RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement

T4040(E) Rev. 16

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Unless otherwise noted, all legislative references are to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations.

La version française de ce guide est intitulée REER et autres régimes enregistrés pour la retraite.

Table of contents

• Is this guide for you?
• Definitions
• Chapter 1 – RPP contributions
  • Current service and past service contributions for 1990 or later years
  • Past service contributions for 1989 or earlier years
  • Interest on past service contributions
  • Other deductions
    • Calculating your 2016 deduction for your RPP contributions
• Chapter 2 – RRSP contributions
  • How do you claim your RRSP deduction?
  • Age limit for contributing to an RRSP
  • Contributing to your RRSPs
    • How much can you deduct?
    • Calculating your 2016 RRSP deduction limit
    • Contributions you can deduct for 2016
  • Contributing to your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP, SPP, or both
  • Keeping track of your RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions – Schedule 7
    • Line 1 – Unused RRSP or PRPP contributions
    • Lines 2 and 3 – Total RRSP and PRPP contributions
    • Lines 6 and 7 – Repayments under the HBP and the LLP
    • Line 14 – RRSP or PRPP contributions you are deducting for 2016
    • Line 15 – Transfers
    • Lines 19 to 22 – 2016 withdrawals under the HBP and the LLP
    • Line 23 – Contributions to an amateur athlete trust
  • Unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions
    • Withdrawing the unused contributions
  • Tax on RRSP, PRPP, or SPP excess contributions
• Chapter 3 – RRIF contributions
  • Property from an RRSP, PRPP, or SPP
  • RPP amounts
  • DPSP amounts
  • Property from another RRIF
  • Specified pension plan (SPP) amounts
• Chapter 4 – Anti-avoidance rules for RRSPs and RRIFs
  • Tax payable on non-qualified investments
    • Reporting requirements by the RRSP or RRIF trust
  • Tax payable on prohibited investments
  • Tax payable on an advantage
  • Refund of taxes paid on non-qualified or prohibited investments
  • How to request a waiver or a cancellation of taxes
• Chapter 5 – Amounts from an RRSP or a RRIF
  • Yearly minimum amount from a RRIF
  • Transfers to registered disability savings plans
  • Locked-in RRSP
  • Amounts paid from or into a spousal or common-law partner RRSP, RRIF or SPP
    • Calculating the income you and your spouse or common-law partner have to report
• Chapter 6 – Transfers to registered plans or funds and annuities
  • Other transfers
  • Direct transfer of an RPP lump-sum amount
    • Excess transfer of an RPP lump-sum amount
• Chapter 7 – PAs, PARs, and PSPAs
  • Pension adjustments (PAs)
    • Does your employer have to report a PA for you?
    • What does your PA affect?
  • Pension adjustment reversals (PARs)
  • Past service pension adjustments (PSPAs)
    • Types of PSPAs
    • Cost of past service benefits
    • What happens if we cannot certify your PSPA?
    • Net PSPA
• Chapter 8 – Pooled registered pension plan
  • Eligibility
  • Participation
  • Contributions to a PRPP
    • Member contributions
    • Employer contributions
    • Contributions on tax-exempt income
  • PRPP transfers
    • Transfers to a PRPP
    • Transfers from a PRPP
  • PRPP payments
  • PRPP withdrawals
  • PRPP life events
    • Death of a PRPP member
    • Breakdown of marriage or common-law partnership
• Related forms and publications
• Online services
  • My Account
  • MyCRA – Mobile app
  • Electronic payments
• For more information
  • What if you need help?
  • Forms and publications
  • Electronic mailing lists
  • Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS)
  • Teletypewriter (TTY) users
  • Service complaints
  • Reprisal complaint
  • Tax information videos
  • Due dates
  • Cancel or waive penalties or interest

Is this guide for you?

Use this guide if you want information about registered pension plans (RPPs), registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), specified pension plans (SPPs), pooled registered pension plans (PRPPs), and accumulated income payments (AIPs). This guide has information which is not in the General Income Tax and Benefit package and which you may need to fill out your income tax and benefit return.

We have included definitions of some of the terms used in this guide in the Definitions section. You may want to read this section before you start.

Definitions

This section provides a general definition of the technical terms that we use in this guide.

Advantage – an advantage is any benefit, loan or debt that depends on the existence of the RRSP or RRIF, other than:

• RRSP or RRIF distributions;
• administrative or investment services in connection with the RRSP or RRIF;
• loans on arm’s length terms;
• payments or allocations (such as bonus interest) to the RRSP or RRIF by the issuer or carrier; or
• a benefit provided under an incentive program that is offered to a broad class of persons in a normal commercial or investment context and not established mainly for tax purposes.

An advantage includes any benefit that is an increase in the total fair market value (FMV) of the property held in connection with the RRSP or RRIF that can reasonably be considered attributable, directly or indirectly, to one of the following:

• a transaction or event (or a series of transactions or events) that would not have occurred in a normal commercial or investment context where parties deal with each other at arm’s length and act prudently, knowledgeably, and willingly with each other, and one of the main purposes of which is to enable the annuitant (or another person or partnership) to benefit from the tax-exempt status of the RRSP or RRIF;

• a payment received in substitution for either;
  • a payment for services provided by the annuitant (or another person not at arm's length with the annuitant); or
  • a payment of a return on investment or proceeds of dispositions for property held outside of the RRSP or RRIF by the annuitant or a person not dealing at arm's length with the annuitant.
• a swap transaction; or
• specified non-qualified investment income that has not been paid from the RRSP or RRIF within 90 days of the annuitant receiving a notice from CRA requiring them to remove the amount from the RRSP or RRIF.

An advantage also includes an RRSP strip or any benefit that is income (excluding the dividend gross-up), or a capital gain that is reasonably attributable, directly or indirectly, to one of the following:

• a prohibited investment in respect of the RRSP or RRIF or any other RRSP or RRIF of the annuitant;
• an amount received by the annuitant of the RRSP or RRIF (or by a person not dealing at arm's length with the annuitant) if it is reasonable to consider that the amount was paid in relation to, or would not have been paid but for, property held in connection with the RRSP or RRIF, and the amount was paid in substitution for either a payment:
  • for services provided by the annuitant (or another person not at arm's length with the annuitant); or
  • of a return on investment or proceeds of disposition.

Annuitant – generally, an annuitant of an RRSP or a RRIF is the person for whom the plan or fund provides a retirement income. In certain circumstances, the surviving spouse or common-law partner may qualify as the annuitant when, because of the death, he or she becomes entitled to receive benefits out of the plan or fund.

Common-law partner – a person who is not your spouse, with whom you are living in a conjugal relationship, and to whom at least one of the following situations applies. He or she:

1. has been living with you in a conjugal relationship, and this current relationship has lasted for at least 12 continuous months;
2. is the parent of your child by birth or adoption; or
3. has custody and control of your child (or had custody and control immediately before the child turned 19 years of age) and your child is wholly dependent on that person for support.

Commutation payment – a fixed or single lump-sum payment from your RRSP annuity that is equal to the current value of all or part of your future annuity payments from the plan.

Deferred profit-sharing plan (DPSP) – an employer-sponsored plan we register, in which the employer shares the profits of a business with all the employees or a designated group of employees.

Defined benefit provision – the terms of an RPP that promise a certain level of pension on retirement, based on the employee's earnings and years of service.

Earned income – we calculate your earned income by adding your employment earnings, self-employment earnings, and certain other types of income, then subtracting specific employment expenses and business or rental losses. To calculate your earned income, see Step 2 of Chart 3.

Qualifying performance income (generally endorsement income, prize money or income from public appearances received by an amateur athlete) contributed to an amateur athlete trust (AAT) after 2013, qualifies as earned income in determining the RRSP deduction contribution limit of the trust’s beneficiary.

Eligible individual – for the purposes of RDSPs, a child or grandchild of a deceased annuitant under an RRSP, a RRIF or of a deceased member of an RPP, an SPP or a PRPP, who was financially dependent on the deceased for support, at the time of the deceased’s death, by reason of physical or mental infirmity.

Fair market value (FMV) – usually the highest dollar value you can get for your property in an open and unrestricted market, between a willing buyer and a willing seller who are acting independently of each other. For more information on the valuation of securities of closely-held corporations, see Information Circular IC89‑3, Policy Statement on Business Equity Valuations.

Financially dependent – if you are a child or grandchild of a deceased annuitant, you are generally considered financially dependent on that annuitant at the time of death if, before that person's death, you ordinarily resided with and depended on the annuitant, and you meet one of the following conditions:

• your net income for the previous year (shown on line 236 of your income tax and benefit return) was less than the basic personal amount (line 300 from Schedule 1) for that previous year; or
• you are infirm and your net income for the previous year was equal to or less than the basic personal amount plus the disability amount (line 316 from Schedule 1) for that previous year.

If, before the annuitant's death, you are away from home because you were attending school, we still consider you to have resided with the annuitant.

If your net income was more than the amounts described above, we will not consider you to be financially dependent on the annuitant at the time of death, unless you can establish that you were. To do so, you or the legal representative should submit a request in writing to your tax services office explaining why we should consider you to be financially dependent on the annuitant at the time of death.

Foreign plan – a plan or arrangement maintained primarily to benefit non-residents for services they perform outside Canada.

Matured RRSP – an RRSP that is paying you retirement income.

Money purchase provision – the terms of an RPP under which the amount of your pension depends on how much you and your employer contribute to the RPP for you.

Pooled registered pension plan (PRPP) – a retirement savings plan to which you or your employer or both can contribute. Any income earned in the PRPP is usually exempt from tax as long as it remains in the plan.

Prohibited investment – this is property to which the RRSP or RRIF annuitant is closely connected, it includes:

• a debt of the annuitant;
• a debt or share of, or an interest in, a corporation, trust or partnership in which the annuitant has a significant interest (generally a 10% or greater interest, taking into account non-arm's length holdings); and
• a debt or share of, or an interest in, a corporation, trust or partnership with which the annuitant, does not deal at arm's length.

A prohibited investment does not include a mortgage loan that is insured by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation or by an approved private insurer. It also does not include certain investment funds and certain widely held investments which reflect a low risk of self-dealing.

Qualifying group plan amounts – often referred to as "mandatory group plan amounts." They are contribution amounts that you are required to make to a PRPP or a "qualifying arrangement." An arrangement is a qualifying arrangement if:

• it is for two or more individuals;
• the contributions are amounts you are entitled to for services you provided; and
• the contributions are remitted to the RRSP by the person who pays you, or by an agent for that person.

Qualifying group plan amounts do not include amounts that you could have prevented from being paid after beginning to participate in the arrangement and within 12 months before the amount was paid.

Qualifying retirement plan – for purposes of the Canada-U.S. tax convention, a United States qualifying retirement plan is a plan that is generally exempt from income tax in the U.S. and is operated primarily to provide pension or retirement benefits. Common qualifying U.S. retirement plans include 401(k) arrangements. For a complete list of qualifying U.S. retirement plans, go to Protocol Amending the Convention Between Canada and the United States of America With Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and see paragraph 10.

Retiring allowance – also called severance pay, this is an amount you receive on or after retirement from an office or employment in recognition of long service. It can include payment for unused sick leave and amounts you receive for loss of office or employment, whether as a payment of damages or a payment under an order or judgment of a tribunal. For more information, see Retiring allowance in Chart 8.

Registered disability savings plan (RDSP) – a trust arrangement between an individual (the holder) and a trust company in Canada (the issuer) that provides for the long-term financial security of a beneficiary who has a prolonged and severe mental or physical impairment.

Registered education savings plan (RESP) – a registered contract between an individual (the subscriber) and a person or organization (the promoter). The subscriber generally makes contributions to the RESP, which earns income, paid in the form of educational assistance payments to one or more identified beneficiaries.

Registered pension plan (RPP) – a pension plan that we have registered. Funds are contributed by an employer, or by an employer and employees, to provide a pension to employees when they retire.

Registered retirement income fund (RRIF) – a fund you establish with a carrier and that we register. You transfer property to the carrier from an RRSP, a PRPP, an RPP, an SPP, or from another RRIF, and the carrier makes payments to you.

Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) – a retirement savings plan that you establish, that we register, and to which you or your spouse or common-law partner contribute. Any income you earn in the RRSP is usually exempt from tax as long as the funds remain in the plan. You generally have to pay tax when you receive payments from the plan.

RRSP Strip – the amount of a reduction in the FMV of property held in connection with the RRSP or RRIF, if the value is reduced as part of a transaction, or event, or a series of transactions, or events for which one of the main purposes is to enable the annuitant, or a person who does not deal at arm’s length with the annuitant, to obtain a benefit in respect of property held in connection with the RRSP or RRIF, or to obtain a benefit as a result of the reduction but does not include an amount that is:

• included in the income of the annuitant or his or her spouse or common-law partner;
• withdrawn under the Home Buyers' Plan or the Lifelong Learning Plan; or
• a permitted transfer of funds from one plan to another.

RRSP contribution – the amount you pay, in cash or in kind, at the time you contribute to an RRSP. In kind contributions consist of the FMV of the property.

RRSP deduction – the amount you indicate on line 208 of your income tax and benefit return. Your RRSP deduction claim is limited by the amount of your RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions previously made and your RRSP deduction limit.

RRSP deduction limit – the maximum amount you can deduct from contributions you made to your RRSPs or to your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP for a year (excluding transfers to your RRSPs of certain types of qualifying income). The calculation is based, in part, on your earned income in the previous year. PAs, PSPAs, PARs, and your unused RRSP deduction room at the end of the previous year are also used to calculate the limit.

RRSP limit – the maximum amount of new RRSP deduction room that you can create for a year and is one of the amounts used to determine your RRSP deduction limit for that year. See Step 3 of Chart 3.

RRSP excess contributions – generally, the amount of your RRSP, PRPP, and SPP contributions that is more than your RRSP deduction limit for the year plus $2,000. If you have RRSP excess contributions, you may have to pay a tax of 1% per month on those contributions. For more information, see Tax on RRSP, PRPP, or SPP excess contributions.

