RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Calculator (Canada, 2026)
Last updated
Compute the minimum required annual withdrawal from a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). Uses the federal prescribed factor table (Income Tax Regulations s. 7308) — stable since the 2015 Budget reform. Supports both non-qualifying (post-1992) and qualifying (pre-1993) RRIFs, plus the spousal-age election that lowers the minimum when based on a younger spouse's age.
A Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) holds the assets you converted from your RRSP, and the federal government requires a minimum withdrawal each year so the balance can't sit tax-deferred forever. The minimum is set by the prescribed factor table in Income Tax Regulations s. 7308 — last reformed in the 2015 Budget, stable since.
Two factor schedules exist:
- Non-qualifying (the standard modern case): table starts at age 71 with factor 0.0528, increasing each year through age 94, then capping at 0.20 (20%) for age 95+. Below 71, the formula 1/(90−age) applies — gives 4% at age 65, 5% at age 70.
- Qualifying (pre-1993 grandfathered, very rare): same table from age 72 onward, but the under-72 formula extends one extra year. Age 71 uses formula 1/19 = 0.05263, not the table 0.0528.
The factors are NOT indexed and have not changed since 2015. The
calculator pulls them from
data/rrif-minimum-withdrawal.json, which was verified
on 2026-04-30 against the Income Tax Regulations primary plus
four independent secondaries (TaxTips, CIBC Wood Gundy,
WealthNorth, RetireZest).
How this calculator works
annual_minimum = previous_year_end_balance × factor(age)
Where factor(age) is:
- For non-qualifying RRIFs, age < 71:
1 / (90 − age) - For non-qualifying RRIFs, age 71 to 94: published table value (0.0528 → 0.1879)
- For qualifying RRIFs, age < 72:
1 / (90 − age) - For qualifying RRIFs, age 72 to 94: same published table values as non-qualifying (0.0540 → 0.1879)
- Age 95+: 0.20 (cap)
Source: Income Tax Regulations s. 7308. Stable since the 2015 Budget reform.
Worked example
72-year-old non-qualifying RRIF holder, $300,000 balance at the end of the previous year, no spousal election.
- Factor at age 72:
0.0540(table) - Annual minimum:
$300,000 × 0.0540 = $16,200 - Monthly equivalent:
$1,350
Same scenario but with a spousal election based on a 67-year-old spouse:
- Factor at age 67:
1 / (90 − 67) = 1/23 ≈ 0.04348(formula) - Annual minimum:
$300,000 × 0.04348 ≈ $13,043 - Savings vs. the holder-age computation: ~$3,150/year stays tax-deferred.
The election must have been made when the RRIF was set up — it's not retroactive. Holders who didn't elect can't switch later.
Frequently asked questions
Can I withdraw more than the minimum?
Yes. The published factors set a FLOOR, not a ceiling. You can withdraw any amount above the minimum at any time. Withholding tax: amounts up to the minimum have zero withholding tax (it's the holder's responsibility to report and pay tax on those withdrawals at year-end). Amounts above the minimum are subject to graduated federal withholding tax — 10% on the first $5,000 over the minimum, 20% on $5,001–$15,000 over, 30% above $15,000 over. Quebec rates differ. The withholding is a prepayment, not a final tax — actual tax is reconciled on your T1.
What's the difference between non-qualifying and qualifying RRIFs?
Non-qualifying = any RRIF established after 1992 OR a pre-1993 RRIF that has received any contribution after 1992. This is virtually every RRIF held today. Qualifying = the rare case of a pre-1993 RRIF that has never received any post-1992 contribution. The factor schedules are identical for ages 72 and up. The only material difference is at age 71: non-qualifying uses the table value 0.0528 (5.28%); qualifying uses the formula 1/(90−71) = 0.05263 (5.26%). The under-71 / under-72 formulas also differ by one age. If you're unsure, you're almost certainly in the non-qualifying case — that's the calculator default.
How does the spousal-age election work?
Under Income Tax Act s. 146.3, the holder can elect at RRIF setup to base the minimum withdrawals on a younger spouse's age. This produces a lower minimum (because the factor is lower at younger ages), letting more of the balance stay tax-deferred. The election must be made BEFORE the first withdrawal and CANNOT be changed later — it's a one-time setup choice. If you didn't elect at setup, you cannot retroactively switch. Calculator surfaces this as an opt-in toggle for users who DID make the election; defaults to using the holder's own age for the standard case.
When is the first mandatory withdrawal?
Typically the calendar year AFTER you set up the RRIF. RRSP-to-RRIF conversion deadline: December 31 of the year you turn 71. So most retirees: convert RRSP→RRIF in the year they turn 71 (Dec 31 deadline); first mandatory withdrawal in the year they turn 72, using the age-72 factor (0.0540). Holders who convert earlier (e.g., at 65 to start income flow) still have to take minimums — using whatever age (or spousal age) applies at the start of each year. The age-71 factor (0.0528) applies for early-converters whose first mandatory year falls when they're 71.
What's NOT in this calculator?
Withholding tax computation (depends on amount above minimum and province), tax estimation on the withdrawal (requires combining with all other income for the year — see the Income Tax calculator), in-kind transfers and securities-in-kind valuation, RRIF-to-RRIF rollovers, post-death rollovers to a surviving spouse's RRIF, the Locked-In RRIF (LRIF / LIF) variants which have additional MAXIMUM withdrawal limits set by provincial pension legislation. For LRIF / LIF maxes, consult your provincial pension regulator.
Sources
Every figure on this page traces back to a primary Canadian authority. See the complete sources index for the master list.
Verified against Income Tax Regulations s. 7308; cross-checked against TaxTips.ca, CIBC Wood Gundy, WealthNorth, RetireZest on .
Important
This calculator is for informational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, mortgage, or legal advice. Tax rates, mortgage rules, and contribution limits change. Always verify current rules with the relevant Canadian authority and consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.