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Tax year 2026

RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Calculator (2026)

Direct answer

Direct answer: Your RRIF minimum withdrawal is the prescribed factor for your age multiplied by the RRIF balance on January 1. At age 71 the factor is 5.28%; below 71 it is 1 divided by (90 minus your age). The factor rises each year to 7.38% at 82, 11.92% at 90 and a fixed 20% at 95 and older. No tax is withheld on the minimum, but amounts above it are. Enter your age and balance above to see your exact minimum and project the RRIF to age 95.

What is the RRIF minimum withdrawal at 71?

At age 71 the prescribed factor is 5.28%, so the minimum is 5.28% of your RRIF balance on January 1. On $300,000 that is $15,840 for the year.

How is the RRIF minimum calculated?

Multiply your RRIF's fair market value on January 1 by the prescribed factor for your age. Below age 71 the factor is 1 divided by (90 minus your age).

Does the RRIF minimum rise with age?

Yes. The factor climbs every year — from 5.28% at 71 to 7.38% at 82, 11.92% at 90, and a fixed 20% at age 95 and older.

Is there tax withheld on the RRIF minimum?

No tax is withheld on the minimum amount itself. Any withdrawal above the minimum is subject to 10%, 20% or 30% federal withholding by tier (outside Quebec).

RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Calculator (2026)

Minimum withdrawal this year
$15,840
Prescribed factor at age 71: 5.28%
That is about $1,320/ month
Total withdrawn by age 95
$426,943
The minimum is set by the CRA prescribed factor for your age and your balance on January 1. You can always take more, but never less.
RRIF balance and minimum withdrawal by age
Year-start balanceMinimum withdrawal7195

How is the RRIF minimum withdrawal calculated?

A Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) requires a minimum withdrawal every year after the year it is opened. The amount is set by a simple formula, not your spending needs:

  1. Take the RRIF's fair market value on January 1 of the year.
  2. Find the prescribed factor for your age (or your spouse's age, if you elect it) on January 1.
  3. Multiply the two. That product is your minimum withdrawal for the year.
  4. You can always take more, but never less — and there is no minimum in the year the RRIF is first set up.

What are the RRIF prescribed factors by age for 2026?

Below age 71, the factor is 1 divided by (90 minus your age) — so a 65-year-old's factor is 1/25 = 4.00%. From 71 onward the CRA sets fixed factors that rise every year:

AgeFactorAgeFactor
715.28%848.08%
725.40%858.51%
735.53%868.99%
745.67%879.55%
755.82%8810.21%
765.98%8910.99%
776.17%9011.92%
786.36%9113.06%
796.58%9214.49%
806.82%9316.34%
817.08%9418.79%
827.38%95+20.00%
837.71%

Can I use my spouse's age to lower the minimum?

Yes. When you open the RRIF you can elect to base the minimum on a younger spouse's or common-law partner's age. Because the factor is lower at a younger age, this reduces your mandatory withdrawal and lets more of the account stay tax-sheltered. The election is permanent for that RRIF, so it is worth deciding before the first payment. Try both ages in the calculator above to see the difference.

How is a RRIF withdrawal taxed?

RRIF withdrawals are fully taxable as pension income and reported on a T4RIF slip. There is no tax withheld on the minimum amount, which is why many retirees take exactly the minimum and set aside tax for their return. Any amount above the minimum is subject to federal withholding of 10% on the first $5,000, 20% on $5,000 to $15,000, and 30% above $15,000 (rates differ in Quebec). At 65 or older, RRIF income also qualifies for the pension income tax credit and pension income splitting.

How long will my RRIF last?

Because the minimum is a percentage of a shrinking balance, a RRIF is designed to draw down gradually rather than hit zero on a fixed date. The projection above shows the year-start balance and the minimum withdrawal side by side to age 95, so you can see how the rising factor interacts with your expected return. To plan the income side, pair this with the RRSP calculator, the CPP & EI calculator, and the Canada take-home pay calculator.

Verified by our data team

Last updated: June 19, 2026. Verified against CRA (T4127 payroll formulas, 2026), Revenu Québec, and the provincial tax authorities.

What are the most frequently asked questions?

  • At age 71 the prescribed factor is 5.28%, applied to your RRIF balance on January 1.

  • Multiply the RRIF's fair market value on January 1 by the prescribed factor for your age. Below 71 the factor is 1/(90 - age).

  • At age 95 and older the prescribed factor is fixed at 20%.

  • No. There is no withholding on the minimum amount, but amounts above the minimum are withheld at 10%, 20% or 30% by tier (outside Quebec).

  • Yes. You can elect to use a younger spouse's age, which lowers the factor and the mandatory withdrawal. The election is permanent for that RRIF.

  • There is no minimum in the year the RRIF is established; the first required withdrawal is the following year.

Disclaimer: the information on this page is for educational and estimation purposes only; it is pricing and market research, NOT tax or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.