Specified non-qualified investment income – income (excluding the dividend gross-up), or a capital gain that is reasonably attributable, directly or indirectly, to an amount that is taxable for any RRSP or RRIF of the annuitant (for example, subsequent generation income earned on non-qualified investment income or on income from a business carried on by an RRSP or RRIF).

Specified pension plan (SPP) – a pension plan or similar arrangement that has been prescribed under the Income Tax Regulations as a “specified pension plan” for purposes of the Income Tax Act (currently the Saskatchewan Pension Plan is the only arrangement prescribed to be a specified pension plan). Many of the rules related to RRSPs also apply to SPPs.

Specified retirement arrangement – a pension plan that we do not register for income tax purposes and that is either not funded or only partly funded.

Spousal or common‑law partner RRIF – a RRIF that received amounts or transfers of property from your spousal or common-law partner RRSP; or any of your other spousal or common-law partner RRIFs.

Spousal or common‑law partner RRSP – an RRSP that you establish to pay yourself income at maturity that you or your spouse or common-law partner contributes to. Also, an RRSP that received amounts or transfers from any of your other spousal or common-law partner RRSPs or from your spousal or common law partner RRIF.

Spouse – a person to whom you are legally married.

Swap transaction – this is any transfer of property between the RRSP or RRIF and the annuitant (or a person not at arm’s length with the annuitant) occurring after June 2011, subject to certain exceptions.

The following are not considered to be "swap transactions":

• contributions, distributions, and transfers between the RRSP or RRIF and another RRSP or RRIF of the same annuitant; or
• transactions related to insured mortgage loans.

An exception is also provided to allow individuals to "swap-out" a non-qualified or prohibited investment provided that the conditions for a refund of the 50% tax on such investments are met. To qualify under this exception, the individual must be entitled to a refund of the tax on disposition of the investment (generally inadvertent cases that are promptly resolved). In addition, we will extend this exception, on an administrative basis, to cover swaps of non-qualified investments that were subject to the pre-March 23, 2011 rules, provided that the conditions applicable to a refund are met.

Swap transactions that are undertaken to remove an investment from an RRSP or a RRIF that would otherwise result in tax under Part XI.01 if left in the plan are permitted to continue to occur until the end of 2021.

Transitional prohibited investment benefit – this expression is relevant only if an individual held one or more prohibited investments in their RRSP or RRIF on March 23, 2011, and continues to hold the investments in their RRSP or RRIF in the tax year. An individual’s transitional prohibited investment benefit for a tax year is the total of any income earned (excluding the dividend gross-up) and capital gains realized in the tax year on these investments, less any capital losses realized on these investments in the tax year. For this purpose, the amount of a capital gain realized is the positive difference between the FMV of the property when it is disposed of by the RRSP or RRIF, or when it ceases to be a prohibited investment (less reasonable costs of disposition, if any) and the FMV of the property on March 22, 2011. The amount of a capital loss is the negative difference.

Unmatured RRSP – generally, an RRSP that has not yet started to pay you retirement income.

Unused RRSP, PRPP, and SPP contributions – the amount of your RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions that you could not deduct or have chosen not to deduct, and that you did not designate as an HBP or LLP repayment for any year. Use Schedule 7, RRSP and PRPP Unused Contributions, Transfers, and HBP or LLP Activities, to keep track of your RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions. This amount is carried forward to the following year and you can use it as a deduction up to your RRSP deduction limit for that year.

Unused RRSP deduction room at the end of the year – generally, your RRSP deduction limit for the year minus the amount you deducted for RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions for that year.

For 2009 and later years, if you rendered services as an employee in the United States in the year, the amount you contributed in the year to a qualifying retirement plan in the United States and deducted in your income tax and benefit return, will reduce your RRSP deduction room. For more information, see Other deductions.

Chapter 1 – RPP contributions

This chapter has information about making contributions to your RPP. Particularly, it will help you calculate the amount you can deduct for RPP contributions if you:

• contributed more than $3,500 to an RPP in 2016 and your information slip shows a past service amount for a period before 1990; or
• contributed an amount to an RPP in an earlier year, for a period before 1990, and you have not fully deducted that amount.

Current service is a period of service in the year, which is credited under your RPP by your employer. Current service contributions are amounts you contribute for that period of service.

Generally, past service refers to a period of service with an employer in an earlier year that is later credited under the defined benefit provision of your RPP. Past service contributions are amounts you contribute for that period of service. They may also include contributions you make to upgrade benefits for pensionable service you accrued in the past.

You usually make your past service contributions in a lump-sum or by instalments. Your RPP may allow you to directly transfer amounts from other registered plans to pay for the cost of the past service benefits. For more information, see Chapter 6 – Transfers to registered plans or funds and annuities.

For more information on RPP contributions, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-167, Registered Pension Funds or Plans – Employee's Contributions.

Current service and past service contributions for 1990 or later years

On line 207 of your income tax and benefit return, you can deduct the amount shown in box 20 of your 2016 T4 slip (if there is no amount in box 74 or 75 in the "Other information" area at the bottom of the slip) or on your union dues receipt. This amount includes:

• current service contributions; and
• past service contributions for 1990 or later years.

You can only deduct these contributions on your 2016 income tax and benefit return. You cannot deduct them for any other year.

An amount in box 74 or 75 in the "Other information" area of your T4 slip indicates that part or the entire amount in box 20 is for past service before 1990. For more information, see Past service contributions for 1989 or earlier years. You can view your T4 and other tax information slips online by going to My Account for Individuals.

Past service contributions for 1989 or earlier years

Calculate the amount you can deduct for past service contributions to an RPP for 1989 or earlier years based on whether the contributions were for service while you were a contributor or for service while you were not a contributor. Chart 1 will help you determine the type of past service contributions you made for 1989 or earlier years.

Past service contributions you made for 1989 or earlier years appear in boxes 20, 74, and 75 of your 2016 T4 slip, in boxes 032, 126 and 162 of your 2016 T4A slip, or on a receipt that your plan administrator issued. You can view your T4, T4A, and other tax information slips online by going to My Account for Individuals.

In some cases, you may be able to deduct for 2016 only part of the past service contributions you made. If this applies, you can carry forward the amount you cannot deduct to 2017 or later years. Future versions of this guide will help you calculate the amount you can deduct for 2017 or later years.

If, for 2016, you deduct a carry-forward of past service contributions from an earlier year, attach a statement to your income tax and benefit return giving a breakdown of the amount of contributions you claimed for service while you were a contributor and for service while you were not a contributor.

Fill out Chart 2 to calculate the amount of past service contributions you made for 1989 or earlier years that you can deduct for 2016.

Interest on past service contributions

If you elected after November 12, 1981, to make past service contributions and you make them in instalments, the annual instalment interest you pay is a past service contribution. Include this amount when you calculate how much you can deduct for past service contributions for 2016 on line 207 of your income tax and benefit return.

Other deductions

The Income Tax Act allows you to deduct repayments you make to your RPP in certain circumstances. Currently, this applies to you only if you participate in an RPP under one of the following acts:

• the Public Service Superannuation Act; or
• the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act.

For more information, call 1-800-959-8281.

Canada-U.S. commuters – For 2009 and later years, a resident of Canada who works in the U.S. (commonly referred to as a "commuter"), and is a member of a qualifying retirement plan in the U.S., can deduct their contributions to that plan on their Canadian income tax and benefit return, as long they meet certain conditions and respect certain limits.

The maximum amount that you can deduct for a year is the contributions you made in the year that are attributable to the work you performed in the year. This maximum is further limited to your RRSP deduction limit for the year after reducing that limit by any RRSP contributions that you deducted for the year.

The qualifying retirement plan contributions you deduct for the year also reduce your unused RRSP deduction room at the end of the year that is carried forward and included in your following year's RRSP deduction limit. You can view your RRSP information online by going to My Account for Individuals or by using the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps.

Depending on your situation, you will have to fill out either Form RC267, Employee Contributions to a United States Retirement Plan for 2016 – Temporary Assignments; Form RC268, Employee Contributions to a United States Retirement Plan for 2016 – Cross-Border Commuters; or Form RC269, Employee Contributions to a Foreign Pension Plan or Social Security Arrangement for 2016 – Non-United States Plans or Arrangements. These forms are available at Forms and publications.

Pension repayments – For 2009 and later tax years, if an individual repays to an RPP an overpayment of an amount received from the RPP that was included in his or her income for the year, or a preceding year, the individual can claim a deduction equal to the overpayment amount. The repayment must be for an amount that may reasonably be considered to have been paid from the RPP in error and not as an entitlement to benefits under the RPP. The individual cannot claim a deduction for the repayment if he or she is already claiming a deduction for this amount as a contribution to the RPP.

Chart 1 – Buying back service or upgrading past service benefits for 1989 or earlier years – How do you determine if your RPP past service contribution is for service while you were a contributor or for service while you were not a contributor?

Use this chart to determine the type of period your contribution relates to. You can then use Chart 2 to calculate the amount you can deduct for that type of contribution.

Step 1: Does your past service contribution relate to any year in which you were contributing to any RPP?

If yes, go to Step 2. See Example 1.

If no, your past service contribution is for service while not a contributor. Skip Steps 2 and 3 below and fill out Area B of Chart 2 to calculate the amount you can deduct for this contribution. See Example 2.

Step 2: Did you make the past service contribution to the same RPP (and for the same year) that you contributed to during 1989 or an earlier year?

If yes, your past service contribution is for service while a contributor. Skip Step 3 below and fill out Area C of Chart 2 to calculate the amount you can deduct for this contribution. See Example 1.

If you answer no, go to Step 3. See Example 2.

Step 3: Does one of the following statements apply to you?

• You made the past service contribution before March 28, 1988.
• You made the past service contribution under the terms of a written agreement entered into before March 28, 1988.

If you answer yes to one of the above statements, your past service contribution is for service while not a contributor. Fill out Area B of Chart 2 to calculate the amount you can deduct for this contribution. See Example 1.

If you answer no to both of the above statements, your past service contribution is for service while a contributor. Fill out Area C of Chart 2 to calculate the amount you can deduct for this contribution. See Example 2

Calculating your 2016 deduction for your RPP contributions

Chart 2 – Calculating your 2016 deduction for your RPP contributions

Area A – Fill out this area if you made current service contributions in 2016, or if you made past service contributions in 2016 for service that relates to 1990 or later years. If you do not have to fill out this area, enter "0" at Step 21.

Step 1: Enter the total of all amounts from box 20 of your 2016 T4 slips, box 032 of your 2016 T4A slips, or from your receipts for union dues that represent RPP contributions.
Mark enters $49,000.

Step 2: Enter the amount from box 74 or 75 of the "Other information" area of your T4 slip and box 126 and 162 of your T4A slip that represents past service contributions made for service that relates to 1989 or earlier years while a contributor or while not a contributor.
Mark enters $25,500.

Step 3: Subtract the result of Step 1 minus the result of Step 2.
Mark’s result is $23,500.

This is the amount of your current service and past service contributions for 1990 and later years that you deduct for 2016. Enter this amount at Step 21 of Area D.

Area B – Fill out this area if you made past service contributions for service that relates to 1989 or earlier years while not a contributor (for deceased individuals, ignore any reference to Step 7).

Step 4: Enter the total amount you contributed in 2016 or earlier years for past service contributions while not a contributor.
Mark enters $12,000.

Step 5: Enter the amount you deducted before 2016 for contributions you entered at Step 4.
Mark enters "0".

Step 6: Subtract the result of Step 4 minus the result of Step 5.
Mark enters $12,000.

Step 7: Enter the annual deduction limit ($3,500).
Mark enters $3,500.

Step 8: Multiply the number of years^{Footnote 1} of service to which the contributions on Step 4 relate by the annual deduction limit Mark’s result is $10,500 (3 × $3,500).

Step 9: Enter the amount from Step 5.
Mark enters "0".

Step 10: Subtract the result of Step 8 minus the result of Step 9.
Mark's result is $10,500 ($10,500 – $0).

Step 11: Enter the amount from Step 6, 7, or 10, whichever is less.
Mark enters $3,500.

This is the amount of your past service contributions for 1989 and earlier years for service while not a contributor that you can deduct for 2016. Enter the amount you deduct for 2016 at Step 22 of Area D.^{Footnote 2}

Area C – Fill out this area if you made past service contributions for service that relates to 1989 or earlier years while a contributor (for deceased individuals, ignore any reference to steps 15 to 19).

Step 12: Enter the total amount you contributed in 2016 or earlier years for past service contributions while a contributor.
Mark enters $13,500.

Step 13: Enter the amount you deducted before 2016 for contributions you entered at Step 12.
Mark enters "0".

Step 14: Subtract the result of Step 12 minus the result of Step 13.
Mark enters $13,500 ($13,500 – $0).

Step 15: Enter the annual deduction limit ($3,500).
Mark enters $3,500.

Step 16: Enter the amount from Step 3 in Area A that you deduct for 2016.
Mark enters $23,500.

Step 17: Enter the amount from Step 11 in Area B that you deduct for 2016.
Mark enters $3,500.

Step 18: Add the result of Step 16 plus the result of Step 17.
Mark's result is $27,000 ($23,500 + $3,500).

Step 19: Subtract the result of Step 15 minus the result of Step 18 (if the result is negative, enter "0").
Mark enters "0" ($3,500 – $27,500).

Step 20: Enter the amount from Step 14 or 19, whichever is less.
Mark enters "0".

This is the amount of your past service contributions for 1989 and earlier years for service while a contributor that you can deduct for 2016. Enter the amount you deduct for 2016 at Step 23 of Area D.^{Footnote 2}

Area D – Fill out this area to calculate the total amount you can deduct on line 207 of your 2016 income tax and benefit return.

Step 21: Enter the amount from Step 3 in Area A that you deduct for 2016 (if you did not fill out Area A, enter "0").
Mark enters $23,500.

Step 22: Enter the amount from Step 11 in Area B that you deduct for 2016.
Mark enters $3,500.

Step 23: Enter the amount from Step 20 in Area C that you deduct for 2016.
Mark enters $ 0.

