set the basis once and the per-pay number holds steady until your pay changes, which is what makes giving a habit rather than a monthly decision.

Does the donation credit reduce the real cost of my tithe?

Yes, once you owe tax. Above the first $200 of gifts in a year, the federal credit is 29% and the provinces add roughly 11.16% to 24%, so most givers get back 40% to 50% of each dollar above $200. The credit cannot take your tax below zero, so in a low-income year part of it may go unused. Receipts you cannot use can be claimed on any of your next five returns.

Is a tithe exactly 10%?

Ten percent is the traditional starting point, drawn from the Old Testament practice of giving a tenth. The New Testament frames giving around generosity and cheerfulness, which is why this calculator lets you set any percentage from 0 to 25 and see what each level looks like against your own income.

Can I count my RRSP contribution as part of my tithe?

An RRSP contribution is saving for your own future, so it sits outside your giving. The calculator treats it as a deduction that lowers your taxable income and your tax, while your tithe is worked out on the basis you chose.

Tools & Resources

Canadian Tithe Calculator

Turn a giving percentage into a per-paycheque number, on gross, after-tax or after-essentials income, with your province's tax and the donation credit in the math.

What this works out

Gross pay→Your tithe→Donation credit→What it actually cost

Canada credits 14% on the first $200 of giving and 29% above it. The credit is why a tithe costs less than the number you write on the cheque.

Your Income

Start from a common income

A one-tap starting point. Every field below is still yours to change.

Income Amount $85,000

Income Frequency

Province

Deductions (optional)

RRSP Contribution (reduces taxable income)

The calculator counts your contribution up to an estimate of this year's new RRSP room, 18% of your gross income to a maximum of $33,810 for 2026. If unused room from earlier years lets you deduct more, the Canadian Tax Calculator takes the full amount.

Your Giving

Giving Philosophy

Monthly Essential Expenses (housing, food, debt payments, insurance)

Giving Percentage

Additional Offering (above your tithe: missions, benevolence, etc.)

$ /yr

Your Tithe Breakdown

Your Monthly Tithe

Per Year

Per Week

Per Paycheque (bi-weekly)

Per Day

The Real Cost of Your Tithe

Because your church issues a charitable donation receipt, the CRA gives you a tax credit. Here's what your tithe actually costs after the credit.

Gross Income-

CPP + EI-

Federal + Provincial Tax-

After-Tax Income-

Charitable Giving Impact

Total Charitable Giving-

Federal Donation Credit-

Provincial Donation Credit (ON)-

Actual After-Tax Cost of Giving-

Uses shared 2026 assumptions from the Wise and Faithful finance registry: federal/provincial brackets, CPP/QPP, CPP2/QPP2, EI, Quebec QPIP, and charitable donation credit rates. Estimate only. Consult a tax professional for exact figures.

Where Your Income Goes

Visual breakdown of every dollar you earn.

Giving Comparison

See how different percentages change your giving, and the real after-tax cost.

Three Giving Philosophies

Firstfruits (Gross): Give before anything is deducted. The traditional view: your income is the whole amount God provided, before the CRA takes its share.

Net (After Tax): Give on what actually reaches your bank account. A defensible starting point, especially for new tithers.

After Essentials: Give on income after taxes and necessary expenses. Some argue this reflects the spirit of proportional giving in 2 Corinthians 8:12.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your income and select your province. The calculator automatically computes your CPP, EI, federal and provincial income tax, and shows your true after-tax income. Then choose your giving philosophy and percentage to see exactly what your tithe looks like, and what it actually costs after the charitable donation tax credit.

Three Ways to Think About "10%"

Firstfruits (Gross): 10% of what you earn before any deductions. If your salary is $85,000, your tithe is $8,500. This is the most traditional interpretation, rooted in the idea that God's portion comes off the top, before the government takes anything.

Net (After Tax): 10% of what hits your bank account after CPP, EI, and income tax. On an $85,000 salary in Ontario, that might be closer to $6,200. This is a reasonable starting point if you are new to tithing.

After Essentials: 10% of what remains after taxes and essential living expenses (housing, food, debt payments, insurance). This approach reflects 2 Corinthians 8:12: "the gift is acceptable according to what one has." It produces a lower number but may be the honest starting point for someone under genuine financial pressure.

The Charitable Donation Tax Credit

In Canada, donations to registered charities (including most churches with CRA charitable registration) generate a tax credit, which comes straight off the tax you owe. The first $200 in annual donations earns a 14% federal credit in 2026. Every dollar above $200 earns 29% (or 33% if you are in the top bracket). Your province adds its own credit on top.

The practical result: a $7,500 tithe might only cost you $4,500 to $5,200 after tax credits, depending on your province. This calculator shows you the exact number.

For a deeper look at the gross vs. net question, including the three biblical principles that help settle it, read Should You Tithe on Gross or Net Income?

CPP, EI, and What "Net" Actually Means

CPP contributions and EI premiums come off every paycheque before you see a dollar. In 2026, EI is 1.63% on insurable earnings up to $68,900 (maximum premium $1,123). CPP is 5.95% on earnings between the $3,500 basic exemption and the Year's Maximum Pensionable Earnings. These are not income tax. CPP is deferred retirement income that comes back to you, and EI is insurance you may one day draw on.

That said, most people think of "net" as take-home after all mandatory deductions, including CPP and EI. This calculator uses that definition. If you choose the Net giving basis, your tithe is calculated on what actually lands in your bank account after tax, CPP, and EI are all removed.

RRSP Contributions and Your Tithe Base

If you contribute to an RRSP, the question is whether to tithe on gross-before-RRSP or net-after-RRSP. Two approaches hold up well: tithe on gross before your RRSP contribution, treating the RRSP as stewardship of income already honoured; or tithe on gross now and plan to tithe on RRSP withdrawals in retirement as that deferred income arrives. What does not hold up is using the RRSP contribution to reduce your tithe base once now and then treating the withdrawals as non-titheable income later. That is effectively counting the deduction twice.

The calculator lets you enter your RRSP contribution to see how it affects your taxable income and take-home pay. The tithe calculation itself remains on whichever giving basis you select; the RRSP field does not reduce your giving base automatically.