Once converted, you are legally obligated to withdraw a minimum percentage of the total value every single year. This money is fully taxable as income. If you don't plan for this, it will wreck your tax bracket and potentially trigger a massive Old Age Security (OAS) clawback.
1. The 2026 RRIF Minimum Withdrawal Table
The percentage you must withdraw is based on your age at the start of the year (January 1st). The percentage is multiplied by the total market value of your RRIF on that exact date.
| Age (Jan 1) | Minimum % |
|---|---|
| 65 | 4.00% |
| 66 | 4.17% |
| 67 | 4.35% |
| 68 | 4.55% |
| 69 | 4.76% |
| 70 | 5.00% |
| 71 (Mandatory Conversion) | 5.28% |
| 72 | 5.40% |
| 73 | 5.53% |
| 74 | 5.67% |
| 75 | 5.82% |
| 80 | 6.82% |
| 85 | 8.51% |
| 90 | 10.99% |
| 95+ | 20.00% |
2. The "Forced Income" Trap
But here's the problem: The RRIF minimums scale aggressively. Let's look at real dollars.
Worked Example: The $600k Problem
David turns 72. On January 1st, his RRIF is worth $600,000.
The mandatory withdrawal rate for age 72 is 5.40%.
$600,000 x 5.40% = $32,400.
David MUST withdraw $32,400 this year, fully taxable. Combined with his CPP, OAS, and a small pension, this forced withdrawal might push his net income over the $95,000 mark, triggering the OAS clawback.
3. The Spousal Age Loophole
There is one major trick to lowering your mandatory withdrawal. If you have a younger spouse, you can elect to base your RRIF minimums on their age instead of yours.
For example, if you are 72, but your spouse is 65, you can use the 65-year-old rate of 4.00% instead of the 72-year-old rate of 5.40%. On a $600,000 RRIF, that lowers your forced income from $32,400 down to $24,000, keeping more money tax-sheltered.
Note: You must make this election when you first open the RRIF. You cannot change it later.
4. What to do with the Excess Money?
What if you don't need the $32,400 to live on? You still have to take it out of the RRIF.
The smartest move is to take the mandatory cash (after withholding tax) and immediately deposit it into your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), assuming you have contribution room. The money goes from a tax-deferred environment (RRIF) into a completely tax-free environment (TFSA).
To see how these withdrawals impact your total tax picture, we highly recommend using the Retirement Income Calculator at CalculatorVillage.com.
Conclusion: What to Read Next
The RRIF minimum table is just one piece of the decumulation puzzle. To avoid the tax traps, you need to understand the "Meltdown Strategy."
What to read next: Read our full breakdown of the RRSP Meltdown Strategy to learn how to purposefully draw down your accounts in your 60s to soften the blow at age 71.
SimRetire Editorial Team
Canadian Retirement Experts
This guide has been rigorously reviewed by our editorial team to ensure 100% compliance with 2026 Canadian tax laws and CRA guidelines. Our mission is to provide accurate, independent, and accessible financial education for all Canadians.