Step 24: Add the following amounts: the result of Step 21 plus the result of Step 22 plus the result of Step 23. Enter this amount on line 207 of your 2016 income tax and benefit return.
Mark enters $27,000 on line 207 of his 2016 income tax and benefit return ($23,500 + $3,500 + $0).

Footnotes

Footnote 1

"Number of years" includes any portion of a calendar year. For example, if the contributions relate to service between November 1986 and February 1987, you would enter "2" as the number of years of service.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

There is no annual deduction limit for deceased individuals. The legal representative can choose to deduct these amounts in the year of death or the year before, or a part in each year, whichever is more beneficial.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Chapter 2 – RRSP contributions

This chapter has general information on contributing to your RRSPs or your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSPs, as well as information on calculating your 2016 RRSP deduction limit.

The rules we explain in this chapter apply to all RRSPs, and unless otherwise stated, SPPs (in 2010 and later years) and PRPPs.

March 1, 2017, is the deadline for contributing to an RRSP for the 2016 tax year.

Canada Savings Bonds – You can transfer your holdings of past series compound-interest Canada Savings Bonds to your RRSPs or your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSPs. The amount you transfer is considered a contribution to the RRSP. For more information, contact your RRSP issuer.

Self-directed RRSPs – These RRSPs allow you to control the assets and make the investment decisions yourself. This is not applicable for PRPPs and SPPs. Your financial institution can tell you if it offers self directed RRSPs. The issuer (such as a bank, credit union, trust, or insurance company) can take care of the administrative details, including getting the plan registered, receiving the amounts you contribute, and trading securities. Securities cannot be held in your own name.

Qualified Investments – Common types of qualified investments for a trust governed by an RRSP or a RRIF include: money, guaranteed investment certificates, government and corporate bonds, mutual funds, and securities listed on a designated stock exchange.

For more information, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-320, Qualified Investments – Trusts Governed by Registered Retirement Savings Plans, Registered Education Savings Plans and Registered Retirement Income Funds, or contact your RRSP issuer.

You should pay particular attention to the type of investments you choose for the plan. If you buy non‑qualified investments in your RRSP or RRIF, or if qualified investments held in your RRSP or RRIF become non‑qualified, there are tax implications.

Enhancements were made to the existing tax rules that apply when an RRSP or a RRIF acquires a non-qualified investment. The enhancements also include the introduction of a special tax on the annuitant of an RRSP or a RRIF that acquires a prohibited investment. For more information on anti-avoidance rules, see Chapter 4 – Anti-avoidance rules for RRSPs and RRIFs.

How do you claim your RRSP deduction?

On line 208 of your income tax and benefit return, you can deduct RRSP contributions you made up to the limits we explain in the following sections.

Your RRSP issuer will give you a receipt for the amounts you contributed. If you contributed to your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP, the receipt should show your name as the contributor and your spouse's or common-law partner's name as the annuitant. Attach the receipt(s) with your income tax and benefit return to support the amount you deducted. If you are using EFILE, show your receipts to your service provider and keep them in case we ask to see them. If you are using NETFILE, also keep your receipts in case we ask to see them. If you do not get your receipts before the filing deadline, see "What if you are missing information?" in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide for more information.

If you deduct an amount for 2016 that you contributed to an RRSP up to February 29, 2016, which you had not previously deducted, you should have filled out and sent a Schedule 7, RRSP and PRPP Unused Contributions, Transfers, and HBP or LLP Activities, for these contributions, for each particular year. If you did not, you should fill out and send a copy of the appropriate Schedule 7 for each year, along with the appropriate RRSP receipts, to your tax centre, separate from your 2016 income tax and benefit return.

Age limit for contributing to an RRSP

The year you turn 71 is the last year in which you can make a contribution to your RRSP.

You can contribute to an RRSP under which your spouse or common-law partner is the annuitant until the end of the year your spouse or common-law partner turns 71.

Contributing to your RRSPs

This section will help you determine how much of your RRSP contributions you can deduct on line 208 of your 2016 income tax and benefit return.

How much can you deduct?

The amount of RRSP contributions that you can deduct for 2016 is based on your 2016 RRSP deduction limit, which appears on your latest notice of assessment or notice of reassessment, or on a T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016.

You can also deduct amounts for certain income you transfer to your RRSP. Your RRSP deduction limit is not reduced by these amounts. For more information on transfers, see Chapter 6 – Transfers to registered plans or funds and annuities.

Any income you earn in your RRSP is usually exempt from tax for the time the funds remain in the plan. However, you cannot claim a deduction for capital losses within your RRSP.

You cannot claim a deduction for amounts you pay for administration services for an RRSP. Also, you cannot deduct brokerage fees charged to buy and dispose of securities within a trusteed RRSP.

If we reassess a previous year’s income tax and benefit return, your revised 2016 RRSP deduction limit will appear on your notice of reassessment or in some cases on a T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016. We will also send you a T1028 with a new RRSP deduction limit if your RRSP deduction limit has changed for reasons other than a reassessment of a previous year’s income tax and benefit return.

If you do not have a copy of your notice or a T1028, you can find out the amount of your RRSP deduction limit by going to My Account, by using the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps or by calling our automated TIPS RRSP service. For more information, see My Account and Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS).

Calculating your 2016 RRSP deduction limit

Your 2016 RRSP deduction limit is shown on your latest notice of assessment, notice of reassessment or T1028 we sent you after we processed your 2015 income tax and benefit return. We determined your limit from information on your 2015 and previous year's income tax and benefit returns, and from information we keep on record. If any of that information changes, your RRSP deduction limit may also change. In most cases, we will tell you about any change to your RRSP deduction limit.

You can also find out your RRSP deduction limit by registering for My Account.

If you want to calculate your 2016 RRSP deduction limit, use Chart 3.

Contributions you can deduct for 2016

For 2016, you can deduct contributions you made to your or your spouse’s or common‑law partner’s RRSP or SPP from January 1, 1991 to March 1, 2017. You can also deduct contributions you made to your PRPP from January 1, 2013 to March 1, 2017 (do not include your employer’s contributions). You can deduct these contributions if you did not deduct them for any other year, and if they are not more than your RRSP deduction limit for 2016. Even if you can no longer contribute to your RRSP in 2016 because of your age, you can deduct your unused RRSP contributions up to your RRSP deduction limit.

The HBP and the LLP – If you participate in the HBP or LLP, you may not be able to deduct, for any year, all or part of the contributions you made to your RRSP during the 89-day period just before you withdrew an amount under either of these plans. To determine the part of the contributions you made to your RRSP that you cannot deduct, go to Home buyers' Plan (HBP) or see Guide RC4112, Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) Includes Form RC96, or go to Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP), whichever applies.

Contributing to your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP, SPP, or both

This section applies to you if you contribute to an RRSP, SPP or both for your spouse or common-law partner. Generally, the total amount you can deduct on line 208 of your 2016 income tax and benefit return for contributions you make to your spouse’s or common-law partner’s RRSP or SPP and your RRSP, PRPP or SPP cannot be more than your 2016 RRSP deduction limit.

If you cannot contribute to your RRSP, PRPP or SPP because of your age, you can still contribute to your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP or SPP until the end of the year he or she turns 71.

Contributions made after death – No contributions can be made to a deceased individual's RRSP, PRPP or SPP after the date of death. However, the deceased individual's legal representative can make contributions to the surviving spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP or SPP in the year of death or during the first 60 days after the end of that year. Contributions made to a spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP or SPP can be claimed on the deceased individual's income tax and benefit return up to that individual's RRSP deduction limit for the year of death.

The HBP and the LLP – If your spouse or common-law partner participates in the HBP or LLP, you may not be able to deduct, for any year, all or part of the contributions you made to your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP during the 89-day period just before your spouse or common-law partner withdrew an amount under either of these plans. To determine the part of the contributions you made to your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP that you cannot deduct, go to Home buyers' Plan (HBP) or see Guide RC4112, Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) Includes Form RC96, or go to Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP), whichever applies.

If you have a payment arrangement contract with a financial institution to make RRSP contributions, you can use Form T1213, Request to Reduce Tax Deductions at Source, to request authorization for your employer to reduce your tax deductions at source.

Keeping track of your RRSP, PRPP, and SPP contributions – Schedule 7

Use Schedule 7, RRSP and PRPP Unused Contributions, Transfers, and HBP or LLP Activities, to keep track of your RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions.

If you made contributions to your RRSP, PRPP, or SPP, or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s RRSP or SPP, from March 1, 2016, to March 1, 2017, and you are not deducting the total contributions on your 2016 income tax and benefit return, attach a filled out Schedule 7 to your 2016 income tax and benefit return. If you have already filed your income tax and benefit return, fill out Schedule 7 and send it to your tax centre with your RRSP, PRPP, or SPP receipts and a note showing your name and social insurance number.

You may not have to fill out Schedule 7. To find out, read the information at the top of the schedule. If you do have to fill it out, you will find information below about lines 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 15 to 18.

Line 1 – Unused RRSP or PRPP contributions

These are amounts you contributed to your own RRSP/PRPP or SPP or to an RRSP or SPP for your spouse or common‑law partner after 1990 but did not deduct on line 208 of any previous income tax and benefit return or designate as an HBP or LLP repayment. The total of these amounts is identified under the “Unused RRSP/RPPP contributions previously reported and available to deduct for 2016” line on your 2016 RRSP/PRPP Deduction Limit Statement shown on your latest notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016, if you showed them on a previous year’s Schedule 7.

If you do not have your notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or T1028, you can find out if you have unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions by going to My Account for Individuals, by using the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps or by calling our Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS). For more information see My Account and Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS).

For information on unused PRPP contributions, see Contributions to a PRPP.

Lines 2 and 3 – Total RRSP and PRPP contributions

This total includes amounts you:

• contributed to your own RRSP from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017;
• contributed to your spouse or common law partner’s spousal RRSP from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017;
• contributed to your account, or your spouse's or common-law partner's account, under an SPP from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017;
• contributed to your PRPP from March 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017 (do not include your employer’s PRPP contributions);
• transferred to your own RRSP (see Line 15 – Transfers); and
• designated as HBP or LLP repayments (see Lines 6 and 7 – Repayments under the HBP and the LLP).

Include on these lines all contributions you made from January 1, 2017 to March 1, 2017, even if you are not deducting or designating them on your income tax and benefit return for 2016. Otherwise, we may reduce or disallow your claim for these contributions on your income tax and benefit return for a future year.

Do not include the following amounts:

• Any unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions you made after February 29, 2016, refunded to you or your spouse or common-law partner in 2016. Report the refund of RRSP contributions on line 129 of your income tax and benefit return. If you received a refund of your PRPP contributions, report those amounts on line 130. Refunded SPP contributions are reported on line 115 of your income tax and benefit return. You may be able to claim a deduction on line 232. For more information, see Unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions.
• Part or all of the contributions you made to your RRSP or an RRSP for your spouse or common-law partner less than 90 days before either of you withdrew funds from that RRSP under the HBP or the LLP. For more information, go to What is the Home Buyers' Plan?, see Guide RC4112, Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) Includes Form RC96 or go Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP).
• Any PRPP contributions made by your employer. For more information, see Employer contributions.
• Contributions you made to your RRSP used to cancel a withdrawal under the HBP or LLP.

• Any amount directly transferred to your RRSP if you did not receive an information slip or if it is shown in box 35 of your T4RSP or T4RIF slips.
• The part of an RRSP withdrawal you recontributed to your RRSP and deducted on line 232. This would have happened if, in error, you withdrew more RRSP funds than necessary to obtain past-service benefits under an RPP.
• The excess part of a direct transfer of a lump-sum payment from your RPP to an RRSP, a PRPP, an SPP or a RRIF that you withdrew and are including on line 129 or line 130 of your income tax and benefit return for 2016 and deducting on line 232.

Lines 6 and 7 – Repayments under the HBP and the LLP

If you withdrew funds from your RRSP under the HBP before 2015, you have to make a repayment for 2016. If you withdrew funds from your RRSP under the LLP before 2015, you may have to make a repayment for 2016. In either case, your 2016 minimum required repayment is shown on your latest notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016.

To make a repayment for 2016, contribute to your own RRSP, PRPP, or SPP from January 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017, and designate your contribution as a repayment on line 6 or 7 of Schedule 7. Do not include an amount you deducted or designated as a repayment on your 2015 income tax and benefit return or that was refunded to you. Do not send your repayment to us. You cannot deduct any RRSP, SPP or PRPP contribution you designate as an HBP or an LLP repayment on Schedule 7. To view your HBP or LLP information, go to My Account or go to the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps.

Line 14 – RRSP or PRPP contributions you are deducting for 2016

Include on this line, amounts that you contributed to your RRSP, PRPP, or SPP, or to your spouse’s or common-law partner’s RRSP or SPP that you will be deducting on your 2016 income tax and benefit return. This amount cannot exceed the lesser of the amount at line 10 (excluding transfers), and the amount from line 13.

You can carry forward indefinitely any part of your RRSP deduction limit accumulated after 1990 that you do not use.

Your RRSP deduction limit for 2016 is shown on your latest notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or line A of T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016.

If you do not have your notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or T1028, you can find out your RRSP deduction limit for 2016 by going to My Account for Individuals, by using the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps or by calling TIPS. For more information see My Account and Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS).

If you would like to calculate your RRSP deduction limit for 2016, use Chart 3.

Line 15 – Transfers

You may have reported income on line 115, 129, or 130 of your income tax and benefit return for 2016. If you contributed certain types of this income to your own RRSP on or before March 1, 2017, you can deduct this contribution, called a transfer, in addition to any RRSP contribution you make based on your RRSP deduction limit for 2016.

For example, if you received a retiring allowance (severance pay) in 2016, you would report it on line 130 of your income tax and benefit return. You can contribute to your RRSP up to the eligible part of that income (box 66 of your T4 slips or box 47 of your T3 slips) and deduct it as a transfer. Include the amounts you transfer on lines 2 or 3 and 15 of Schedule 7.

