Quick answer: The 2026 RRIF minimum withdrawal is the RRIF fair market value at January 1, 2026 × the federally prescribed factor for your age at the start of 2026. Factors run from 4.00% at age 65 (formula 1/(90−age)) to 5.28% at 71 (regulation table) to 20.00% at age 95 and over. There is no minimum withdrawal required in the calendar year you open the RRIF — the first required minimum is the year after.
What this means: The minimum is mechanical. You can withdraw more than the minimum but not less. Amounts above the minimum trigger withholding tax (10/20/30% federal). The minimum itself is paid without withholding, but is still fully taxable on your T1 at marginal rates.
What to do next: Calculate the 2026 dollar minimum for your account balance and age. Run the RRIF minimum calculator →
How the 2026 RRIF minimum is calculated
The RRIF minimum withdrawal for any calendar year is:
2026 minimum withdrawal = RRIF fair market value on January 1, 2026 × prescribed factor for your age on January 1, 2026
From age 65 to 70, the prescribed factor is calculated by the formula 1 / (90 − age). From age 71 onward, it is set by a federal regulation table (Income Tax Regulation s. 7308). The factors are statutory and have not changed since the 2015 amendment that lowered the 71-plus values. Quebec applies the same federal minimums; there is no separate Quebec prescribed factor table.
2026 RRIF minimum percentage by age
| Age (January 1, 2026) | 2026 minimum % | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 4.00% | Formula 1 / (90 − age) |
| 66 | 4.17% | Formula |
| 67 | 4.35% | Formula |
| 68 | 4.55% | Formula |
| 69 | 4.76% | Formula |
| 70 | 5.00% | Formula |
| 71 | 5.28% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 72 | 5.40% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 73 | 5.53% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 74 | 5.67% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 75 | 5.82% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 76 | 5.98% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 77 | 6.17% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 78 | 6.36% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 79 | 6.58% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 80 | 6.82% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 81 | 7.08% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 82 | 7.38% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 83 | 7.71% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 84 | 8.08% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 85 | 8.51% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 86 | 8.99% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 87 | 9.55% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 88 | 10.21% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 89 | 10.99% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 90 | 11.92% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 91 | 13.06% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 92 | 14.49% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 93 | 16.34% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 94 | 18.79% | ITR s. 7308 table |
| 95 and over | 20.00% | ITR s. 7308 table (floor) |
Worked example. Asha turns 75 on her birthday in 2026 and held $400,000 in her RRIF on January 1, 2026. Her 2026 minimum withdrawal is $400,000 × 5.82% = $23,280. She can withdraw more than that (subject to withholding on the excess) but she cannot withdraw less, and the full $23,280 will appear on her 2026 T1 as RRIF income.
Age rules: 71 cutoff, the spousal-age election, and what age to use
You must convert your RRSP to a RRIF (or an annuity) by December 31 of the year you turn 71. Most people do this in the same year. The RRIF is then funded and the calendar of mandatory minimums begins.
The prescribed factor is keyed to your age at the start of the calendar year. So if you turn 75 in March 2026, the 2026 factor is 5.82% (age 75 at January 1), not 5.67% (your December 31, 2025 age was still 74 if your birthday is after January 1). The factor changes once per year, on January 1.
Spousal-age election
On the RRIF application you can elect to use your spouse’s age (if younger) instead of your own to calculate the minimum. The election is irrevocable — you cannot switch back. With a younger spouse, the minimum is lower for life, leaving more capital growing tax-deferred. If the spouse dies after the election is made, the election does not reverse; the calculation continues as though the spouse were still alive.
Timing: first-year zero, December 31 payout, and what to do in 2026
Three timing rules govern every RRIF:
- First calendar year minimum is $0. No mandatory withdrawal is required in the calendar year you open the RRIF. The first required withdrawal is in the following calendar year, based on your age at the start of that year. If you converted from an RRSP in 2025, your first required minimum is for 2026.
- The minimum must be paid out by December 31. The financial institution that holds the RRIF will normally schedule monthly, quarterly, or annual payments to satisfy the minimum by year-end. If less than the minimum has been paid by December 31, the institution is required by CRA to top up the payment before year-end.
- The minimum applies even in the year of death. The minimum for the year of death is calculated normally and must be paid (to the deceased or, more commonly, to the estate or successor annuitant) before any other rollover happens.
