RRIF Calculator & Minimum Withdrawal Rates by Age

Rates verified Oct 2026 · Sources: CRA, Service Canada

ExampleRRSP balance $500,000 · Conversion at 71 · 5% return · 25-year projection

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📉RRIF Minimum Withdrawal

Year 1 withdrawal · age 71 · $500,000 balance

$26,400year 1 total · 5.28% CRA minimum
Min withdrawal $26,400·Total over 25 yrs $801,978·✓ Balance $143,211 at end

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Total withdrawn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

🏦RRIF details
$
yrs
%
yrs
Year 1 min. rate5.28%
Year 1 withdrawal$26,400
Balance at end$143,211
📈RRIF balance over time
💸Annual withdrawals by year
📋RRIF rules
▸ Mandatory conversion: RRSP must be converted to RRIF by Dec 31 of the year you turn 71.
▸ Minimum withdrawal: set by CRA each year based on your age. Starts at 5.28% at age 71.
▸ Fully taxable: all withdrawals count as regular income. May trigger OAS clawback above $95,323 (2026 income).
▸ Spouse's age election: use a younger spouse's age when setting up the RRIF for lower minimums.
▸ Early conversion: convert before 71 for RRSP meltdown before CPP/OAS starts.
▸ No maximum: you can always withdraw more than the minimum for income-smoothing.
CRA – RRIF overview ↗
▸Every dollar withdrawn from your RRIF counts as taxable income - including the mandatory minimum.
▸If total income exceeds $95,323 (2026 income threshold), OAS is clawed back at 15¢ per $1 over the limit.
▸ Strategy: enter your other income (CPP + OAS + pension) to see per-year clawback impact.
Calculate your OAS clawback →

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.

AgeMinimum %Per $100,000
654.00%4,000
664.17%4,170
674.35%4,350
684.55%4,550
694.76%4,760
705.00%5,000
715.28%5,280
725.40%5,400
735.53%5,530
745.67%5,670
755.82%5,820
765.98%5,980
776.17%6,170
786.36%6,360
796.58%6,580
806.82%6,820
817.08%7,080
827.38%7,380
837.71%7,710
848.08%8,080
858.51%8,510
868.99%8,990
879.55%9,550
8810.21%10,210
8910.99%10,990
9011.92%11,920
9113.06%13,060
9214.49%14,490
9316.34%16,340
9418.79%18,790
9520.00%20,000
95+20.00%20,000

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About this calculator

Updated April 2026

You 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%.

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.

Long-form explainers that pair with this calculator.