For more information about amounts you can transfer, see Chapter 6 – Transfers to registered plans or funds and annuities.

Lines 19 to 22 – 2016 withdrawals under the HBP and the LLP

On line 19, enter the total of your HBP withdrawals for 2016 from box 27 of your T4RSP slips. Tick the box at line 20 if the address of the home you acquired with these withdrawals is the same as the address on page 1 of your income tax and benefit return.

On line 21, enter the total of your LLP withdrawals for 2016 from box 25 of your T4RSP slips. Tick the box at line 22 to designate that your spouse or common-law partner was the student for whom the funds were withdrawn. If you do not tick the box, you will be considered to be the student for LLP purposes. You can change the person you designate as the student only on the income tax and benefit return for the year you make your first withdrawal.

See Guide RC4112, Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) Includes Form RC96 or go to Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) for more information about:

• when you have to make your repayments; and
• what rules apply when the person who made the withdrawal dies, turns 71 years of age, or becomes a non-resident.

Line 23 – Contributions to an amateur athlete trust

On line 23, enter the qualifying performance income contributed to an amateur athletic trust in 2016.

Chart 3 – 2016 RRSP deduction limit

The line numbers in brackets refer to the line numbers on your 2015 income tax and benefit return.

Step 1 – Calculating your unused RRSP deduction room at the end of 2015

Subtract the total RRSP, SPP and/or PRPP contributions, that you deducted on line 208 (do not include amounts you deducted for transfers of payments or benefits to an RRSP, or the excess amount you withdrew from your RRSP in connection with the certification of a provisional PSPA that you re-contributed to your RRSP in 2015), from your RRSP deduction limit for 2015 and the total 2015 employer PRPP contributions reported on line 205 .^{Footnote 1}

This is your unused RRSP deduction room at the end of 2015 (this amount can be negative).

Step 2 – Calculating your 2015 earned income (include each amount only once in this step) ^{Footnote 2}

1. Add the total of lines 101 and 104 on your income tax and benefit return.
2. Add the following amounts from line 104: royalties for a work or invention that you authored or invented plus net research grants you received plus unemployment benefit plan payments plus wage earner protection plan payments you received.
3. Subtract the result of Step 2(1) minus the result of Step 2(2).
4. Add annual union, professional, or like dues (line 212) that relate to the employment earnings you reported at Step 2(1) plus employment expenses (line 229) that relate to the employment earnings you reported at Step 2(1).
5. Subtract the result of Step 2(3) minus the result of Step 2(4) (if negative, enter "0").
6. Add the following amounts: (i) the result of Step 2(2) plus net income from a business (excluding distributions from an amateur athletic trust (ATT)) you carried on alone or as an active partner (lines 135 to 143) plus (ii) disability payments you received from the Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan (line 152) plus (iii) net rental income from real property (line 126) plus total taxable support payments you received in 2015. Also, the support payments you previously paid and deducted for the year in which you paid them but that were later repaid to you and that you included as income for 2015 (line 128) plus the qualifying performance income contributed to an ATT in 2016.
7. Add the following amounts: (i) Current-year loss from a business you carried on alone or as an active partner (lines 135 to 143) plus (ii) Amount included in Step 2(6)(i) that represents the taxable portion of gains on the disposition of eligible capital property plus (iii) Current-year rental loss from real property (line 126) plus (iv) total deductible support payments you made in 2015, and the support payments you received and included as income for the year in which you received them that you later repaid in 2014 or the previous two years and deducted for 2015 (line 220).
8. Subtract the result from Step 26(6) minus the result from Step 2(7).

This amount is your 2015 earned income.

Step 3 – RRSP limit for 2016

1. Multiply the result from Step 2(8) by 18%.
2. Enter the amount from Step 3(1) or the RRSP limit for 2016 ($25,370) whichever is less.

Step 4 – Your 2015 pension adjustment (PA)

Subtract the result from Step 3(2) minus your 2015 PA (the total from box 52 of your 2015 T4 slips and box 034 of your 2015 T4A slips). ^{Footnote 3} If the amount is negative, enter "0".

Step 5 – Your 2016 pension adjustment reversal (PAR)

Add the result from Step 4 plus your PAR (the total from box 2 of your 2016 T10 slips).

Step 6 – Your 2016 net past service pension adjustment (PSPA)

1. Add your exempt PSPA for 2015 (the total from box 2 of your 2015 T215 slips) plus your certified PSPA for 2016 (line A in Part 3 of Form T1004, Applying for the Certification of a Provisional PSPA).
2. Subtract the result from Step 6(1) minus your qualifying withdrawals for 2016 (Part 3 of Form T1006, Designating an RRSP Withdrawal as a Qualifying Withdrawal) (the result can be negative).

This amount is your 2016 net PSPA.

Step 7 – Your 2016 RRSP deduction limit

1. Add your 2015 unused RRSP deduction room from Step 1 plus the result from Step 5.
2. Subtract the result of Step 7(1) minus the result of Step 6(2) (if negative, enter "0").

This amount is your 2016 RRSP deduction limit.

Step 8 – Your 2016 unused RRSP deduction room

1. Subtract the result from Step 7(1) minus your 2016 net PSPA from Step 6(1) (the result can be negative).
2. Subtract the result from Step 8(1) minus the RRSP, SPP and/or PRPP contributions, including employer PRPP contributions (cannot be more than the amount at Step 9(2)). Do not include amounts that you deduct for transfers of payments or benefits to an RRSP; or for the excess amount you withdrew from your RRSP in connection with the certification of a provisional PSPA that you re-contributed to your RRSP in 2016 (this amount can be negative).

This amount is your 2016 unused RRSP deduction room that you can carry forward to 2017.

Footnotes

Footnote 1

If you had a net PSPA in 2015 or a previous year and your 2015 RRSP deduction limit is "0", enter your unused RRSP deduction room at the end of 2015 at Step 1.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

Certain income you earned in 2015 while you were a non-resident of Canada qualifies as earned income. To find out the types of income that qualify, call the International Enquiries for Individuals and Trusts at one of the following numbers: 1-800-959-8281 (toll free within Canada and the United States), or 613-940-8495 (from outside Canada and the United States—we accept collect calls by automated response. You may hear a beep and experience a normal connection delay). For more information on residency, see Income Tax Folio S5-F1-C1, Determining an Individual's Residence Status.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

If you are a "connected person" you may have to enter an amount in Step 4 in addition to amounts from your T4 or T4A slips. If this applies to you, your employer will give you Form T1007, Connected Person Information Return. For more information on connected persons, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-124, Contributions to Registered Retirement Savings Plans.

If you participate in a foreign plan and your employer does not carry on a business in Canada, you may have to enter an amount in Step 4 in addition to amounts from your T4 or T4A slips. To determine the amount you have to enter, call the International Enquiries for Individuals and Trusts at one of the following numbers: 1-800-959-8281 (toll free within Canada and the United States), or 613-940-8495 (from outside Canada and the United States—we accept collect calls by automated response. You may hear a beep and experience a normal connection delay).

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions

This section applies to you if you did not use all of your RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions as a deduction in the year you made them. It does not apply to contributions that were designated as repayments under the HBP or the LLP, or contributions that were used to cancel an LLP or HBP withdrawal. Your unused RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions from previous years will be on your RRSP/PRPP Deduction Limit Statement shown on your latest notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016. To report new unused contributions, you have to file Schedule 7, RRSP and PRPP Unused Contributions, Transfers, and HBP or LLP Activities, with your income tax and benefit return. For more information, see Keeping track of your RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions – Schedule 7.

If you did not deduct all of the contributions you made to your RRSP, PRPP or SPP, or your spouse’s or common law partner’s RRSP in 1991 and later years (or your spouse’s or common law partner’s SPP in 2010 and later years), you have two options: you can leave the unused contributions in the plan or you can withdraw them.

Withdrawing the unused contributions

If you withdraw the unused contributions, you have to include them as income on your income tax and benefit return. However, you may be able to deduct an amount equal to the withdrawn contributions that you include in your income, if you or your spouse or common‑law partner received the unused contributions from an RRSP, a PRPP, an SPP or a RRIF:

• in the year you contributed them;
• in the following year; or
• in the year that you were sent a notice of assessment or notice of reassessment for the year you contributed them, or in the following year.

You can deduct the amount if you meet all of the following conditions:

• You have not deducted, for any year, the unused contributions that you made to your RRSP, PRPP, or SPP, or your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP or SPP.
• You have not designated the withdrawal of the unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions as a qualifying withdrawal to have your PSPA certified.
• No part of the withdrawn contributions was a lump-sum amount from an RPP, an SPP, a PRPP, or certain DPSP amounts that you transferred directly to an RRSP, an SPP, or a PRPP. For more information, see Direct transfer of an RPP lump-sum amount.

In addition, it has to be reasonable for us to consider that at least one of the following applies. You:

• reasonably expected to be able to fully deduct the RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions for the year you made the contributions or the immediately preceding year; or
• did not make the RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions intending to withdraw them and deduct an offsetting amount.

Withdrawal made using Form T3012A, Tax Deduction Waiver on the Refund of your Unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP Contributions from your RRSP. If you meet all of the previous conditions and have not already withdrawn the unused RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions, you can withdraw them from your RRSP (if you have one) and not have tax withheld. To do this, fill out Form T3012A. This form cannot be used to withdraw SPP or PRPP contributions, or unused RRSP contributions that were transferred to a RRIF. To make a withdrawal from a RRIF, SPP or PRPP, see Withdrawal made without Form T3012A below.

If the unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions are withdrawn from your RRSP based on a Form T3012A that we approved, do the following:

• Attach a copy of form T3012A and the related T4RSP slip to your income tax and benefit return.
• Report the amount shown in box 20 of your or your spouse's or common-law partner's 2016 T4RSP slip on line 129 of your income tax and benefit return. For more information, see Calculating the income you and your spouse or common-law partner have to report.
• Deduct an amount on line 232 of your income tax and benefit return equal to the unused contributions withdrawn.

Withdrawal made without Form T3012A. If you withdraw unused RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions without Form T3012A, the issuer of the plan has to withhold tax. The amount you withdraw should be reported on line 129 of your income tax and benefit return if it appears in box 22 of the T4RSP slip. If the amount appears in box 16 and box 24 of the T4RIF slip and you are 65 years or older at the end of December 2016, report the amount from box 16 on line 115. Otherwise, report that amount on line 130.

In either case, claim the tax the issuer withheld on line 437 of your income tax and benefit return.

Fill out Form T746, Calculating Your Deduction for Refund of Unused RRSP, PRPP, and SPP Contributions, to calculate the amount you can deduct for the withdrawal. For more information about claiming the deduction for the withdrawal of unused RRSP contributions, see line 232 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.

Tax on RRSP, PRPP, or SPP excess contributions

Generally, you have RRSP, PRPP or SPP excess contributions if your unused contributions from prior years and your current calendar year contributions are more than your RRSP deduction limit shown on your latest notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016, plus $2,000.

The $2,000 is reduced when you have a negative RRSP deduction limit which may be due to a PSPA amount. Also, you can only qualify for the additional $2,000 amount if you were 19 or older at any time in 2016

Generally, you have to pay a tax of 1% per month on your unused contributions that exceed your RRSP deduction limit by more than $2,000. Your notice of assessment or notice of reassessment will indicate that you may have to pay a 1% tax on RRSP, PRPP or SPP excess contributions if your unused RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions exceed your RRSP deduction limit. For information about contributing to a PRPP, see Contributions to a PRPP. You can view your RRSP information online by going to My Account for Individuals or by using the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps.

Follow the six-step process described in Chart 4 to determine if you have to fill out a T1-OVP, 2016 Individual Tax Return for RRSP, SPP and PRPP Excess Contributions, to calculate the amount subject to tax and the tax payable.

If you determine that you have to pay this 1% tax, you have to file your filled out T1-OVP return and pay the tax no later than 90 days after the end of the year in which you had the excess contributions.

Penalty – If you owe tax in a year and do not file your income tax and benefit return within 90 days after the end of that year, we will charge you a late‑filing penalty. The penalty is 5% of your balance owing, plus 1% of your balance owing for each month that your income tax and benefit return is late, to a maximum of 12 months. Your late‑filing penalty may be higher if we charged you a late‑filing penalty on your T1‑OVP return for any of three previous years.

Attach your payment to your filled out T1-OVP return and submit it to your tax centre. If you do not pay your tax by the deadline, you may also have to pay arrears interest on any unpaid amount.

Interest – If you have a balance owing in a year, we charge compound daily interest starting on the 91^st day (ordinarily April 1^st) of the following year on any unpaid amounts owing for that year. This includes any balance owing if we reassess your income tax and benefit return. In addition, we will charge you interest on the penalties indicated in the previous section, starting on that 91^st day.

Voluntary disclosure – You may have had to file a previous year income tax and benefit return, but you have not sent it or you sent us an incorrect income tax and benefit return. If so, you can voluntarily file or correct that income tax and benefit return under the Voluntary Disclosures Program, and pay only the taxes owing (plus interest) without penalty.

For more information, and to see if your disclosure qualifies for this program, see Information Circular IC00-1, Voluntary Disclosures Program.

Be sure to indicate clearly, on any disclosure you make, that you are submitting information under the Voluntary Disclosures Program.

Which return do you have to use?

• If you have RRSP, PRPP or SPP excess contributions made from February 27, 1995 to December 31, 2016, that are subject to tax, fill out a T1-OVP-S, 2016 Simplified Individual Tax Return for RRSP, SPP and PRPP Excess Contributions, for each applicable tax year.

• If you have RRSP excess contributions made from January 1, 1991 to February 26, 1995 inclusively or, you made mandatory contributions to a group plan in 2015 or 2016 that are subject to tax, you must fill out a T1-OVP, 2016 Individual Tax Return for RRSP, SPP and PRPP Excess Contributions, for each applicable tax year.

Waiver of the RRSP excess contribution tax – If you determined that you must pay a tax on your RRSP excess contributions, you may ask in writing that we waive the tax if:

• your excess contributions on which the tax is based arose due to a reasonable error; and
• you are taking, or have taken, reasonable steps to eliminate the excess contributions.

