Canadian Tithe Calculator

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, not a deduction, but a direct reduction in 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.