RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Rates
2026 Prescribed Minimums
| Age at Year Start |
Minimum % |
Example ($500K) |
| 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 |
Ages 76-95+
| Age |
Minimum % |
Age |
Minimum % |
| 76 |
5.98% |
86 |
8.99% |
| 77 |
6.17% |
87 |
9.55% |
| 78 |
6.36% |
88 |
10.21% |
| 79 |
6.58% |
89 |
10.99% |
| 80 |
6.82% |
90 |
11.92% |
| 81 |
7.08% |
91 |
13.06% |
| 82 |
7.38% |
92 |
14.49% |
| 83 |
7.71% |
93 |
16.34% |
| 84 |
8.08% |
94 |
18.79% |
| 85 |
8.51% |
95+ |
20.00% |
How to Calculate Your Minimum
| Step |
Calculation |
| 1 |
Determine age at Jan 1 |
| 2 |
Find percentage for age |
| 3 |
Multiply by Jan 1 balance |
| 4 |
= Minimum for year |
Example Calculation
| Factor |
Amount |
| Jan 1 RRIF balance |
$400,000 |
| Age at Jan 1 |
75 |
| Minimum percentage |
5.82% |
| Required withdrawal |
$23,280 |
First Year Rules
Year You Open RRIF
| Rule |
Details |
| When opened |
Affects minimum |
| Mid-year opening |
Pro-rated minimum |
| Year of conversion |
No minimum if late in year |
Example: RRIF Opened July 1
| Factor |
Amount |
| Balance at opening |
$300,000 |
| Age |
72 (5.40%) |
| Full-year minimum |
$16,200 |
| Months remaining |
6/12 |
| Pro-rated minimum |
$8,100 |
Younger Spouse Election
How It Works
| Rule |
Benefit |
| Use spouse’s age |
Lower percentage |
| One-time election |
At RRIF creation |
| Irrevocable |
Can’t change later |
| Spouse must exist |
At time of election |
Example: Younger Spouse
| Scenario |
Your Age |
Spouse Age |
Rate |
| Without election |
75 |
65 |
5.82% |
| With election |
75 |
65 |
4.00% |
| On $500,000 |
|
|
|
| Without |
|
|
$29,100 |
| With election |
|
|
$20,000 |
| Savings |
|
|
$9,100/yr |
When to Elect Younger Spouse Age
| Consider If |
Reason |
| Spouse 5+ years younger |
Significant tax savings |
| Don’t need money |
Reduce forced withdrawals |
| Estate planning |
Keep more growing |
When NOT to Elect
| Consider If |
Reason |
| Need the income |
Want higher withdrawals |
| Health concerns |
May want more now |
| Similar ages |
Minimal benefit |
RRIF Withdrawal Strategies
Minimize Tax Strategy
| Approach |
Details |
| Withdraw only minimum |
Keep growing tax-deferred |
| Use younger spouse age |
Lower minimums |
| Strategic timing |
Withdraw in low-income years |
Income Smoothing Strategy
| Year |
Income Before RRIF |
RRIF Withdrawal |
Total |
| Low income year |
$30,000 |
$30,000 extra |
$60,000 |
| High income year |
$80,000 |
Minimum only |
$90,000 |
Deplete RRIF Strategy
| Approach |
When to Consider |
| Withdraw more than minimum |
Want to reduce future OAS clawback |
| Target age 75-80 depletion |
Maximize lower-bracket years |
| Convert to TFSA |
Pay tax now, grow tax-free |
Tax Implications
RRIF Withdrawals Are Income
| Factor |
Impact |
| Added to income |
Fully taxable |
| Federal + provincial tax |
Combined rate |
| OAS clawback possible |
If income >$90,997 (2025) |
| No withholding on minimum |
But tax owed at filing |
Withholding Tax Rates
| Withdrawal Above Minimum |
Withholding |
| Up to $5,000 |
10% |
| $5,001-$15,000 |
20% |
| Over $15,000 |
30% |
Quebec rates are different (5%/10%/15% + ~15% provincial).
OAS Clawback
| Income Level (2025) |
Impact |
| Under $90,997 |
No clawback |
| $90,997-$148,451 |
15% clawback |
| Over $148,451 |
Full clawback |
RRIF vs LIF
Comparison
| Feature |
RRIF |
LIF |
| Minimum withdrawal |
Yes |
Yes |
| Maximum withdrawal |
No |
Yes |
| Source |
RRSP |
Locked-in pension |
| Flexibility |
More |
Less |
LIF Maximum Rates (Ontario)
| Age |
Maximum % |
| 65 |
6.27% |
| 70 |
7.38% |
| 75 |
8.96% |
| 80 |
11.46% |
Multiple RRIFs
Rules
| Situation |
What Happens |
| Multiple RRIFs |
Each has separate minimum |
| Consolidate? |
Simpler tracking |
| Different purposes |
One RRIF can fund another’s minimum |
Example
| RRIF |
Balance |
Minimum |
| RRIF A |
$200,000 |
$10,800 |
| RRIF B |
$300,000 |
$16,200 |
| Total |
$500,000 |
$27,000 |
You can withdraw $27,000 from either RRIF or split.
Payment Scheduling
Withdrawal Frequency
| Option |
Benefit |
| Monthly |
Regular income |
| Quarterly |
Less admin |
| Annually |
Maximize growth |
| Custom |
Match expenses |
Timing Strategy
| Timing |
When Best |
| Early in year |
Need income now |
| Late in year |
Maximize growth |
| Spread out |
Income smoothing |
Estate Planning
On Death
| Situation |
Tax Treatment |
| Spouse beneficiary |
Rollover tax-free |
| Non-spouse beneficiary |
Full amount taxable |
| Estate is beneficiary |
Taxable in estate |
Strategies
| Strategy |
Purpose |
| Name spouse beneficiary |
Tax-free transfer |
| Consider excess withdrawals |
Pay tax while alive |
| TFSA conversion |
Tax-free for heirs |