RRIF minimum withdrawals: the table, the rules and how to plan for them
Once your RRSP becomes a RRIF, the government sets a minimum you must withdraw every year, and it rises as you age. Here's the 2026 table, how the minimum is worked out, what's withheld, and how to keep forced withdrawals from pushing up your taxes.
By Peter Marshall, founder of Retireez · Updated October 2026
The short answer
- Convert your RRSP to a RRIF by December 31 of the year you turn 71.
- From the next year you must withdraw at least a set percentage of the January 1 balance: 5.40% at 72, 6.82% at 80 and 20% from 95.
- No tax is withheld on the minimum, but it all counts as taxable income, and it can push you into the OAS clawback.
The RRIF minimum by age
The minimum is a percentage of the RRIF's value at the start of the year. Before 71 it is 1 ÷ (90 − age). From 71 it follows a fixed table set in regulation.
| Age at start of year | Minimum | On a $500,000 RRIF |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 3.33% | $16,667 |
| 65 | 4.00% | $20,000 |
| 70 | 5.00% | $25,000 |
| 71 | 5.28% | $26,400 |
| 72 | 5.40% | $27,000 |
| 75 | 5.82% | $29,100 |
| 80 | 6.82% | $34,100 |
| 85 | 8.51% | $42,550 |
| 90 | 11.92% | $59,600 |
| 95 and over | 20.00% | $100,000 |
The rules that matter
- Deadline: your RRSP must become a RRIF (or buy an annuity) by December 31 of the year you turn 71. You can convert earlier, at any age.
- First year: there's no minimum in the year you open the RRIF. Minimums start the next year.
- Younger spouse: you can base the minimum on a younger spouse's or partner's age for a lower minimum. You choose before the first payment, and it can't be changed.
- More is allowed: the minimum is a floor. You can withdraw as much as you like above it (a locked-in fund, a LIF, also has a maximum).
- In kind: you can move investments to a TFSA or non-registered account instead of selling them; the withdrawal is taxed at their value.
How a RRIF runs down over time
Because the percentage rises every year, a RRIF that only pays the minimum shrinks slowly at first, then faster. Here's a $500,000 RRIF at 72, earning 5% a year, withdrawing only the minimum:
| Age | Balance on January 1 | Minimum that year |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | $500,000 | $27,000 |
| 75 | $487,947 | $28,399 |
| 80 | $452,628 | $30,869 |
| 85 | $392,997 | $33,444 |
| 90 | $301,907 | $35,987 |
| 95 | $171,420 | $34,284 |
The withdrawals keep rising into your late 80s, often when spending has fallen. That is why large RRIFs can push income up just as you'd expect it to drop.
Tax and withholding
Every RRIF dollar you withdraw is taxable income in that year. Your financial institution doesn't withhold tax on the minimum, so if your other income is significant you may owe tax in April. Many retirees ask for tax to be withheld anyway, or pay quarterly instalments.
Amounts above the minimum have tax withheld at these rates (federal, per withdrawal):
| Amount above the minimum | Outside Quebec | Quebec |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $5,000 | 10% | 5% + 14% Quebec |
| $5,001 to $15,000 | 20% | 10% + 14% Quebec |
| Over $15,000 | 30% | 15% + 14% Quebec |
RRIF income also counts for the OAS clawback, which starts at $95,323 of net income in 2026. See how the OAS clawback works.
Planning around the minimum
Draw some RRSP money before you have to
The years between retirement and 72 are often low-income years, especially before CPP and OAS start. Withdrawing from your RRSP then, at lower tax rates, makes the RRIF smaller and its later minimums lower. Some retirees use those withdrawals to live on while they delay CPP; see when to take CPP. For how much to take each year, see the RRSP meltdown.
Use a younger spouse's age
If you don't need the money, a younger spouse's age lowers the minimum for every year.
Split RRIF income from 65
From 65, RRIF withdrawals qualify for the $2,000 pension income credit and can be split with a spouse on your tax returns, up to half. Converting part of an RRSP to a RRIF at 65 can unlock both.
Move what you don't spend
If the minimum is more than you need, it can go to your TFSA (if you have room) so future growth is tax-free.
Common questions
When do RRIF minimum withdrawals start?
You must convert your RRSP to a RRIF (or buy an annuity) by December 31 of the year you turn 71. Minimum withdrawals start the year after the RRIF is opened, so at the latest in the year you turn 72.
What is the RRIF minimum at 72?
5.40% of the RRIF's value on January 1. On a $500,000 RRIF that is $27,000 for the year.
How is the RRIF minimum calculated before 71?
1 ÷ (90 − your age) at the start of the year: 4.00% at 65 and 5.00% at 70. From 71 a fixed table applies, rising to 20% at 95 and over.
Can I use my spouse's age for my RRIF minimum?
Yes. You can choose to base the minimum on a younger spouse's or common-law partner's age, which gives a lower minimum. You have to choose before the first payment, and the choice can't be changed later.
Is tax withheld on RRIF minimum withdrawals?
No tax is withheld on the minimum, but it is still taxable income. Amounts above the minimum have tax withheld: 10% up to $5,000, 20% from $5,001 to $15,000 and 30% above $15,000 outside Quebec.