RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Calculator 2026
Calculate your 2026 Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) minimum annual withdrawal using the official CRA schedule, plus federal and provincial tax estimates and your net amount after tax. Includes the spouse-age option (use a younger spouse's age to lower your minimum), 12 provinces and territories, and 2026 federal and provincial brackets. Free and private — your numbers never leave your browser.
How the RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Works in Canada
A Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) is the account that takes over from your RRSP once you enter the income phase of retirement. By December 31 of the year you turn 71, your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) must be wound up and either fully withdrawn, used to buy an annuity, or — most commonly — converted into a RRIF. From that point forward, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requires you to withdraw a minimum percentage of the prior-year-end balance every calendar year. The minimum percentage rises with age and is set out in the Income Tax Regulations. There is no maximum — you can always take more than the minimum, but you can never take less.
The RRIF minimum percentage formula was reset in 2015 and applies the same prescribed table to all post-2015 RRIFs. The minimum is calculated as: RRIF Balance on January 1 × Prescribed Percentage for your age. For ages below 71, the prescribed factor is 1 ÷ (90 − age). At age 71 the factor jumps to 5.28%, climbs gradually each year, and caps at 20.00% from age 95 onward. If you have a younger spouse or common-law partner, you may make a one-time, irrevocable election (typically when you set up the RRIF) to base your minimum on the younger spouse's age, which lowers your mandatory withdrawal and lets more money keep growing tax-deferred.
RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Formula
Minimum Withdrawal = RRIF Balance Jan 1 × Prescribed % for age
If age < 71: Prescribed % = 1 / (90 − age)
Net After Tax = Withdrawal − (Federal Tax + Provincial Tax)
- Age = Your age on January 1 of the withdrawal year
- Spouse-age option = Use the younger spouse's age in place of yours
- Withholding = 0% on the minimum, 10/20/30% on amounts above (5/10/15% federal in Quebec)
- Tax slip = T4RIF reports the gross amount and any tax withheld
2026 RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Schedule (CRA)
The table below shows the official CRA RRIF minimum withdrawal percentages for ages 71 to 95+. These rates have not changed since the 2015 reform. The percentage applied is the one for your age on January 1 of the year — or, if you elected the spouse-age option, your younger spouse's age on that same date.
| Age | Min % | Age | Min % | Age | Min % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 5.28% | 80 | 6.82% | 89 | 10.99% |
| 72 | 5.40% | 81 | 7.08% | 90 | 11.92% |
| 73 | 5.53% | 82 | 7.38% | 91 | 13.06% |
| 74 | 5.67% | 83 | 7.71% | 92 | 14.49% |
| 75 | 5.82% | 84 | 8.08% | 93 | 16.34% |
| 76 | 5.98% | 85 | 8.51% | 94 | 18.79% |
| 77 | 6.17% | 86 | 8.99% | 95+ | 20.00% |
| 78 | 6.36% | 87 | 9.55% | — | — |
| 79 | 6.58% | 88 | 10.21% | — | — |
RRIF Tax Estimate, Withholding, and the T4RIF Slip
RRIF withdrawals are fully taxable as ordinary income in the year received and are reported on a T4RIF slip. The minimum amount itself is exempt from withholding tax — the financial institution sends you the gross figure and you settle up at tax time. Anything taken above the minimum is withheld at federal rates of 10% on the first $5,000, 20% on amounts between $5,001 and $15,000, and 30% on amounts above $15,000 (in Quebec the federal rates are halved to 5% / 10% / 15% and Quebec provincial withholding is added separately). The withholding is only a prepayment; your actual tax bill depends on your full marginal rate after every income source is added together.
This calculator estimates federal tax using the 2026 federal brackets — 15% up to $55,867, 20.5% to $111,733, 26% to $173,205, 29% to $246,752, and 33% above — and then layers a provincial estimate on top using 2026 provincial brackets for Ontario, BC, Quebec, and Alberta, with a national-average ~12% fallback for smaller provinces and the territories. The federal age amount, pension income credit, and basic personal amount are not modelled here, so most retirees will pay slightly less in practice. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not a tax filing.