To consider your request, we will need a letter from you that explains:

• why you made excess contributions and why this is a reasonable error; and
• what steps you are taking, or have taken, to eliminate the excess contributions.

All supporting documents should be included with your letter, such as copies of your RRSP, PRPP, SPP, or RRIF account statements that identify the date you withdrew your excess contributions, as well as any other correspondence that shows that your excess contributions arose due to a reasonable error.

For more information on relief from the assessment of late-filing penalties and interest, see Information Circular IC07-1 Taxpayer Relief Provisions.

Chart 4 – Do you have to fill out a 2016 T1-OVP return?

If you follow the steps below and arrive at a point where we say, "You do not have to fill out a 2016 T1-OVP," you are not subject to the 1% per-month tax. You do not have to go any further.

If your 2016 RRSP deduction limit includes a net Past Service Pension Adjustment (PSPA) for 2016 or your unused RRSP deduction limit at the end of 2015 was a negative amount, fill out a T1-OVP, 2016 Individual Tax Return for RRSP Excess Contributions, to determine if you are subject to the 1% per-month tax. If you are not subject to this tax for 2016, you may be subject to it for 2017.

Step 1: Does one of these situations apply to you?

• You contributed amounts to your RRSP, PRPP or SPP, or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s RRSP or SPP from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2016, that you did not and will not deduct on line 208 on your 2016 or prior year income tax and benefit return.
• A gift was made to your RRSP from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2016.

If one of these situations applies to you, go to Step 2.
If neither of these situations apply to you, you do not have to fill out a 2016 T1-OVP.

Step 2: RRSP deduction limit more than the total of unused RRSP contributions

Is your 2016 RRSP deduction limit from your latest notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016, more than the total of your unused RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions (including gifts) made from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2015, plus the total RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions (including gifts and employer PRPP contributions) made during 2016?

If no, go to Step 3.
If yes, you do not have to fill out a 2016 T1-OVP.

Step 3: Were you younger than 19 at any time in 2016?

If no, go to Step 4.
If yes, you may be subject to tax on your unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions. Fill out a T1-OVP-S, 2016 Simplified Individual Tax Return for RRSP Excess Contributions, to determine the amount of this tax.

Step 4: The total of unused RRSP/PRPP contributions is less than your RRSP deduction limit

Are your unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP contributions (including gifts) made from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2016, less than the total of your 2016 RRSP deduction limit from your latest notice of assessment, notice of reassessment, or T1028 plus $2,000?

If no, go to Step 5.
If yes, you do not have to fill out a 2016 T1-OVP.

Step 5: Situations that may apply to you

• At the end of 2016, all of your unused RRSP contributions (including gifts) were made before February 27, 1995.
• All of your unused RRSP contributions (including gifts) were made from January 1, 1991, to February 26, 1995, and their total was $8,000 or less.
• You did not contribute to an RRSP, a PRPP, or an SPP from February 27, 1995, to December 31, 2016.

If all of these situations apply to you, you do not have to fill out a 2016 T1-OVP.
If one of these situations does not apply to you, go to Step 6.

Step 6: Participation in a qualifying group RRSP

Were all the unused contributions at the end of 2016 mandatory contributions made in 2016 as a result of your participation in qualifying group plan amounts?

If yes, you do not have to fill out a 2016 T1-OVP ^{Footnote 1} .
If no, you may be subject to tax on your unused RRSP contributions. Fill out a 2016 T1-OVP to determine the amount of this tax.

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Mandatory contributions will not be subject to the 1% per month tax on excess contributions for the year the contributions are made. However, it may be subject to such a tax in the following year. Annuitants must at all times, monitor closely all transactions done in their RRSP plan. RRSP group plan mandatory contributions and PRPP employer contributions benefit from the same treatment.

Return to footnote 1referrer

Chapter 3 – RRIF contributions

This chapter provides general information about RRIFs and lists the types of property you can contribute to your RRIF. Usually, you can only contribute to your RRIF by directly transferring certain amounts you receive or are considered to have received.

You can have more than one RRIF and you can have self-directed RRIFs. The rules that apply to self-directed RRIFs are generally the same as those for RRSPs. For more information, see Self-directed RRSPs.

Property from an RRSP, PRPP, or SPP

You can contribute to your RRIF by having property transferred directly from:

• your PRPP, unmatured RRSP, or SPP;
• your matured RRSP, including a direct transfer of a commutation payment from your RRSP annuity; or
• an unmatured RRSP under which your current or former spouse or common-law partner is the annuitant, if you and your current or former spouse or common-law partner were living separate and apart at the time of the transfer and if the transfer is made:
  • under a decree, order, or judgment of a court, or under a written separation agreement; and
  • to settle rights arising out of your relationship on or after the breakdown of your relationship.

In addition, you can contribute to your RRIF any amounts you receive or are considered to have received from a deceased annuitant's or member's RRSP, PRPP, or SPP in the following situations:

• The annuitant or member under an RRSP, a PRPP or an SPP dies and, at the time of death, you were the deceased annuitant's or member's spouse or common-law partner.
• You were a financially dependent child or grandchild of the deceased annuitant who depended on the annuitant because of an impairment in physical or mental functions. For more information, see Information Sheet RC4177, Death of an RRSP Annuitant or a PRPP Member or Form T2019, Death of an RRSP Annuitant – Refund of Premiums or Joint Designation on the Death of a PRPP Member.

RPP amounts

You can contribute to your RRIF by directly transferring a lump-sum amount from an RPP under which:

• you are a member, if you are entitled to receive the lump-sum;
• your current or former spouse or common-law partner was the member, if you are entitled to receive the lump-sum because your current or former spouse or common-law partner died; or
• your current or former spouse or common-law partner is a member, if you are entitled to receive the lump-sum under the following conditions:
  • under a decree, order, or judgment of a court, or under a written separation agreement; and
  • to settle rights arising out of your relationship on or after the breakdown of your relationship.

DPSP amounts

You will be able to contribute to your RRIF by directly transferring a lump-sum amount from:

• a DPSP under which you are a member, or former member, if you are entitled to receive the lump-sum;
• a DPSP under which your current or former spouse or common-law partner was the member, or former member, if you are entitled to receive the lump-sum because your current or former spouse or common-law partner died; or
• a DPSP under which your current or former spouse or common-law partner is a member, or former member, if you are entitled to receive the lump-sum:
  • under a decree, order, or judgment of a court, or under a written separation agreement; and
  • to settle rights arising out of your relationship on or after the breakdown of your relationship.

For exceptions to the direct transfer requirement and other rules, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-528, Transfers of Funds Between Registered Plans.

Property from another RRIF

You can contribute to your RRIF by directly transferring property from:

• another RRIF under which you are the annuitant; or
• a RRIF under which your current or former spouse or common-law partner is the annuitant, if the transfer is made:
  • under a decree, order, or judgment of a court, or under a written separation agreement; and
  • to settle rights arising out of your relationship on or after the breakdown of your relationship.

In addition, you can contribute to your RRIF any amount up to the eligible amount of the designated benefit you receive or are considered to have received from the deceased annuitant's RRIF in the following situations:

• the annuitant under a RRIF dies and, at the time of death, you were the deceased annuitant's spouse or common-law partner; or
• you were a financially dependent child or grandchild of the deceased annuitant who depended on the annuitant because of an impairment in physical or mental functions.

For more information, see Information Sheet RC4178, Death of a RRIF Annuitant, or Form T1090, Death of a RRIF Annuitant – Designated Benefit.

Specified pension plan (SPP) amounts

If you are a member of an SPP, you can contribute to your RRIF by directly transferring a lump-sum amount from an SPP.

You can also transfer a lump-sum amount from an SPP if you are entitled to it because your current or former spouse or common-law partner was a member of an SPP, and one of the following situations applies:

• your current or former spouse or common-law partner has died; or
• you and your current or former spouse or common-law partner are living separate and apart at the time of the transfer and you are entitled to receive the lump-sum:
  • under a decree, order, or judgment of a court, or under a written separation agreement; and
  • to settle rights arising out of your relationship on or after the breakdown of your relationship.

For more information on transfers, see Chapter 6 – Transfers to registered plans or funds and annuities.

Chapter 4 – Anti-avoidance rules for RRSPs and RRIFs

The existing anti-avoidance rules applicable to RRSPs and RRIFs have been enhanced to prevent any aggressive tax planning.

The new rules largely adopt the existing tax-free savings account rules for non-qualified investments, prohibited investments and advantages, with some modifications.

The new rules impose a tax on non-qualified investments, prohibited investments and advantages provided in relation to an RRSP or RRIF.

Tax payable on non-qualified investments

The new rules apply to investments acquired after March 22, 2011. They also apply to pre-March 23, 2011 investments that first become non-qualified after March 22, 2011.

If, in a calendar year, an RRSP or a RRIF trust acquires property that was a non-qualified investment or if previously acquired property becomes non-qualified, a tax is imposed on the annuitant of an RRSP or a RRIF.

The tax is equal to 50% of the FMV of the property at the time it was acquired or it became non-qualified.

The tax is refundable in certain circumstances. For more information, see Refund of taxes paid on non-qualified or prohibited investments.

The annuitant is also liable for the 100% advantage tax on specified non-qualified investment income if this income is not withdrawn promptly.

An annuitant subject to this tax is required to file Form RC339, Individual Return for Certain Taxes for RRSPs or RRIFs. The return must be filed no later than June 30 of the following year. Any tax owing must also be paid by that date.

Reporting requirements by the RRSP or RRIF trust

Financial institutions are required to report information to us and the annuitant when an RRSP or RRIF trust begins or ceases to hold a non-qualified investment in a year.

Financial institutions must, by no later than the end of February in the year following the year in which the non-qualified property was acquired or previously acquired property became non-qualified, provide relevant information to us and the annuitant. This information includes:

• a description of the non-qualified investment;
• the date that the non-qualified investment was acquired or disposed of (or became or ceased to be non-qualified), as applicable, and the FMV of the investment at that date; and
• the RRSP or RRIF contract or account number.

This information is necessary to enable the annuitant to determine the amount of any tax payable or of any possible refund of tax previously paid.

Tax payable on prohibited investments

The 50% tax on prohibited investments applies to investments acquired after March 22, 2011. The 50% tax also applies to pre-March 23, 2011 investments that first become prohibited after October 4, 2011. The transfer of a pre-March 23, 2011 prohibited investment between RRSPs or RRIFs of the same annuitant will not be treated as a post-March 22, 2011 acquisition and thus will not result in the investment being subject to the 50% tax.

If, in a calendar year, an RRSP or a RRIF trust acquires property that was a prohibited investment or if previously acquired property becomes prohibited, a tax is imposed on the annuitant of an RRSP or a RRIF.

The tax is equal to 50% of the FMV of the property at the time it was acquired or it became prohibited.

If the prohibited investment ceases to be a prohibited investment while it is held by the trust, the trust is considered to have disposed of and immediately re-acquired the property at its FMV.

The tax is refundable in certain circumstances. For more information, see Refund of taxes paid on non-qualified or prohibited investments.

The annuitant is also liable for the 100% advantage tax on income earned and capital gains realized on prohibited investments.

The 100% advantage tax applies to income earned, and the portion of any realized capital gain that accrued, after March 22, 2011, regardless of when the prohibited investment generating the income or gain was acquired.

An annuitant subject to this tax is required to file Form RC339, Individual Return for Certain Taxes for RRSPs or RRIFs. The return must be filed no later than June 30 of the following year. Any tax owing must also be paid by that date. If you determine that a particular non-qualified investment held by your RRSP or RRIF trust is also a prohibited investment for the trust, contact your plan issuer or carrier.

Tax payable on an advantage

The 100% tax on advantages generally applies to transactions occurring, income earned and capital gains accruing after March 22, 2011.

If the annuitant or a person not dealing at arm's length with the annuitant (including the annuitant's RRSP or RRIF) was provided with an advantage in relation to their RRSP or RRIF during the year, a tax is payable which is:

• in the case of a benefit, the FMV of the benefit;
• in the case of a loan or a debt, the amount of the loan or debt; and
• in the case of an RRSP strip, the amount of the RRSP strip.

The tax is payable by the RRSP or RRIF annuitant, unless the advantage is extended by the financial institution, in which case it is payable by the financial institution.

An annuitant subject to this tax is required to file Form RC339, Individual Return for Certain Taxes for RRSPs or RRIFs. The return must be filed no later than June 30 of the following year. Any tax owing must also be paid by that date.

When the advantage is extended by the issuer or carrier of an RRSP or RRIF, the issuer must file Form RC298, Advantage Tax Return for TFSA issuers.

Refund of taxes paid on non-qualified or prohibited investments

If you disposed of a non-qualified or prohibited investment, reported or previously reported in Parts A and B of Form RC339, Individual Return for Certain Taxes for RRSPs or RRIFs, you may be entitled to a refund of taxes paid if:

• the RRSP or RRIF trust disposes of the property in question before the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the tax arose; or
• the property ceases to be a non-qualified or prohibited investment before the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the tax arose.

However, no refund will be issued if it is reasonable to expect that the annuitant knew, or should have known, at the time the property was acquired by the RRSP or RRIF trust, that the property was, or would become, a non-qualified or prohibited investment.

How to claim a refund

To claim a refund, you must:

• send a letter explaining why you are requesting a refund (you can attach the letter to Form RC339); and
• attach the appropriate documents detailing the information relating to the acquisition and disposition of the non-qualified or prohibited property.

The documents must contain the following:

• name and description of the property;
• number of shares or units;
• date the property was acquired or became non-qualified or prohibited property; and
• date of the disposition or the date that the property became qualified or ceased to be prohibited.

How to request a waiver or a cancellation of taxes

We may waive or cancel all or part of the taxes if we determine it is fair to do so after reviewing all factors, including whether:

• the tax arose because of a reasonable error;
• the extent to which the transaction or series of transactions that gave rise to the tax also gave rise to another tax under the Income Tax Act; and
• the extent to which payments have been made from the person's registered plan.

