What are the RRIF minimum withdrawal rules in Canada?

Each year you must withdraw at least the minimum amount from your RRIF — calculated as your RRIF balance on January 1 multiplied by the prescribed factor for your age (or your spouse''s age if you elected the younger spouse calculation). For example, at age 71 the factor is 5.28%, so a $500,000 RRIF requires at least $26,400 in withdrawals that year. There is no maximum withdrawal — you can take out as much as you want. The annual minimum increases each year as the age factor rises. You can never put money back into a RRIF.

Is there withholding tax on RRIF withdrawals?

The mandatory minimum withdrawal amount is paid without withholding tax at source — but it is still fully taxable income on your T1 return. Only withdrawals above the annual minimum trigger withholding: 10% on amounts up to $5,000, 20% on $5,001–$15,000, and 30% on amounts over $15,000 (federal rates; Quebec rates differ). If your actual tax owing exceeds what was withheld, you owe the difference at filing time. Some retirees request additional withholding from their RRIF to avoid a balance owing.

Can I split RRIF income with my spouse to reduce taxes?

Yes. If you are 65 or older, up to 50% of your RRIF income can be allocated to your spouse or common-law partner through pension income splitting on your T1 returns. This is done on Form T1032 at tax time — no prior election is needed. The split shifts income from the higher-income spouse to the lower-income spouse, potentially saving thousands in tax annually. Both spouses report their apportioned shares on their respective returns. This is one of the most powerful tax-saving tools available to retired Canadian couples.

What is a spousal RRIF and how does it reduce tax?

A spousal RRIF is a RRIF converted from a spousal RRSP. The contributing spouse funded the original spousal RRSP, but the annuitant (account holder) is the other spouse. Income from a spousal RRIF is taxed in the annuitant''s hands — meaning the lower-income spouse reports RRIF withdrawals instead of the contributing spouse. Unlike pension income splitting (which is capped at 50% of eligible income), a spousal RRIF can shift 100% of that RRIF''s income to the lower-income spouse, depending on the account balance.

What happens to a RRIF when you die?

If you designated your spouse or common-law partner as the RRIF beneficiary, the RRIF transfers to them tax-free as a spousal rollover — they continue as the new RRIF annuitant with no immediate tax impact. If you named a financially dependent child or grandchild as beneficiary, special rules allow partial tax deferral. For all other beneficiaries (adult children, siblings, estate), the full RRIF balance is included in the deceased''s final tax return as income and taxed at the deceased''s marginal rate. Proper beneficiary designation is critical for estate planning.

Can I convert a RRIF back to an RRSP?

No. Once an RRSP is converted to a RRIF, you cannot reverse the conversion. You also cannot make contributions to a RRIF. However, you can withdraw from a RRIF and re-contribute to an RRSP if you still have RRSP contribution room and are under age 71 — but this creates unnecessary taxable income followed by a contribution. In practice, RRIF-to-RRSP transfers are rarely beneficial and only make sense in very specific income-smoothing scenarios.

RRIF Withdrawal Rules Canada 2026

Short Answer

RRIF withdrawals are mandatory each year, calculated as your January 1 balance times an age-based factor. The minimum itself has no withholding tax but is fully taxable. If you are 65+, you can split up to 50% of RRIF income with your spouse — one of the most effective retirement tax tools available to Canadian couples. For the broader drawdown context, start with our retirement planning hub.

RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Factors — Complete Table

Age	Factor	Withdrawal on $500,000
55	2.86%	$14,300
56	2.94%	$14,700
57	3.03%	$15,150
58	3.13%	$15,650
59	3.23%	$16,150
60	3.33%	$16,650
61	3.45%	$17,250
62	3.57%	$17,850
63	3.70%	$18,500
64	3.85%	$19,250
65	4.00%	$20,000
66	4.17%	$20,850
67	4.35%	$21,750
68	4.55%	$22,750
69	4.76%	$23,800
70	5.00%	$25,000
71	5.28%	$26,400
72	5.40%	$27,000
73	5.53%	$27,650
74	5.67%	$28,350
75	5.82%	$29,100
76	5.98%	$29,900
77	6.17%	$30,850
78	6.36%	$31,800
79	6.58%	$32,900
80	6.82%	$34,100
81	7.08%	$35,400
82	7.38%	$36,900
83	7.71%	$38,550
84	8.08%	$40,400
85	8.51%	$42,550
86	8.99%	$44,950
87	9.55%	$47,750
88	10.21%	$51,050
89	10.99%	$54,950
90	11.92%	$59,600
91	13.06%	$65,300
92	14.49%	$72,450
93	16.34%	$81,700
94+	20.00%	$100,000+

