RRIF Withdrawal Table 2026: $300K vs $500K vs $750K vs $1M — Your Mandatory Dollars by Age (Free Calculator)

The table below shows the CRA prescribed minimum withdrawal in dollars for each combination of age and starting balance. All figures assume the balance is held constant at the listed amount (in practice, the balance changes year-over-year based on growth minus withdrawals). | Age | Factor | $300K min | $500K min | $750K min | $1M min | |-----|--------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------| | 71 | 5.28% | $15,840 | $26,400 | $39,600 | $52,800 | | 72 | 5.40% | $16,200 | $27,000 | $40,500 | $54,000 | | 73 | 5.53% | $16,590 | $27,650 | $41,475 | $55,300 | | 74 | 5.67% | $17,010 | $28,350 | $42,525 | $56,700 | | 75 | 5.82% | $17,460 | $29,100 | $43,650 | $58,200 | | 76 | 5.98% | $17,940 | $29,900 | $44,850 | $59,800 | | 77 | 6.17% | $18,510 | $30,850 | $46,275 | $61,700 | | 78 | 6.36% | $19,080 | $31,800 | $47,700 | $63,600 | | 79 | 6.58% | $19,740 | $32,900 | $49,350 | $65,800 | | 80 | 6.82% | $20,460 | $34,100 | $51,150 | $68,200 | | 81 | 7.08% | $21,240 | $35,400 | $53,100 | $70,800 | | 82 | 7.38% | $22,140 | $36,900 | $55,350 | $73,800 | | 83 | 7.71% | $23,130 | $38,550 | $57,825 | $77,100 | | 84 | 8.08% | $24,240 | $40,400 | $60,600 | $80,800 | | 85 | 8.51% | $25,530 | $42,550 | $63,825 | $85,100 | | 86 | 8.99% | $26,970 | $44,950 | $67,425 | $89,900 | | 87 | 9.55% | $28,650 | $47,750 | $71,625 | $95,500 | | 88 | 10.21% | $30,630 | $51,050 | $76,575 | $102,100 | | 89 | 10.99% | $32,970 | $54,950 | $82,425 | $109,900 | | 90 | 11.92% | $35,760 | $59,600 | $89,400 | $119,200 | | 91 | 13.06% | $39,180 | $65,300 | $97,950 | $130,600 | | 92 | 14.49% | $43,470 | $72,450 | $108,675 | $144,900 | | 93 | 16.34% | $49,020 | $81,700 | $122,550 | $163,400 | | 94 | 18.79% | $56,370 | $93,950 | $140,925 | $187,900 | | 95+ | 20.00% | $60,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | **OAS clawback crossover** (combined RRIF + full CPP $18,100 + OAS $8,900 = $27,000 base, plus age-75+ 10% top-up adds ~$900): - **$300K RRIF**: never breaches $95,323 threshold even at 95+ (max combined income ~$87K at age 95). - **$500K RRIF**: never breaches $95,323 threshold at face-value scenarios. At age 90, combined income ~$87K. Indexation lifts this over years; first crossover ~age 87-88 with inflation. - **$750K RRIF**: crosses $95,323 threshold around age 85 (combined ~$91K). At 90, combined ~$117K = $3,300/yr clawback. - **$1M RRIF**: crosses threshold around age 79 (combined ~$96K). At 90, combined ~$147K = $7,800/yr clawback + close to full clawback at 95. The message: $300K-$500K RRIF balances rarely trigger OAS clawback even into the 90s. $750K-$1M balances reliably do, and the clawback bite gets larger every year as the mandatory percentage grows. For the latter cohort, the meltdown strategy in the 65-71 window is the meaningful lever.

