RRIF Calculator & Minimum Withdrawal Rates by Age
Rates verified Nov 2026 · Sources: CRA, Service Canada
ExampleRRSP balance $500,000 · Conversion at 71 · 5% return · 25-year projection
Year 1 withdrawal · age 71 · $500,000 balance
Year 1 min rate
5.28%
your age 71
Total withdrawn
$801,978
over 25 years
Balance at end
$143,211
age 95
Starting balance
$500,000
converted at age 71
The CRA minimum is $26,400 at age 71 and $34,098 at age 95; the balance is $143,211 at the end of age 95. The full year-by-year schedule is in the table below.
What's Next?
CRA prescribed RRIF minimum rates (post-1992 RRIFs). Must convert RRSP to RRIF by Dec 31 of the year you turn 71. All withdrawals are taxable income. OAS clawback threshold: $95,323 (2026 income). Tax estimates use a flat marginal rate - actual tax depends on all income sources and credits. Not financial advice.
RRIF (RIF) minimum withdrawal rates by age - every year
CRA-prescribed minimum withdrawal percentage for a post-1992 RRIF, by age at the start of the year. Under 65, the rate is 1 / (90 - age). At 95 and older, the rate is a flat 20%. You can use a younger spouse's age instead of your own to reduce the required minimum.
| Age | Minimum % | Per $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 4.00% | 4,000 |
| 66 | 4.17% | 4,170 |
| 67 | 4.35% | 4,350 |
| 68 | 4.55% | 4,550 |
| 69 | 4.76% | 4,760 |
| 70 | 5.00% | 5,000 |
| 71 | 5.28% | 5,280 |
| 72 | 5.40% | 5,400 |
| 73 | 5.53% | 5,530 |
| 74 | 5.67% | 5,670 |
| 75 | 5.82% | 5,820 |
| 76 | 5.98% | 5,980 |
| 77 | 6.17% | 6,170 |
| 78 | 6.36% | 6,360 |
| 79 | 6.58% | 6,580 |
| 80 | 6.82% | 6,820 |
| 81 | 7.08% | 7,080 |
| 82 | 7.38% | 7,380 |
| 83 | 7.71% | 7,710 |
| 84 | 8.08% | 8,080 |
| 85 | 8.51% | 8,510 |
| 86 | 8.99% | 8,990 |
| 87 | 9.55% | 9,550 |
| 88 | 10.21% | 10,210 |
| 89 | 10.99% | 10,990 |
| 90 | 11.92% | 11,920 |
| 91 | 13.06% | 13,060 |
| 92 | 14.49% | 14,490 |
| 93 | 16.34% | 16,340 |
| 94 | 18.79% | 18,790 |
| 95 | 20.00% | 20,000 |
| 95+ | 20.00% | 20,000 |
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About this calculator
Updated April 2026You must close your RRSP and convert it to a RRIF (or annuity) by December 31 of the year you turn 71, with mandatory minimum withdrawals starting the following year. This calculator projects your RRIF balance over a 30-year retirement, shows required minimums by age, and models longer-life scenarios so you don't run out of money in your 90s.
What you can do with it
- Project your RRIF balance from age 72 through 95 at your chosen return rate.
- Compare using your age vs your younger spouse's age to lower minimums.
- Model a 'melt-down' strategy - drawing RRSP before 71 at a lower bracket.
- See the tax cost of minimum RRIF withdrawals combined with CPP and OAS.
How the math works
Minimum withdrawal percentages are set by CRA and begin at 5.28% at age 71 (if converted at 71) and rise each year, reaching 20% at age 95+. The calculator compounds the remaining balance at your chosen return rate, subtracts the minimum each year, and taxes withdrawals at your marginal rate (with optional OAS clawback overlay).
Canadian context - 2026
Converting to RRIF at 65 instead of 71 can reduce your minimum withdrawal rate (4.00% vs 5.28%) and let you use the $2,000 pension income credit. Using your spouse's age if they're younger further lowers your minimum - a 72-year-old with a 67-year-old spouse has a minimum of 4.35%, not 5.40%.
Official sources
- Service Canada: OAS recovery tax (checked 2026-11-09)
- CRA: federal and provincial tax rates (checked 2026-10-10)
Frequently asked questions
When must I convert my RRSP to a RRIF?
You must close your RRSP and convert to a RRIF (or purchase an annuity) by December 31 of the year you turn 71. You can convert earlier voluntarily. RRIF withdrawals are fully taxable as income in the year received.
What is the RRIF minimum withdrawal percentage?
The minimum withdrawal percentage is based on your age (or your younger spouse's age if you elect that). It starts at about 5.28% at age 71 and rises each year, reaching 20% at age 95+. There is no maximum. Minimums are set by CRA regulation and were temporarily reduced in 2020.
How can I minimize tax on RRIF withdrawals?
Strategies include: (1) using your younger spouse's age to lower minimums; (2) making RRIF withdrawals before 71 (melt-down strategy) to reduce future mandatory amounts; (3) splitting up to 50% of eligible pension income with a spouse after age 65; (4) coordinating RRIF income with OAS clawback and CPP timing.
What is the RRIF withdrawal rate at age 72?
At age 72, the CRA-prescribed minimum RRIF withdrawal rate is 5.40% of the RRIF's value at the start of the year. For example, a $500,000 RRIF would require a minimum withdrawal of $27,000 that year. The rate rises each subsequent year - see the full rate table on this page for every age.
Can I use my spouse's age for RRIF minimum withdrawals?
Yes. When you set up your RRIF, you can elect to base the minimum withdrawal rate on your spouse or common-law partner's age instead of your own. If your spouse is younger, this lowers your required minimum withdrawal (and the tax on it) every year for the life of the RRIF. The election must be made when the RRIF is set up and cannot be changed later.
Go deeper - related guides
Long-form explainers that pair with this calculator.