Withholding on amounts above the 2026 minimum
The 2026 RRIF minimum is paid without withholding tax. Any portion of a RRIF withdrawal that exceeds the minimum is treated like an RRSP withdrawal for withholding purposes:
| Excess over minimum | Federal withholding (outside Quebec) | Quebec resident |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $5,000 | 10% | 5% federal + 14% Quebec provincial |
| $5,000.01 to $15,000 | 20% | 10% federal + 14% Quebec provincial |
| Over $15,000 | 30% | 15% federal + 14% Quebec provincial |
Withholding is a prepayment of tax, not the final tax. The full RRIF amount (minimum plus excess) is included in your taxable income at marginal rates. If your marginal rate is above 30%, you will owe more at filing; if it is below, you may get a refund of the over-withheld portion. See RRSP withholding tax rates and how they apply for the full mechanic.
RRIF income, OAS clawback, and the pension-income amount
RRIF withdrawals are fully taxable as income. They count toward net world income for the OAS recovery tax (the “clawback”), which begins at $93,454 of 2025 net income and $95,323 of 2026 net income — every dollar above the threshold reduces OAS by 15%. A large optional RRIF withdrawal in one year can push you past the threshold and cost 15% on top of marginal tax for the year. See OAS clawback threshold 2026 for the full mechanic.
RRIF income (but not RRSP withdrawals) qualifies for the federal pension income amount, a non-refundable tax credit on the first $2,000 of pension income from age 65. Provincial pension credits are layered on top. From age 65, RRIF income can also be pension-split up to 50/50 with a spouse on Form T1032, which can substantially reduce a couple’s combined tax and OAS clawback.
What happens to the RRIF when you die
If your spouse or common-law partner is named as the successor annuitant, the RRIF rolls over to them and continues in their name. The minimum withdrawal continues to be calculated, now using their age. If a non-spouse beneficiary is named, or no successor annuitant designation is in place, the RRIF is collapsed and the full balance is added to the deceased’s final T1 return as income — usually a large one-year tax hit, unless a financially-dependent child or grandchild qualifies for a special rollover.
Common mistakes
- Withdrawing only the minimum every year. The minimum is a floor, not a strategy. A larger RRIF combined with modest other income often means lower lifetime tax if you draw more in your 60s and into your early 70s, before OAS and CPP push you into a higher bracket.
- Skipping the spousal-age election when your spouse is younger. A 5-year age gap on a $500,000 RRIF can leave $30,000+ more invested per decade because of the lower minimums.
- Forgetting withholding on excess withdrawals. Asking for a $30,000 lump above the minimum has 30% sent to CRA immediately; you receive $21,000.
- Triggering OAS clawback by accident. A large optional RRIF withdrawal can push net world income above $93,454 / $95,323 and reduce next year’s OAS by 15% of the overage.
- Assuming the first-year is non-zero. The first calendar year of a RRIF has a $0 minimum. Any institution that schedules a minimum payment in the opening year has gone beyond the rule — you can decline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RRIF minimum withdrawal rate at age 71 for 2026?
5.28%, set by Income Tax Regulation s. 7308. Applied to the RRIF balance on January 1, 2026.
Does the minimum percentage change in 2026?
No. The prescribed factors have not changed since 2015. The factor table is the same for 2026 as it was for 2025 and 2024.
Can I delay my first RRIF withdrawal?
The first calendar year of a RRIF has a $0 minimum. The first required withdrawal is in the following calendar year. After that, the minimum is mandatory every year by December 31.
Is withholding tax taken from the RRIF minimum?
No. The minimum is paid without source withholding. Amounts above the minimum are withheld at 10%, 20%, or 30% federal depending on the excess size.
Can I use my spouse’s age to lower the minimum?
Yes, if you elect to do so on the RRIF application. The election is irrevocable. If your spouse is younger, your minimum is permanently lower.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the RRIF minimum withdrawal at age 71?
- 5.28% of the fair market value at the start of the year. The minimum is set by federal regulation, not the formula used at younger ages.
- How is the RRIF minimum withdrawal calculated under age 71?
- 1 / (90 minus your age) times the RRIF's fair market value on January 1. So at age 65 the minimum is 4.00% (1/25).
- Is there withholding tax on the RRIF minimum?
- No. The minimum is paid without withholding. Amounts above the minimum trigger 10%, 20%, or 30% federal withholding.
- Can I use my spouse's age for the RRIF minimum?
- Yes, with an irrevocable election made on the RRIF application. If your spouse is younger, the minimum is lower for life.
- Are RRIF withdrawals taxable in Canada?
- Yes, fully at marginal rates as income. The first $2,000 may qualify for the federal pension income tax credit at age 65 or older.
- Do RRIF withdrawals affect OAS?
- Yes. RRIF income counts toward the OAS recovery threshold. Net income above ~$90,997 (2024, indexed) triggers a 15% clawback on OAS.
- What is the RRIF minimum at age 95?
- 20% of the start-of-year value. The percentage stays at 20% from age 95 onward.
- Can I withdraw less than the RRIF minimum?
- No. The minimum is a hard floor. You can withdraw any amount above the minimum without limit.