To consider your request, we need a letter that explains why the tax liability arose, and why it would be fair to cancel or waive all or part of the tax. Send your letter to the following address:

Validation and Verification Section
Pension Workflow Team
Ottawa Technology Centre
875 Heron Road
Ottawa ON K1A 1A2

Chapter 5 – Amounts from an RRSP or a RRIF

If you have an RRSP or a RRIF, you probably have a certain amount of flexibility on the types of payments you can get from these plans.

Generally, an RRSP must mature by the last day of the year in which you turn 71. On maturity, the funds must be withdrawn, transferred to a RRIF, or used to purchase an annuity. There are no immediate tax implications when amounts are transferred to a RRIF or used to purchase an annuity. However, if you withdraw funds from your RRSP, tax will be withheld and the amount withdrawn has to be included in your income for the year it is withdrawn.

Sometimes there can be an increase in the FMV of an RRSP, PRPP or a RRIF between the date of death and the date of final distribution to the beneficiary or estate. Generally, this amount has to be included in the income of the beneficiary or the estate for the year it is received. A T4RSP slip or T4RIF slip may be issued for this amount. You can view your T4RSP, T4RIF, and other tax information slips online by going to My Account for Individuals.

Sometimes, the FMV of the property of an unmatured RRSP, PRPP or a RRIF can decrease between the date of death and the date of final distribution to the beneficiary or the estate. If the total of all the amounts paid from an unmatured RRSP, PRPP or RRIF is less than the FMV of the unmatured RRSP, PRPP or RRIF at the time of the annuitant's death, a deduction may be claimed on the final income tax and benefit return of the annuitant. The deductible amount will generally be calculated as the difference between:

• the FMV at the time of the death that was included in the deceased annuitant's income for the year of death; and
• the total of all the amounts paid from the unmatured RRSP or RRIF.

This rule applies where the final distribution from the unmatured RRSP or the RRIF occurs after 2008. For more information, see charts 6 and 7.

Yearly minimum amount from a RRIF

Starting in the year after the year you establish a RRIF, you have to be paid a yearly minimum amount. The payout period under your RRIF is for your entire life. Your carrier calculates the minimum amount based on your age at the beginning of each year. However, you can elect to have the payment based on your spouse’s or common-law partner's age.

You can withdraw more, but not less than the minimum.

The following charts contain information on amounts you can receive or that we consider you to receive from your RRSP or RRIF, or from a deceased individual's RRSP or RRIF. This chapter also provides information on spousal or common-law partner RRSPs and RRIFs.

Chart 5 – Amounts from your RRSP, PRPP, RRIF, or SPP

Report your RRSP income on line 129 and any tax deducted (box 30 of the T4RSP slip) on line 437 of your income tax and benefit return.

If you were 65 or older on December 31, 2016, report your RRIF, PRPP or SPP income on line 115 of your income tax and benefit return. In all other cases, report your RRIF and PRPP income (if received before turning 65 years of age) on line 130. For more information, see line 115 in the General income tax and benefit guide. In all cases, claim any income tax deducted on line 437 of your income tax and benefit return.

The following payments are reported on a T4RSP or a T4RIF slip.

You can withdraw amounts from your RRSP before it starts to pay you retirement income. If your spouse or common-law partner contributed to your RRSP, see Note 1.

You can withdraw unused contributions you made to an RRSP based on an approved Form T3012A, Tax Deduction Waiver on the Refund of Your Unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP Contributions from your RRSP. If you transferred the unused contributions to your RRIF, see Note 2.

Refund of excess contributions are shown in box 20 of a T4RSP slip. Tax is withheld.

Withdrawals are shown in box 22 of a T4RSP slip. No tax is withheld.

Annuity payments from an RRSP

When an RRSP matures, you can draw an annuity from that RRSP. You have to include the payments in your income. If you receive the annuity payments because your spouse or common-law partner died, the payments qualify for the pension income amount. In addition to receiving a retirement income out of your RRSP, you can also choose to transfer the property to a RRIF or to buy yourself an eligible annuity. The value of all the property the plan holds is included in your income unless you draw an annuity from the matured RRSP, use the RRSP to buy yourself an eligible annuity, or transfer the funds to a RRIF. For more information about the pension income amount, see Line 314 in the General income tax and benefit guide.

Annuity payments from an RRSP are shown in box 16 of a T4RSP slip. No tax is withheld.

Commutation payments from an RRSP

A commutation payment is a fixed or single lump-sum payment from your RRSP annuity that is equal to the current value of all or part of your future annuity payments from the plan. If your spouse or common-law partner contributed to your RRSP, see Note 1.

Commutation payments from an RRSP are shown in box 22 of a T4RSP slip. Tax is withheld.

Minimum amount from a RRIF

Starting in the year after the year you establish a RRIF, you have to be paid a yearly minimum amount. The payout period under your RRIF is for your entire life. Your carrier calculates the minimum amount based on your age at the beginning of each year. However, you can elect to have the payment based on your spouse's or common-law partner's age. You must select this option when filling out the original RRIF application form. Once you make this election, you cannot change it. For more information, contact your RRIF carrier and see Yearly minimum amount from a RRIF.

A minimum amount from a RRIF is shown in box 16 of a T4RIF slip. No tax is withheld.

Excess amount from a RRIF

In any year, you can be paid more than the minimum amount for that year. Amounts paid to you from a RRIF in a year that are more than the minimum amount for that year are called excess amounts. Check with your carrier to make sure that your RRIF allows such payments. Under certain circumstances, you can directly transfer the excess amount from a RRIF. For more information, see Excess amount from a RRIF in chart 9. The excess amount shown in box 24 of your T4RIF slip is for information purposes only. Only include the amount shown in box 16 on your income tax and benefit return. If you received the excess amount from your spousal or common-law partner RRIF, see Note 1.

Amounts deemed received on deregistration of an RRSP or a RRIF

If in 2016, your RRSP or RRIF was changed and it no longer satisfies the rules under which it was registered, it is no longer an RRSP or a RRIF. It is now an amended plan or fund. In such a case, we consider you to have received, in 2016, an amount that equals the fair market value of all the property the plan or fund held at the time it ceased being an RRSP or a RRIF. If the deregistration was from your spousal or common-law partner RRSP or RRIF, see Note 1.

Amounts deemed received on deregistration of an RRSP are shown in box 26 of a T4RSP slip. See Note 3.

Amounts deemed received on deregistration of a RRIF are shown in box 20 of a T4RIF slip. See Note 3.

Other income and deductions from an RRSP or a RRIF

You may have to include other RRSP or RRIF amounts in your income, or you may be able to deduct other amounts for 2016. This applies if, in 2016, your RRSP or RRIF trust acquires or disposes of a non-qualified investment. It also applies if trust property was used as security for a loan, sold for an amount less than its fair market value, or the trust acquired property for an amount more than its fair market value. If the amount in box 28 of your T4RSP slip or in box 22 of your T4RIF slip appears in brackets (negative amount), claim it on line 232 of your income tax and benefit return.

Other income and deductions from an RRSP are shown in box 28 of a T4RSP slip. No tax is withheld.

Other income and deductions from an RRSP are shown in box 22 of a T4RIF slip. No tax is withheld.

Chart 6 – Amounts from a deceased annuitant's RRSP

When amounts are paid from a deceased annuitant's RRSP, tax will not be withheld. Report the amount on line 129 of the income tax and benefit return.

For information about payments from a matured RRSP, go to Matured RRSP.

For information about property from an unmatured RRSP, go to Unmatured RRSP.

Chart 7 – Amounts from a deceased annuitant's RRIF

Spouse or common-law partner is designated as the new annuitant

If the RRIF annuitant made a written election in the RRIF contract or in the will to have the RRIF amounts continue to the spouse or common-law partner after death, the surviving spouse or common-law partner becomes the annuitant after death and will begin to get the RRIF amounts as the new annuitant.

The spouse or common-law partner can become the annuitant of the RRIF after the deceased annuitant's death, even if the deceased annuitant did not make this election in the RRIF contract or in the will. This is the case if the legal representative consents to the spouse or common-law partner becoming the annuitant, and if the RRIF carrier agrees to continue the amount under the deceased annuitant's RRIF to the surviving spouse or common-law partner.

The amount is reported in box 16 of a T4RIF slip issued in the name of, and reported by the surviving spouse or common-law partner.

Spouse or common-law partner is designated as beneficiary of the RRIF

If, by the end of the year following the year of death of the annuitant, all of the property the RRIF held is paid to you (as specified in the RRIF contract) as the deceased annuitant's spouse or common-law partner and the eligible amount is directly transferred to your RRSP, claim a deduction equal to the transferred amount on line 208 of your income tax and benefit return. If the amount is directly transferred to your RRIF or directly transferred to an issuer to buy an eligible annuity, claim a deduction equal to the transferred amount on line 232 of your income tax and benefit return. The eligible amount is shown in box 24 of your T4RIF slip, and this is the maximum amount that can be directly transferred.

The amount is reported in box 16 of a T4RIF slip issued in the name of, and reported by the surviving spouse or common-law partner.

For all other situations

On line 130 of the deceased annuitant's final income tax and benefit return, include the fair market value of the property the RRIF held at the time of death.

The amount reported on the deceased annuitant's final income tax and benefit return may be reduced if one of the following conditions applies:

• You were the spouse or common-law partner of the annuitant at the time of death and an amount is paid from the RRIF to you (box 16 of your T4RSP slip) or to the estate (box 22 of a T4RSP slip issued to the estate) of which you are a beneficiary.
  • Effective July 1, 2011, you can rollover the proceeds of a deceased annuitant's RRIF to the RDSP of a financially dependent infirm child or grandchild. For the special transitional rules, go to Registered disability savings plan (RDSP).
• You were, at the time of death, a financially dependent child or grandchild of the annuitant and an amount is paid from the RRIF to you (box 22 of your T4RSP slip) or to the estate (box 22 of the T4RSP slip issued to the estate) of which you are a beneficiary. For more information, see Information Sheet RC4178, Death of a RRIF Annuitant, and Form T1090, Death of a RRIF Annuitant – Designated Benefit.
  • Effective July 1, 2011, if you were a financially dependent infirm child or grandchild you can rollover the proceeds of a deceased annuitant's RRIF to your RDSP.
• There is a decrease in the FMV of a RRIF between the date of death and the date of final distribution to the beneficiary or the estate. See Information Sheet RC4178, Death of a RRIF Annuitant, and Form RC249, Post-Death Decline in the Value of a RRIF, an Unmatured RRSP and Post-Death Increase or Decline in the Value of a PRPP. Report the decrease in the FMV on the deceased annuitant's final income tax and benefit return. No T4RIF slip will be issued.

If income is earned in the RRIF that the beneficiary receives after the annuitant dies, it is reported in box 22 of a T4RIF slip issued to the beneficiary.

If income is earned in the RRIF that the beneficiary receives after the annuitant dies, it is reported in box 22 of a T4RIF slip issued to the estate.

Transfers to registered disability savings plans

For deaths occurring after March 3, 2010, the existing RRSP rollover rules are extended to allow a rollover of a deceased individual's RRSP and PRPP proceeds to the RDSP of the deceased individual's financially dependent child or grandchild with an impairment in physical or mental functions. These rules also apply for RRIF proceeds, certain lump-sum amounts paid from RPPs, and certain amounts from SPPs.

Eligible individual – An eligible individual is a child or grandchild of a deceased annuitant under an RRSP, a RRIF, or of a deceased member of an RPP, SPP or PRPP, who was financially dependent on the deceased for support at the time of the deceased's death by reason of an impairment in physical or mental functions. The eligible individual must also be the beneficiary under the RDSP into which the eligible proceeds will be paid.

For more information on the RDSP and the special transitional rules, go to Registered disability savings plan (RDSP).

The following chart shows what you have to do when there is a rollover to an RDSP. Use Form RC4625, Rollover to a registered disability savings plan (RDSP) under paragraph 60(m), or the form provided by your RDSP issuers to document the transaction.

An RDSP Rollover

RRSP – Beneficiary named in the contract

Eligible individual – The refund of premiums is shown in box 28 of a T4RSP slip. Enter this amount on line 129 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232. Attach Form RC4625 or a letter from the RDSP issuer to your income tax and benefit return.

RRSP – No beneficiary named in the contract

Deceased individual – The refund of premiums is shown in box 28 of a T4RSP slip. On the deceased's final income tax and benefit return, enter this amount on line 129 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232.

Eligible individual – Enter the refund of premiums transferred to the RDSP on line 130 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232. Attach Form RC4625 or a letter from the RDSP issuer to your income tax and benefit return.

When there is no beneficiary named in the contract, the dependent child or grandchild will not receive a T4RSP slip. However, Forms T1-ADJ, RC4625, and T2019 will have to be filed to have the deceased income tax and benefit return adjusted to allow an eligible deduction on line 232.

When there is no beneficiary named in the contract, the recipient of the annuity will be unknown and so the income is recorded as "Other income" in box 28.

RRIF – Beneficiary named in the contract

Eligible individual – The designated benefit is shown in box 22 of a T4RIF slip. Enter this amount on line 130 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232. Attach Form RC4625 or a letter from the RDSP issuer to your income tax and benefit return.

RRIF – No beneficiary named in the contract

Deceased individual – The designated benefit is shown in box 22 of a T4RIF slip. On the deceased's final income tax and benefit return, enter this amount on line 130 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232.

Eligible individual – Enter the designated benefit transferred to the RDSP on line 130 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232. Attach Form RC4625 or a letter from the RDSP issuer to your income tax and benefit return.

When there is no beneficiary named in the contract, the dependent child or grandchild will not receive a T4RIF slip. However, Forms T1-ADJ, RC4625, and T1090 will have to be filed to have the deceased income tax and benefit return adjusted to allow an eligible deduction on line 232.

RPP

Eligible individual – The amount is shown in box 018 on T4A slip, Enter this amount on line 130 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232. Attach Form RC4625 or a letter from the RDSP issuer to your income tax and benefit return.

