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What Tax is Deducted From RRIF or RRSP Withdrawals?
Income Tax Regulations s. 103(4)
Net RRSP Withdrawal Will Be After Tax
Tax Withheld is Like a Tax Instalment
RRSP/RRIF Withdrawals Withholding Tax Rate
Quebec RRSP Withdrawals Withholding Tax Rate
Non-resident RRSP Withdrawals Withholding Tax Rate
Multiple Lump-Sum Withdrawals From RRSP or RRIF
RRIF Withdrawal Withholding Tax
Fees on RRSP or RRIF Withdrawals
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Resources
Net RRSP Withdrawal Will Be After Tax
RRSP withdrawal amounts, including any tax paid on the withdrawal, are included in taxable income on Line 12900 of the tax return (RRSP income).
The withholding tax must be deducted from the "payment", so this means that the amount net of tax must be transferred out of the account. The tax cannot be paid after the transfer of the withdrawal, it must be deducted as part of the withdrawal transaction. This means that if an in kind withdrawal of securities is done, there must be sufficient cash in the registered account to pay the withholding tax.
Example: In kind withdrawal of securities, with a taxable withdrawal amount of $20,000:
 | withholding (w/h) tax is 30% of $20,000, or $6,000 |
| cash of $6,000 must be available in the RRSP to pay the $6,000 |
| net amount of withdrawal is $20,000 - $6,000 = $14,000 |
| this means only $14,000 of securities can be withdrawn |
| taxable withdrawal reported on line 12900 of the tax return is $20,000 |
| $6,000 w/h tax is reported on line 43700 of the tax return |
Goal is to have $20,000 of securities withdrawn:
| w/h tax will be 30% of the total withdrawal amount |
| securities withdrawn ($20,000) will be 70% of the total withdrawal amount |
| total withdrawal amount including tax = $20,000 / 70% = $28,571 |
| w/h tax = 30% x $28,571 = $8,571 |
| securities withdrawn = $28,571 - $8,571 = $20,000 |
| taxable withdrawal reported on line 12900 of the tax return is $28,571 |
| $8,571 w/h tax is reported on line 43700 of the tax return |
Tax Withheld is Like a Tax Instalment
The withholding tax amounts deducted from your withdrawals are only estimates of what you will owe in taxes. The amounts withheld will show on your tax return on line 43700 as taxes already remitted, just like an income tax instalment. The total withdrawal amount including w/h tax will be included in your taxable income. Your total taxable income will determine the total taxes payable. This may result in more or less taxes being payable.
RRSP/RRIF Withdrawals Withholding Tax Rate
The following are the withholding tax rates for RRSP withdrawals or for withdrawals from a RRIF in excess of the minimum amount:
| Withdrawal Amount | % Federal Tax Withheld | |
| Prov/Terr Except QC | Quebec (1) | |
| From $0 to $5,000 | 10% | 5% |
| From $5,001 to $15,000 | 20% | 10% |
| Greater than $15,000 | 30% | 15% |
Quebec RRSP Withdrawals Withholding Tax Rate
(1) For a single withdrawal from RRSP funds held in the province of Quebec, there will be 14% (15% prior to 2023) provincial income tax withheld, in addition to the above 5%, 10% or 15% federal tax withheld. See Revenue Quebec's Payments from an RRSP. a VRSP, a PRPP or a RRIF.
Non-resident RRSP Withdrawals Withholding Tax Rate
Note that for non-residents of Canada, the withholding tax rate is 25%, but can be reduced by a tax treaty.
Multiple Lump-Sum Withdrawals From RRSP or RRIF
When an individual makes a single request for more than one withdrawal, in the form of instalments, it is Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) position that the withholding tax rate should be based on the total of these withdrawals. When a RRIF annuitant receives monthly instalment payments and makes a series of requests for additional withdrawals in a short period of time, it is the CRA position that the withholding tax rate should be based on the total of additional withdrawals. They also indicate that payers should use their discretion in determining the rate. For further information on this topic, see the CRA document Withholding tax on payments from a RRIF (link at bottom). See also Question 14 from the 2003 RRSP/RRIF Consultation Session, Withholdings on Multiple Withdrawals. From that question:
It is the CRA's longstanding position that, when qualifying lump-sum payments are split into multiple payments (installments), and that each payment is made in fulfillment of a single compensation that is known in advance, the withholding rate applicable to the total payment is used.
If each payment is a separate payment, the lower rate of withholding applies to each.
For example, if at the beginning of the year you receive a request to pay a client $1,500 per month out of the client's RRSP for an annual amount of $18,000, you would apply the withholding rate of 30% to each installment payment. Because the total amount of the withdrawal for the year was known in advance, the withholding rate applicable to the total amount withdrawn is to be applied.
If, later in the year, the client requests an additional withdrawal that is over and above the installment payments, you should use the rate that applies to that payment only.
There was also a 2008 consultation, and Q24 addressed the same topic, saying:
Question 24 Does the CRA have any plans to change the lump-sum withholding tax rates that apply to multiple withdrawals made over a short period of time, such as adding a threshold after which all withdrawals in the same year would be subject to the higher withholding rate?
Answer 24 No. We have no plans to change the calculation of how tax should be withheld in respect of multiple withdrawals from an RRSP or a RRIF over a short period of time. The information about tax withholding at the end of the answer to question 7, Withholding tax on payments from a RRIF (link at bottom) continues to apply.
RRIF Withdrawal Withholding Tax
No tax is withheld when the minimum amount is withdrawn from a RRIF. When withdrawals in excess of the minimum amount are made, the above RRSP lump sum withholding tax rates apply, but only on the excess over the minimum amount. For further information on this topic, see the CRA document Withholding tax on payments from a RRIF (link at bottom). For Quebec, the amount withheld from a single payment from a RRIF will be 16% of the amount exceeding the minimum amount.
The withdrawal from the RRIF is included in the taxpayer's taxable income, so depending on the individual's circumstances, tax may be payable when the tax return is filed.
In 2020, tax was only withheld from withdrawals that were in excess of the original unreduced minimum amount.
The minimum withdrawal amount was waived in 2007 for RRIF owners who turned 70 or 71 in 2007, and in 2008 for RRIF owners who turned 71 in 2008. However, withdrawals up to the normal minimum withdrawal amount were still not subject to withholding tax.
Fees on RRSP or RRIF Withdrawals
There may be fees charged by your brokerage or financial institution when a withdrawal is made from an RRSP or RRIF. These fees are not tax deductible. This applies if they are paid by the RRSP or RRIF or from a non-registered account.
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Revised: October 26, 2023