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TORONTO, March 29, 2010 - More than 10 million Canadians have either recently filed or are in the process of preparing their income tax returns. Many will eagerly await their tax refund. In 2009, the average Canadian got back approximately $1,400 on their 2008 income taxes.

Tina Di Vito, Director, Retirement Strategies, BMO Financial Group, offers the following advice on how to make the most efficient use of your 2009 tax refund:

"Maximizing your 2010 income tax refund by contributing to your RRSP this year is always a good option," says Di Vito. "However, depending on your personal situation, there may be several ways to make the most efficient use of the money you get back. Meet with a financial planner to determine the best approach for you."

Top 5 Ways To Make Best Use Of Your 2009 Tax Refund:

Pay down your RRSP loan
If you took out a BMO RRSP Readiline loan to maximize your RRSP contribution and generated a larger refund, then use your tax refund to pay down the loan. Something to keep in mind the next time the RRSP contribution deadline looms-- the low interest on a BMO RRSP Readiline loan (as low as Prime +1) and flexible repayment plan make it easy to top up your contribution and get back more of your tax dollars.

Pay down credit card debt
High interest on some credit cards can eat away at your savings. Reduce the cost of credit by using your tax refund to reduce or pay down your credit card balances, targeting the highest rates first and transferring the balances to a lower rate credit card.

Lump sum mortgage payment
If you have a mortgage, it is a good idea to use your tax refund to make a lump sum payment. Applied directly to your principal, a lump some payment (BMO allows you to pay up to 20 per cent of your original mortgage principal per calendar year) could save you thousands of dollars in interest costs over the life of the mortgage.

Top-up your TFSA
If you are not carrying any extra debt then make your refund work for you. Contributing to a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) can let you grow your money tax free. Even if you maxed out your TFSA contribution in 2009, you have room for an additional $5,000 this year.

Save for education
An education can be an expensive thing. Contributing to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) can help alleviate some of the pressure that all parents feel when planning for their children's future. Consider opening an RESP using your income tax refund. A $2,500 dollar contribution to an RESP can earn a $500 grant from the government. Maximize your contributions every year and you could earn up to $7,200 in grants for every child.

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