SPP

Eligible individual – The amount is shown in box 018 of a T4A slip. Enter this amount on line 130 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232. Attach Form RC4625 or a letter from the RDSP issuer to your income tax and benefit return.

PRPP

Eligible individual – The amount is shown in box 194 of a T4A slip. Enter this amount on line 130 and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred on line 232. Attach Form RC4625 or a letter from the RDSP issuer to your income tax and benefit return.

Locked-in RRSP

A locked-in RRSP is a plan containing funds transferred from an RPP for a member of the RPP. Under the pension laws of certain provinces, locked-in RRSPs are sometimes called locked-in retirement accounts (LIRAs). This means that the member cannot receive the transferred funds. They either have to stay in the plan or be transferred to another locked-in RRSP to provide the member with a retirement income.

You cannot withdraw funds from a locked-in RRSP. The money has to stay in the RRSP and will be used to buy a life annuity at retirement age.

However, under the pension laws of certain provinces, pension funds or funds from a locked-in RRSP can be transferred to a locked-in RRIF. These locked-in RRIFs are sometimes called life income funds or locked-in retirement income funds.

Your employer or pension plan administrator can answer any questions you have about locked-in funds.

LIRAs and locked-in RRIFs are taxed in the same manner as regular RRSPs and RRIFs.

Amounts paid from or into a spousal or common-law partner RRSP, RRIF, or SPP

This section applies to you if:

• you receive income from a spousal or common-law partner RRSP or RRIF;
• you receive income from an SPP account to which your spouse or common-law partner contributed;
• you have contributed to your spouse’s or common law partner’s RRSP or SPP.

A spousal or common-law partner RRSP is any of your RRSPs:

• to which your spouse or common-law partner contributed;
• that received amounts or transfers of property from your RRSPs to which your spouse or common-law partner had contributed; or
• that received amounts or transfers of property from your RRIFs to which you had transferred amounts from your spousal or common-law partner RRSPs.

A spousal or common-law partner RRIF is any of your RRIFs that received amounts or transfers of property from:

• a spousal or common-law partner RRSP; or
• any of your other spousal or common-law partner RRIFs.

Calculating the income you and your spouse or common-law partner have to report

If you contributed to your spouse’s or common-law partner’s RRSPs or your spouse’s account under an SPP in 2014, 2015, or 2016, you may have to include in your 2016 income all or part of:

• amounts your spouse or common-law partner received in 2016 from any of his or her SPPs or unmatured spousal or common-law partner RRSPs;
• commutation payments your spouse or common-law partner received in 2016 from any of his or her SPPs or matured spousal or common-law partner RRSPs;
• amounts we consider your spouse or common-law partner to have received in 2016 from any of his or her SPPs or deregistered spousal or common-law partner RRSPs; and
• amounts your spouse or common-law partner received, or those we consider he or she received, in 2016 from any of his or her spousal or common-law partner RRIFs that are more than the minimum amount for the year.

To determine the amount to include in your income or your spouse's or common-law partner's income, your spouse or common-law partner (the annuitant) should fill out Form T2205, Amounts from a Spousal or Common-law Partner RRSP, RRIF or SPP to Include in Income.

Exceptions – The rule that requires you, the contributor, to include certain amounts from spousal or common-law partner RRSPs, spousal or common-law partner RRIFs or, a spouse's account under an SPP as income does not apply to the following situations:

• At the time of payment, or when we consider the payment to have been received, you and your spouse or common-law partner were living separate and apart because of the breakdown of your relationship.
• At the time of payment, or when we consider the payment to have been received, you or your spouse or common-law partner were non-residents of Canada.
• The amount is a commutation payment that is transferred directly for your spouse or common-law partner to another RRSP, a RRIF, an SPP or to an issuer to buy an eligible annuity that cannot be commuted for at least three years.
• The contributor dies in the year of payment or the year we consider the payment to have been received.
• We consider the deceased annuitant to have received the amount because of death.

In any such case, the annuitant spouse or common-law partner includes the payment in income for the year he or she receives it or is considered to have received it.

Tax deducted – In all cases, the tax deducted has to be claimed by the individual to whom the slip is issued. In most cases, the information slip issued for the withdrawal will be in the name of the annuitant. However, report the income according to the calculations completed in Parts 1 and 2 of Form T2205, Amounts from a Spousal or Common-law Partner RRSP, RRIF or SPP to Include in Income.

For more information, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-307, Spousal or Common-Law Partner Registered Retirement Savings Plans.

Chapter 6 – Transfers to registered plans or funds and annuities

You can transfer certain amounts to an RPP, an RRSP, a RRIF, a DPSP, an SPP, or a PRPP. You can also use certain amounts from an RPP, an RRSP, a RRIF, an SPP or a PRPP to buy yourself an eligible annuity.

You have to transfer certain amounts directly. For other amounts, you can transfer them either directly or indirectly. This chapter provides information about the rules on these transfers.

The three charts in this chapter list the most common types of amounts that you can transfer and the types of plans or funds to which you can transfer them. Chart 8 covers amounts that you can transfer either directly or indirectly. Chart 9 covers amounts that you have to transfer directly. Chart 10 covers amounts that you transfer because of the breakdown of your relationship.

Other transfers

Depending on the source of income, the following amounts can also be transferred to your RPP, SPP, PRPP or RRSP:

• certain lump-sum amounts from a non-registered pension plan that relate to services rendered throughout a period while a non-resident of Canada;
• eligible pension income from an estate or a testamentary trust; and
• amounts received from foreign retirement arrangements, such as United States Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

For more information on these types of transfers, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-500, Registered Retirement Savings Plans – Death of an Annuitant, or IT-528, Transfers of Funds Between Registered Plans. For information on how to report the income, see the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.

Chart 8 – Amounts that you can transfer directly or indirectly

Retiring allowance (severance pay) – is an amount you receive on or after retirement from an office or employment in recognition of long service. It includes payment for unused sick leave and amounts you receive for loss of office or employment, whether as a payment of damages or a payment under an order or judgment of a tribunal.

You can transfer the eligible part of your retiring allowance to:

• your RPP;
• your RRSP;
• your PRPP; or
• your SPP^{Footnote 1}.

You can transfer only the eligible part of your retiring allowance to your own RPP, SPP, RRSP or PRPP. The eligible part is $2,000 for each year or part-year of service before 1996 in which you were employed by the employer or a person related to that employer from whom you received the retiring allowance. You can also transfer an additional $1,500 for each year or part-year of service before 1989 in which you had earned no pension or DPSP benefit from employer contributions that were either vested in you at the time of payment or that were previously paid to you.

For 2016, the eligible portion of your retiring allowance will be reported in box 66 of your T4 slip and box 67 will show the part of your retiring allowance that is not eligible. On a T3 slip, the eligible part of a retiring allowance appears in box 47.

Report the retiring allowance shown in boxes 66 and 67 of your 2016 T4 slip, or in box 26 of your T3 slip on line 130 of your income tax and benefit return. Claim a deduction for the amount you transfer to your RPP on line 207 of your income tax and benefit return. Claim a deduction for the amount you transfer to your RRSP on line 208 of your income tax and benefit return. Write the amount of the transfer on line 15 of Schedule 7.

You cannot transfer the eligible part of your retiring allowance to your spouse's RRSP or common-law partner's RRSP. You may be able to contribute amounts you received from your retiring allowance to your own or your spouse's or common-law partner's RRSP, up to the limits explained in Chapter 2.

If you transfer the amount to your RPP, you may have a PA. For more information, contact your plan administrator.

Amounts paid from an RRSP or RRIF upon death of the annuitant

You can transfer amounts paid from an RRSP or RRIF upon death of the annuitant to:

• an RRSP;
• a RRIF;
• an annuity;
• an SPP^{Footnote 1}; or
• a PRPP.

If, at the time of death, you are the deceased annuitant's spouse or common-law partner, or you are a financially dependent child or grandchild of the annuitant because of an impairment in physical or mental functions, you can transfer, on a tax-deferred basis, certain amounts paid from the annuitant's RRSP or RRIF.

You can rollover the proceeds to a RDSP of a financially dependent infirm child or grandchild. For special transitional rules, go to Registered disability savings plan (RDSP).

• If you are the child or grandchild of the deceased annuitant, and are not financially dependent because of an impairment in physical or mental functions, you can only transfer the amounts to a term annuity. For more information on these transfers, see Information Sheets RC4177, Death of an RRSP Annuitant or a PRPP/SPP Member, and RC4178, Death of a RRIF Annuitant. No tax is withheld at source on these payments. For more information, see Chart 6 – Amounts from a deceased annuitant's RRSP; or Chart 7 – Amounts from a deceased annuitant's RRIF.

Lump-sum paid from an RPP, SPP or PRPP upon death of the member

You can transfer a lump-sum paid from an RPP, SPP or PRPP upon death of the member to:

• an RRSP;
• a RRIF;
• an annuity;
• an SPP^{Footnote 1}; or
• a PRPP.

If, at the time of death, you are a child or grandchild of the deceased member, and are financially dependent on the member because of an impairment in physical or mental functions, you can transfer, on a tax-deferred basis, certain amounts paid from the member's RPP, PRPP or, account under an SPP.

You can rollover the proceeds to your RDSP if you are an eligible individual.

If you are the child or grandchild of the deceased member, and are not financially dependent on the member because of an impairment in physical or mental functions, you can only transfer the amounts to a term annuity.

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Transfers may be limited by an SPP administrative authority. Verify with your plan administrator for any possible limits.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Chart 9 – Amounts that you have to transfer directly

If you receive any of the types of amounts listed below (for example in cash or by cheque), you have to include them in your income for the year you receive them and you cannot transfer them on a tax-deferred basis. Instead, if you want to transfer these amounts to another registered plan or fund and defer the tax, make sure you inform the payer to transfer them directly.

If you transfer the amount to your RRSP, you must be 71 or younger at the end of the year in which you transfer the funds.

For more information on direct transfers and the forms available to use, see Payments that you have to transfer directly.

RPP lump-sum – This includes a lump-sum payment you are entitled to receive from your RPP or from your current or former spouse's RPP or common-law partner's RPP because your current or former spouse or common-law partner has died. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return. If you transfer an excess RPP lump-sum amount, see Excess transfer of an RPP lump-sum payment.

DPSP lump-sum – This includes a lump-sum amount you are entitled to receive from your DPSP or from your current (or former) spouse's or common-law partner's DPSP because your current (or former) spouse or common-law partner has died. You can also transfer this amount to another DPSP. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return.

RRSP commutation payment – The commutation payment is shown in box 22 of your T4RSP slip. Report it on line 129 of your income tax and benefit return. If you transfer the amount to your RRSP, claim a deduction for the amount you transfer on line 208 of your income tax and benefit return. If you transfer the amount to your RRIF or to an issuer to buy an eligible annuity, claim a deduction for the amount you transfer on line 232. Attach receipts to your income tax and benefit return showing the amount transferred.

Property from an unmatured RRSP – This is an amount you are entitled to receive from an RRSP that has not yet started to pay you retirement income. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return.

Property from a RRIF – This is an amount you transfer from one of your RRIFs to another of your RRIFs or to a money purchase provision of an RPP under which you had been a member. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return.

Excess amount from a RRIF – The excess amount is shown in boxes 16 and 24 of your T4RIF slip unless it is directly transferred to another RRIF for you. Report the total amount shown in box 16 on your income tax and benefit return. For details on how to report this income, go to Line 115 on the General Income tax and Benefit Guide.

If the excess amount is directly transferred to your RRSP, claim a deduction for the amount you transfer on line 208 of your income tax and benefit return. If the excess amount is directly transferred to an issuer to buy an eligible annuity, claim a deduction for the amount you transfer on line 232.

The excess amount directly transferred to another of your RRIFs should not be reported on your T4RIF slip. Do not report the amount transferred as income on your income tax and benefit return, and do not claim any deduction for the amount transferred.

SPP lump-sum – This includes a lump-sum payment you receive from an SPP (such as the Saskatchewan Pension Plan) as a member. It also includes a lump-sum payment you receive as the current or former spouse or common-law partner of a member if the member has died. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return.

Property from a PRPP – This is an amount you are entitled to receive from a PRPP that has not yet started to pay you retirement income. It also includes a lump-sum payment you receive as the current or former spouse or common-law partner of a member if the member has died. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return

Chart 10 – Transferring amounts received because of a breakdown of the marriage or common-law partnership

In all cases, the transfer must be direct. If you receive any of the types of amounts listed below (for example in cash or by cheque), you have to include them in your income for the year you receive them and you cannot transfer them tax‑free. Instead, if you want to transfer these amounts tax‑free to another registered plan or fund, make sure you inform the payer to transfer them directly.

In all cases, you must be entitled to the amount under a decree, order, or judgment of a court, or under a written agreement relating to a division of property between you and your current or former spouse or common‑law partner in settlement of rights arising from the breakdown of your relationship.

If you transfer the amount to your RRSP, you must be 71 or younger at the end of the year you transfer the funds.

RPP lump-sum – Can be transferred to:

• an RPP;
• an RRSP;
• a RRIF;
• a PRPP; or
• an SPP.

Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return. You can use Form T2151, Direct Transfer of a Single Amount Under Subsection 147(19) or Section 147.3 for this type of transfer.

DPSP lump-sum – Can be transferred to:

• an RPP;
• an RRSP;
• a RRIF;
• a PRPP; or
• an SPP.

Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return. You can use Form T2151, Direct Transfer of a Single Amount Under Subsection 147(19) or Section 147.3 for this type of transfer.

For transfers to an RPP, RRSP or RRIF, you and the RRSP issuer have to fill out Form T2220, Transfer from an RRSP, RRIF, PRPP or SPP to Another RRSP, RRIF or SPP on Breakdown of Marriage or Common-law Partnership. The RRSP issuer reports the transfer in box 35 of a T4RSP or T4RIF slip issued in your name. Do not report any amount on your income tax benefit return.

Property from an unmatured RRSP – Can be transferred to:

• an RRSP;
• a RRIF;
• a PRPP; or
• an SPP.

