📋 RRIF Minimums Guide

RRIF Minimum Withdrawals — 2026 Schedule

Your RRSP must convert to a RRIF by the end of the year you turn 71. After that, you must withdraw a minimum percentage every year — whether you need the income or not.

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The Basics

What is a RRIF?

A Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) is the account your RRSP converts to by the end of the year you turn 71. While an RRSP is designed for accumulation, a RRIF is designed to provide retirement income — which is why the government mandates minimum annual withdrawals.

Key RRIF facts:
• RRSP must convert to RRIF by December 31 of the year you turn 71
• Minimum withdrawals are required starting the year after conversion
• All withdrawals are taxable as income
• No maximum withdrawal — you can take out as much as you want above the minimum
• You can use a younger spouse's age to calculate minimums (lower minimums)

The 2026 Table

RRIF minimum withdrawal percentages — 2026

The minimum withdrawal is calculated as a percentage of your RRIF balance at the start of each year. Below age 71, the formula is 1 ÷ (90 − age). From 71 onward, a fixed schedule applies:

Age	Min % of Balance	On $500K RRIF	On $1M RRIF
65	4.00% (formula)	$20,000	$40,000
70	5.00% (formula)	$25,000	$50,000
71	5.28%	$26,400	$52,800
72	5.40%	$27,000	$54,000
73	5.53%	$27,650	$55,300
74	5.67%	$28,350	$56,700
75	5.82%	$29,100	$58,200
76	5.98%	$29,900	$59,800
77	6.17%	$30,850	$61,700
78	6.36%	$31,800	$63,600
79	6.58%	$32,900	$65,800
80	6.82%	$34,100	$68,200
85	8.51%	$42,550	$85,100
90	11.92%	$59,600	$119,200
95+	20.00%	$100,000	$200,000

The Tax Problem

Why large RRIF balances create tax problems

The increasing minimum percentages mean that a large RRIF forces growing taxable income every year — whether you need it or not. Combined with CPP and OAS, this can push retirees into higher brackets and trigger OAS clawback.

Example: A retiree at 80 with a $600,000 RRIF must withdraw at least $40,920 (6.82%). Add CPP ($12,000), OAS ($9,000) — total taxable income = $61,920 before even touching other accounts. Not a problem alone, but with any other income it starts to compound.

Planning Strategies

How to manage RRIF minimums proactively

RRSP meltdown before 71 — the most effective strategy. Draw down RRSP voluntarily in low-income early retirement years to reduce the RRIF balance that will be subject to forced minimums
Use spouse's younger age — if your spouse is younger, you can elect to use their age to calculate RRIF minimums, resulting in lower mandatory withdrawals
Convert to RRIF early — you can convert RRSP to RRIF before 71 if you want to start using the RRIF framework earlier (though minimums still apply)
Strategic TFSA top-ups — any RRIF minimum you don't need for living expenses can be invested in TFSA (if room available), sheltering it from future taxation
Pension income splitting — RRIF income qualifies for pension income splitting with a spouse after age 65, potentially reducing each partner's individual tax burden

RRIF vs LIRA/LIF

RRIF vs LIF — key differences

Feature	RRIF	LIF
Source of funds	RRSP	LIRA (locked-in pension)
Minimum withdrawal	Yes — CRA schedule	Yes — same CRA schedule
Maximum withdrawal	No maximum	Yes — provincial cap (~6–7%)
Withdrawal taxable?	Yes — fully	Yes — fully
Conversion age	By end of year turning 71	Typically ~55 (province-specific)

Model RRIF minimums in your retirement plan

FireCA uses the full 2026 RRIF minimum schedule in its retirement runway calculations, plus models LIF mechanics alongside — so you see the real year-by-year income picture.

Model RRIF in My Plan → Reduce RRIF with Meltdown Strategy

Related Guides

RRIF Minimum Withdrawals — 2026 Schedule

What is a RRIF?

RRIF minimum withdrawal percentages — 2026

Why large RRIF balances create tax problems

How to manage RRIF minimums proactively

RRIF vs LIF — key differences

Model RRIF minimums in your retirement plan

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