RRIF Minimum Withdrawal by Spouse's Age

See the CRA factor and minimum withdrawal at your age and at a younger spouse's age, using the CRA's own formula.

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Your RRIF

There is no age limit for the spouse. The election must be made before the first RRIF payment and can't be changed later.

Fair market value of the RRIF property at the start of the year, excluding any locked-in annuity contracts.

Only if your RRIF holds a locked-in annuity contract. These payments are added on top.

Factor at age 71
5.28%
CRA prescribed factor for age 71
Minimum at age 71
$26,400
Factor at age 60
3.33%
1 ÷ (90 − 60) = 3.33%
Minimum at age 60
$16,666.67

Using your spouse's age lowers this year's minimum by $9,733.

How the CRA calculates it(60)

  1. Step 1: RRIF value ($500,000) × prescribed factor (0.0333) = $16,666.67
  2. Step 2: add locked-in annuity payments ($0.00)
  3. Minimum amount for the year: $16,666.67

Source: CRA, Minimum amount from a RRIF and Chart – Prescribed factors.

Minimum withdrawals over time

YearYour ageMinimum (your age)Spouse's ageMinimum (spouse's age)
202671 (5.28%)$26,40060 (3.33%)$16,667
202772 (5.40%)$26,85361 (3.45%)$17,500
202873 (5.53%)$27,31562 (3.57%)$18,375
202974 (5.67%)$27,78163 (3.70%)$19,294
203075 (5.82%)$28,24464 (3.85%)$20,258
203176 (5.98%)$28,69865 (4.00%)$21,271
203277 (6.17%)$29,23166 (4.17%)$22,335
203378 (6.36%)$29,68667 (4.35%)$23,452
203479 (6.58%)$30,19768 (4.55%)$24,624
203580 (6.82%)$30,70169 (4.76%)$25,855
203681 (7.08%)$31,18370 (5.00%)$27,148
203782 (7.38%)$31,71371 (5.28%)$28,597
203883 (7.71%)$32,22072 (5.40%)$29,088
203984 (8.08%)$32,72173 (5.53%)$29,588
204085 (8.51%)$33,26274 (5.67%)$30,093
204186 (8.99%)$33,75575 (5.82%)$30,594
204287 (9.55%)$34,26676 (5.98%)$31,086
204388 (10.21%)$34,79277 (6.17%)$31,664
204489 (10.99%)$35,30878 (6.36%)$32,156
204590 (11.92%)$35,79279 (6.58%)$32,710

Each year's minimum is taken from the projected January 1 balance; the rest grows at the expected return. Locked-in annuity payments are not included.

Rules for the spouse's age election

  • Age 70 or younger: the factor is 1 ÷ (90 − age), at any age. From 71 the CRA's prescribed table applies, reaching 20% at 95.
  • You can elect to use your spouse's or common-law partner's age instead of your own. There is no minimum age for the spouse.
  • The election must be made before the carrier makes any payment from the RRIF (in practice, when you set it up), and it can't be changed afterwards.
  • No minimum applies in the year the RRIF is set up. Ages are in whole years on January 1.
  • A lower minimum only changes what you must take out. You can always withdraw more; withholding tax applies only to the amount above the minimum.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: July 2026

No. You can elect to use your spouse's or common-law partner's age whatever their age. If they are 70 or younger, the factor is 1 ÷ (90 − their age) on January 1: 2.86% at 55, 3.33% at 60, 4.00% at 65. From 71 the CRA's prescribed table applies.

Before the carrier makes any payment from the RRIF, which in practice means when you set it up. Once payments have started, the election can't be made or changed.

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Educational tool - estimates only. Not individualized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Using it does not create an advisor-client relationship. Rules and figures change; verify against current CRA sources and consult a qualified professional. Editorial policy →