The CRA prescribed factor table assumes a standard RRIF held by the annuitant for their own benefit, calculated using the annuitant’s age. Three situations modify the calculation: **1. Younger-spouse election under s. 146.3(1) ITA** At RRIF setup (or before the first withdrawal in some cases), you can elect to use a younger spouse’s age for the minimum calculation. The election is irrevocable. Example: a 71-year-old husband with a 65-year-old wife elects the 65-age factor of 4.00% instead of 5.28% — saving roughly $6,400/year of forced withdrawal on a $500K RRIF. Over 20 years the cumulative cash flow saved (and therefore not yet taxed) is substantial, plus the smaller mandatory minimums reduce OAS clawback exposure. The downside: less RRIF income available for current spending; partial offset of the benefit if you need to take voluntary excess withdrawals anyway. **2. RRIF inherited by spouse via s. 60(l) ITA rollover** When the first spouse dies and the RRIF rolls to the survivor, the survivor’s own age becomes the basis for the minimum calculation going forward. If the deceased was 78 and the survivor is 72, the combined account uses the survivor’s 72-year-old factor (5.40%) rather than the deceased’s 78-year-old factor (6.36%). The rollover effectively resets to the survivor’s age — a meaningful saving on a combined large balance. **3. First-year RRIF: minimum is $0** The RRIF minimum withdrawal is not required in the calendar year the RRIF is established. So if you convert your RRSP to RRIF in December 2026 at age 71, your first mandatory withdrawal isn’t until 2027 (at the age-72 factor of 5.40%). This is why most retirees convert in late November or December of the year they turn 71 — to delay the first mandatory withdrawal by a full year and let the balance compound one more year. The exception: pre-1992 RRIFs (rare now) have different first-year rules. **Additional notes:** - The table assumes the balance stays static — in reality, growth (typically 4-6% nominal) partially offsets withdrawals (5-12%+), so the balance gradually declines but more slowly than the gross withdrawal would suggest. - LIF (Life Income Fund) and LRIF (Locked-in Retirement Income Fund) accounts have BOTH a minimum AND a maximum withdrawal — the maximum prevents over-withdrawal from pension-source registered funds. The minimum factor is the same as RRIF; the maximum factor varies by province (Ontario uses a CRA-prescribed factor too, capping at roughly 6.5-7% at age 71). - Withdrawals in excess of the minimum are subject to withholding tax (10/20/30%) at source. The minimum is not subject to withholding. All withdrawals are fully taxable.

The table tells you what you’ll be forced to take. The plan tells you what to do about it. **$300K RRIF balance (the safe zone):** - You’ll never breach OAS clawback through normal RRIF minimums, even at 95+. Your tax exposure is primarily marginal-rate, not clawback. - Strategy: take only the minimum if you don’t need the money; don’t over-withdraw. The dollars compound tax-deferred for as long as possible. If you don’t need the income, the RRIF is functioning correctly as a retirement reserve. - Estate item: name spouse as direct beneficiary for tax-free rollover under s. 60(l) ITA. If no spouse, designate adult child as beneficiary — still triggers income inclusion but avoids probate (Ontario probate on $300K = $3,750, modest). **$500K RRIF balance (the watchful zone):** - Marginal-rate-dominant for most retirees. OAS clawback risk emerges around age 87-88 with inflation indexing. - Strategy: consider voluntary excess withdrawals in low-income years (e.g. age 71-73 if CPP/OAS are deferred to 70-72) to flatten the lifetime tax curve. Pay 20-24% now instead of 28-30% later. - Estate item: same as $300K — spousal rollover via beneficiary designation is the highest-leverage move. Saves ~$130K of unnecessary tax at death. **$750K RRIF balance (the active-management zone):** - OAS clawback breaches around age 85 in standard scenarios. Annual clawback grows from $225 at 85 to $3,300+ at 90. - Strategy: meltdown the RRSP balance to ~$500K BEFORE age 71 conversion via voluntary withdrawals at ages 65-70. Each $50K withdrawn at 24% marginal vs 32% marginal saves $4,000 immediately and reduces future clawback exposure by another $200-$300/year cumulative. - Estate item: spousal beneficiary designation is the must-do. Plus consider partial annual charitable donations at 65+ to harvest the 50% credit (Alberta) or 40-45% credit (other provinces) and reduce overall tax over the retirement curve. **$1M+ RRIF balance (the proactive-strategy zone):** - OAS clawback breaches around age 79. Annual clawback grows from ~$50/year at 79 to $7,800+ at 90, with full OAS clawback approaching at age 92-95. - Strategy: aggressive meltdown ages 65-70 — withdraw $50K-$80K/year to bring the eventual RRIF balance under $600K-$700K at age 71. Shift after-tax proceeds to TFSA (using cumulative room $109K in 2026 + annual $7K) and non-registered. The lifetime tax savings on a $1M+ balance from running this strategy properly are commonly $80K-$150K. - Estate item: spousal beneficiary designation is the foundation. Layer charitable bequest in the will using the terminal-return credit under s. 118.1(1) ITA to offset the inevitable large terminal-return income inclusion. A $200K charitable bequest can save $100K of terminal tax. In every case, the calculator below lets you plug in your own balance and age to see your exact minimum. Bookmark this page — the table doesn’t change year-over-year (CRA hasn’t updated the factors since the 2015 budget), but your balance and age do.