Withholding Tax on RRIF Withdrawals

Withdrawal above minimum	Federal withholding rate	Quebec withholding (combined)
$0–$5,000	10%	21%
$5,001–$15,000	20%	26%
Over $15,000	30%	31%
Mandatory minimum amount	0% (no withholding)	0%

Withholding is a prepayment, not a final tax. Where the effective tax rate exceeds withholding (common for withdrawal of the minimum only), a balance will be owing at filing time — many retirees set up additional withholding to avoid this.

Pension Income Splitting: RRIF at Age 65+

Scenario	Without splitting	With 50% split	Annual tax saving
Spouse A: RRIF income $60,000, spouse B: $25,000 income	Combined tax ~$17,500	Combined tax ~$13,000	~$4,500/year
Spouse A: RRIF income $80,000, spouse B: $10,000 income	Combined tax ~$24,000	Combined tax ~$16,500	~$7,500/year
Spouse A: RRIF income $40,000, spouse B: $0	Combined tax ~$7,600	Combined tax ~$4,200	~$3,400/year

Estimates using Ontario 2026 combined tax rates. Actual savings vary by province and income level.

Pension income splitting requires RRIF income — regular RRSP withdrawals do not qualify. This is one reason early conversion to a RRIF at age 65 can be beneficial for income-splitting purposes.

RRIF Income Eligible for Pension Income Credit

If you are 65 or older, RRIF income qualifies for the $2,000 federal pension income credit (15% × $2,000 = $300 federal tax reduction). Most provinces match with a similar provincial credit. RRSP withdrawals, CPP, and OAS do not qualify for this credit — only pension income or RRIF income from age 65+.

Age	RRIF income eligible for pension credit?
Under 65	❌ Only if from a deceased spouse’s RRIF
65 or older	✅ Yes — up to $2,000 credit-eligible

Spousal RRIF Strategy

Strategy	How it works	Income attribution?
Spousal RRSP → convert to spousal RRIF	Lower-income spouse holds and withdraws	No attribution if 3-year rule met
Pension income splitting of own RRIF	65+ — allocate up to 50% to spouse at tax time	Administrative split — no attribution
Elect younger spouse’s age for minimums	Reduces mandatory withdrawal each year	No attribution — only affects calculation

Attribution rule for spousal RRSPs: Withdrawals from a spousal RRSP (now RRIF) are attributed back to the contributor if the contributor made contributions within the prior 3 calendar years. Once 3 full calendar years have passed since the last spousal contribution, all withdrawals are taxed in the annuitant’s hands.

RRIF on Death: Beneficiary Options

Beneficiary	Tax treatment
Spouse or common-law partner	RRIF rolls over tax-free to spouse’s RRIF/RRSP — no immediate tax
Financially dependent child/grandchild (under 18)	Balance can be converted to a term annuity to age 18 — deferred tax
Financially dependent child with a disability	Can roll into their RRSP or RDSP — deferred tax
Adult child, estate, or other beneficiary	Full RRIF balance included in deceased’s final return at marginal rate

Name your spouse as RRIF beneficiary directly — do not leave it to the estate. Estate beneficiary creates probate, delays, and possible higher tax.

Strategies to Reduce RRIF Tax Burden

Strategy	Tax effect
Use younger spouse’s age factor	Smaller mandatory minimums — more stays tax-deferred
Convert at 65 for pension splitting	6 extra years of pension income splitting before mandatory age 71
Top up TFSA with RRIF withdrawals	RRIF income is taxable but subsequent TFSA growth and withdrawals are tax-free
Charitable donations	Offset RRIF income with donation tax credit
Elect pension income splitting (T1032)	Shift up to 50% of RRIF income to lower-income spouse each year
Gift to TFSA (spouse’s TFSA)	No spousal attribution in TFSA — another splitting vehicle

If you are deciding when to start this process, see best time to convert RRSP to RRIF.

Bottom Line

RRIF withdrawals increase each year as the mandatory percentage grows with age — by age 90, you must withdraw nearly 12% of your balance annually. Minimize tax by using the younger spouse’s age factor, splitting pension income at 65, naming your spouse as direct beneficiary, and systematically redirecting withdrawals into TFSAs for the next generation of tax-free growth.

→ Back to: Complete RRSP Guide