Strategies to Reduce RRIF Tax in Retirement
Because RRIF income is fully taxable and can push retirees into OAS clawback territory ($93,454+ in 2026), planning the withdrawal sequence matters. Pension income splitting allows you to allocate up to 50% of your RRIF income to a lower-income spouse on the tax return, often saving thousands of dollars. Drawing down a TFSA in years where your RRIF income is high keeps net world income lower and protects OAS. Choosing the spouse-age option with a younger spouse keeps the minimum smaller and gives more years of tax-deferred growth. Some retirees also do strategic "RRIF meltdowns" before age 72 — voluntarily converting some RRSP into a RRIF early to use up low tax brackets while CPP and OAS are deferred. The right blend depends on your full retirement income picture.
Example: Age 72, $250,000 RRIF in Ontario
A 72-year-old Ontario resident with a $250,000 RRIF balance and $30,000 of other income.
- Minimum % at 72 = 5.40%
- Minimum withdrawal = $250,000 × 5.40% = $13,500
- Total taxable income = $30,000 + $13,500 = $43,500
- Federal tax on the withdrawal (≈15% marginal) ≈ $2,025
- Ontario provincial tax (≈5.05% marginal) ≈ $682
- Net after tax ≈ $10,793 (≈80% of the withdrawal)
Frequently Asked Questions
When must I convert my RRSP to a RRIF in Canada?
You must close out your RRSP by December 31 of the year you turn 71. Most Canadians convert their RRSP into a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) at that point — others buy a registered annuity or simply withdraw the cash (which triggers a large tax bill in one year). Once converted, you must take a CRA-mandated minimum withdrawal every year, starting the calendar year after conversion. You can convert earlier than 71 if you want to start drawing income, but you cannot delay past 71.
Can I withdraw more than the RRIF minimum?
Yes. The minimum is a floor, not a cap — you can withdraw any amount above it at any time. However, anything you take above the minimum has withholding tax deducted at source: 10% on the first $5,000, 20% on $5,001-$15,000, and 30% on amounts above $15,000 (5% / 10% / 15% federal in Quebec, plus Quebec provincial withholding separately). The withholding is just a prepayment of your final tax bill, which is determined when you file your return based on your total income for the year.
Is withholding tax deducted from the RRIF minimum withdrawal?
No. The required minimum amount is exempt from withholding tax — your financial institution will pay you the full gross amount. You still owe income tax on it at your marginal rate when you file your annual return. Only amounts withdrawn above the minimum are subject to withholding (10% / 20% / 30% federally for the rest of Canada, half those rates federally plus Quebec provincial in QC). Many retirees ask their bank to withhold tax voluntarily on the minimum to avoid a surprise bill at tax time.
How does the spouse-age option lower my RRIF minimum?
When you set up your RRIF you can make a one-time, irrevocable election to base your annual minimum withdrawal on the age of your younger spouse or common-law partner instead of your own. Because the prescribed percentage rises with age, using a younger age gives a lower percentage and a smaller forced withdrawal — leaving more inside the RRIF to grow tax-deferred. The election cannot be reversed later, even if you separate or your spouse predeceases you, so it is best made deliberately. There is no income-splitting effect on its own; this option only changes the minimum percentage.
What tax slip do I receive for RRIF withdrawals?
RRIF withdrawals are reported on a T4RIF slip issued by your financial institution by the end of February each year. Box 16 shows the regular RRIF income (taxable); box 22 shows tax withheld; other boxes record amounts above the minimum, transfers, and death benefits. RRIF income is fully taxable as regular income, but if you are 65 or older it qualifies for the federal pension income tax credit and for pension income splitting with a spouse — both of which can meaningfully reduce your overall tax bill.
Why does the calculator only model 2026 brackets for ON, QC, BC, and AB?
These four provinces cover roughly 85% of Canadians and have well-published 2026 provincial brackets. For the other provinces and territories the calculator uses an approximate national-average effective rate (~12%) to keep the estimate reasonable without overstating accuracy. For an exact tax bill, run your full return through a Canada-wide income tax calculator that includes provincial age amounts, pension credits, and surtaxes — or use this number as a planning ballpark and adjust at filing time.