You and your current or former spouse or common-law partner have to be living separate and apart at the time of the transfer because of the breakdown of your relationship. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return. You can use Form T2220, Transfer from an RRSP, RRIF, PRPP or SPP to Another RRSP, RRIF or SPP on Breakdown of Marriage or Common-law Partnership for this type of transfer.

For transfers to an RRSP, you and the RRSP issuer have to fill out Form T2220. The RRSP issuer reports the transfer in box 35 of a T4RSP or T4RIF slip issued in your name. Do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return.

Property from a RRIF – Can be transferred to:

• an RRSP;
• a RRIF;
• a PRPP; or
• an SPP.

Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return. You can use Form T2220, Transfer from an RRSP, RRIF, PRPP or SPP to Another RRSP, RRIF or SPP on Breakdown of Marriage or Common-law Partnership for this type of transfer.

SPP lump-sum – Can be transferred to:

• an RRSP;
• a RRIF;
• a PRPP;
• an annuity; or
• an SPP.

You and your current or former spouse or common-law partner have to be living separate and apart at the time of the transfer because of the breakdown of your relationship. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return. You can use Form T2220, Transfer from an RRSP, RRIF, PRPP or SPP to Another RRSP, RRIF or SPP on Breakdown of Marriage or Common-law Partnership for this type of transfer.

Property from a PRPP – Can be transferred to:

• an RPP;
• an RRSP;
• a RRIF;
• a PRPP;
• an annuity; or
• an SPP.

You and your current or former spouse or common-law partner have to be living separate and apart at the time of the transfer because of the breakdown of your relationship. Do not claim a deduction for the amount you transfer, and do not report any amount on your income tax and benefit return. You can use Form T2220, Transfer from an RRSP, RRIF, PRPP or SPP to Another RRSP, RRIF or SPP on Breakdown of Marriage or Common-law Partnership for this type of transfer.

Direct transfer of an RPP lump-sum amount

In most cases, if you transfer an RPP lump-sum amount directly to another RPP, SPP, RRSP, PRPP or to a RRIF, you do not have to include any part of the amount in your income, and you cannot deduct it. However, the Income Tax Act limits the amount you may transfer on a tax-deferred basis from a defined benefit provision of an RPP to a money purchase provision of an RPP, an RRSP, or a RRIF.

Excess transfer of an RPP lump-sum amount

If the amount you transfer is more than the limit, you have to include the excess transfer in your income. Your T4A slip shows the excess transfer as pension income in box 018, which you report on line 130 of your income tax and benefit return. You can view your T4A and other tax information slips online by going to My Account for Individuals.

If you made the excess transfer to your RRSP for 2016, we consider you to have contributed it to the RRSP in the year in which you transferred it. Even if the excess transfer is made to your RRIF, we still consider you to have contributed it to your RRSP. In both cases, the carrier will give you an RRSP receipt for this contribution.

You can deduct these RRSP contributions on line 208 of your income tax and benefit return, up to your RRSP deduction limit for the year in which you made the transfer. If you cannot deduct the contributions because they are more than your RRSP deduction limit for the year, you can leave them in your RRSP or your RRIF and deduct them for future years up to your RRSP deduction limit for those years. You can view your RRSP information online by going to My Account for Individuals or by using the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps.

Withdrawal from an RRSP or a RRIF – If you withdraw an excess transfer amount from an RRSP or a RRIF in 2016, and we consider you to have contributed an excess transfer to your RRSP, a deduction is available if you meet both of the following conditions:

• you did not previously deduct the excess amount as an RRSP contribution; and
• you included the excess amount in your income for the year you received it.

You can use Form T1043, Deduction for Excess Registered Pension Plan Transfers You Withdrew from an RRSP or RRIF, to calculate your deduction. Deduct the amount on line 232 of your income tax and benefit return.

Chapter 7 – PAs, PARs, and PSPAs

Pension adjustments (PAs)

The following is an overview of PAs under RPPs and DPSPs. If you want to know how your PA is calculated or why you have a PA, contact your employer or plan administrator.

Your PA for a year is the total pension credits for the year under a DPSP or a defined benefit or money purchase provision of an RPP of which you are a member. You may also have a pension credit if you participate in a foreign plan. The pension credit is a measure of the value of the benefits that accrued to you during the year under these arrangements.

Does your employer have to report a PA for you?

Your employer usually has to report a PA for you even if your benefit is not yet vested.

Where is your PA shown on your T4 or T4A slip?
Your PA appears in box 52 of your T4 slip, or in box 034 of your T4A slip. If you worked for more than one employer in 2016 and each employer sponsors their own RPP or DPSP, you may have more than one PA. Enter the total of your PAs from your T4 and T4A slips on line 206 of your 2016 income tax and benefit return

You can view your T4, T4A, and other tax information slips online by going to My Account for Individuals.

What does your PA affect?

Your PA for a year reduces your RRSP deduction limit for the following year. Your PA does not affect your income. If you contribute to your RRSP, PRPP or SPP, or your spouse’s or common-law partner’s RRSP or SPP, your PA may indirectly affect the income taxes you pay or the refund you receive for the following year, because it reduces your RRSP deduction limit for the following year. For more information on how to calculate your RRSP deduction limit, see Calculating your 2016 RRSP deduction limit.

You can find your 2016 RRSP deduction limit on your latest notice of assessment or notice of reassessment. If you receive a certified Form T1004 after we send you your notice, we may reduce your 2016 RRSP deduction limit. In such a case, we will usually send you a T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016, and give you your revised 2016 RRSP deduction limit when we have updated our records.

You can also find out your RRSP deduction limit by registering for My Account. Once you have registered, you can access your RRSP Deduction Limit Statement online. For more information, see My Account.

If you participate in a foreign plan, you may have to report an amount similar to a PA that will reduce your RRSP deduction limit for the following year. To determine the amount you have to report, call the International Enquiries for Individuals and Trusts at one of the following numbers: 1-800-959-8281 (toll free within Canada and the United States), or 613-940-8495 (from outside Canada and the United States — we accept collect calls by automated response. You may hear a beep and experience a normal connection delay).

For more information concerning PAs, see Guide T4084, Pension Adjustment Guide.

Pension adjustment reversals (PARs)

A PAR restores your RRSP deduction limit when you end your membership in an RPP or a DPSP in certain circumstances. Your plan administrator or trustee will report a PAR for you if the amount you receive from the plan is less than the total PAs and PSPAs that were previously reported for you. You will only have a PAR under a DPSP or a money purchase provision of an RPP if you are not fully vested at termination.

Your plan administrator or trustee will send you a T10, Pension Adjustment Reversal (PAR) slip that shows your PAR amount in box 2. Do not report this amount on your income tax and benefit return. Your plan administrator or trustee will send us a copy of your T10 slip. We use that copy to increase your RRSP deduction limit for the year.

If you have a PAR for a termination in 2016, it increases your 2016 RRSP deduction limit. In such a case, we will usually send you a T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016, and give you your revised 2016 RRSP deduction limit when we have updated our records.

For more information on PAR, see Guide RC4137, Pension Adjustment Reversal Guide.

If you do not receive a T1028 and you want to confirm your 2016 RRSP deduction limit, go to My Account for Individuals, the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps, or call our Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS) at 1-800-267-6999.

The TIPS RRSP service is available from mid-September to April 30. For RRSP information, you will be asked to provide your social insurance number, your month and year of birth, and the total income you reported on line 150 of your 2015 income tax and benefit return.

Past service pension adjustments (PSPAs)

The following is an overview of PSPAs. If you have questions about how your PSPA is calculated or why you have a PSPA, contact your employer or plan administrator.

A PSPA is an amount your RPP administrator calculates when benefits relating to a previous period of pensionable service are improved or when you are credited with a new period of pensionable past service. A PSPA only occurs if the improved benefits or the new past service benefits relate to a period of service after 1989. A PSPA is the sum of the additional pension credits that would have been included in your PA if the upgraded benefits had actually been provided, or the additional service credited in those previous years.

Types of PSPAs

The plan administrator calculates your PSPA and determines whether we have to certify the PSPA before the RPP can provide the past service benefits. There are two types of PSPAs: certifiable PSPAs, and PSPAs that are exempt from certification (exempt PSPAs). In most cases, the plan administrator has to report each PSPA to us, whether exempt or certifiable.

Exempt PSPAs – An exempt PSPA usually occurs when all or almost all plan members receive past service benefit upgrades. In most cases, when an employer provides past service benefits and there is an exempt PSPA that is more than zero, the plan administrator has to report the PSPA to us and to the plan member. For exempt PSPAs, the plan administrator has to fill out a T215 slip, Past Service Pension Adjustment (PSPA) Exempt from Certification. Do not attach the T215 slip to your income tax and benefit return.

An exempt PSPA will not reduce your RRSP deduction limit until the year following the year of the past service event. For details on how to calculate your RRSP deduction limit, see Calculating your 2016 RRSP deduction limit. You can view your RRSP information online by going to My Account for Individuals or by using the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps.

Certifiable PSPAs – A certifiable PSPA usually occurs if you, as a plan member, decide to buy a period of past service that is pensionable service under your RPP.

We have to certify most PSPAs that are more than zero and do not meet the conditions for exemption outlined above. We have to certify the PSPA before you have the right to receive the benefits under the plan. A certified PSPA will reduce your RRSP deduction limit for the year in which it is certified.

Your plan administrator applies for PSPA certification by submitting a filled out Form T1004, Applying for the Certification of a Provisional PSPA. Since the Income Tax Act has limits on the PSPA amount for past service benefits that we can certify, we will apply these limits to the information on Form T1004 and determine if we can certify the PSPA.

Cost of past service benefits

The amount it costs you to pay for past service benefits will likely not equal the PSPA associated with the benefits, since a PSPA reflects a general measure of the value of the past service benefits rather than the actual cost to fund the benefits.

Usually, you can pay for the cost of past service benefits by:

• making a lump-sum contribution;
• making instalment contributions; or
• directly transferring amounts from certain other registered plans. In this case, transfers may reduce the PSPA amount your plan administrator has to report to us.

In some cases, your employer may fund all or part of the cost of the past service benefits.

Qualifying transfers – Generally, a qualifying transfer is a direct transfer of a lump-sum amount from an unmatured RRSP, a money purchase provision of an RPP, an SPP, or a DPSP. You can make a qualifying transfer to pay for all or part of the cost of the past service benefits related to the PSPA. If you make a qualifying transfer, the amount you transfer will reduce the PSPA amount the plan administrator has to report. Do not report your qualifying transfer amount as income and do not deduct it.

What happens if we cannot certify your PSPA?

If we cannot certify your PSPA because the PSPA amount is more than the allowable limit, you may still be able to obtain certification if you agree to make a qualifying RRSP, PRPP, or SPP withdrawal. We will send you Form T1006, Designating an RRSP, an PRPP or an SPP Withdrawal as a Qualifying Withdrawal. Fill out this form and return it to us within 30 days.

To speed up the certification process, your plan administrator can review the certification formula before sending Form T1004 to us. If your plan administrator knows that we will not certify the PSPA, the administrator may ask you in advance if you want to designate an RRSP qualifying withdrawal. If you choose to do so, the administrator may ask you to fill out Form T1006, and will send it to us with the certification request. If you cannot or choose not to make an RRSP qualifying withdrawal, we will not certify the PSPA.

If you choose not to proceed with Form T1006, you have the following options:

• make a qualifying withdrawal, which will have the effect of increasing your RRSP room;
• make a qualifying transfer, which will have the effect of reducing the amount of the PSPA;
• buy the amount of service that the RRSP room plus the additional $8,000 (allowance for a shortfall) could purchase; or
• wait and buy back the service at a later date when you have sufficient RRSP room.

For more information, see Guide T4104, Past Service Pension Adjustment Guide, section 6.4, "PSPAs requiring certification".

Qualifying withdrawal – Generally, a qualifying withdrawal is an amount you withdraw from your RRSP or SPP, and include in your income for the year you withdraw it. You have to meet a number of conditions before we will consider the amount to be a qualifying withdrawal. If you meet these conditions, you can designate the withdrawal and we can certify the PSPA. We outline these conditions in Part 3 of Form T1006, which you use to designate a qualifying withdrawal.

Net PSPA

Your net PSPA for 2016 reduces the amount of RRSP contributions you can deduct for 2016. Your 2016 net PSPA is the total of:

• your exempt PSPAs for 2015 (total from box 2 of your T215 slips);

plus

• your certified PSPAs for 2016 (Form T1004, Part 3, line A);

minus

• your RRSP qualifying withdrawals (Form T1006, Part 3).

Your RRSP deduction limit may be reduced by the net PSPA or similar amount for the year if you participated in a foreign plan or specified retirement arrangement and your past service benefits accruing under the plan were improved.

For more information, see Guide T4104, Past Service Pension Adjustment Guide.

If you do not receive a T1028 and you want to confirm your 2016 RRSP deduction limit, go to My Account for Individuals, the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps or call our Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS) at 1-800-267-6999.

The TIPS RRSP service is available from mid-September to April 30. For RRSP information, you will be asked to provide your social insurance number, your month and year of birth, and the total income you reported on line 150 of your 2015 income tax and benefit return.

Chapter 8 – Pooled registered pension plan

A PRPP is a retirement savings option for individuals, including self‑employed individuals.

A PRPP enables its members to benefit from lower administration costs that result from participating in a large, pooled pension plan. It's also portable, so it moves with its members from job to job.

This chapter has general information about participating in and contributing to a PRPP. It provides information about who is eligible to join, how to transfer funds on a tax‑deferred basis and what you can deduct on your income tax and benefit return. For more information, go to The Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPP).

Eligibility

Effective January 1, 2013, if you have a valid Canadian social insurance number (SIN), you can participate in a PRPP if you:

• are employed or self-employed in the Nunavut, Yukon or Northwest Territories;
• work in a federally regulated business or industry for an employer who chooses to participate in a PRPP; or
• live in a province that has the required provincial standards legislation in place.

Participation

You can be enrolled into a PRPP by:

• your employer (if your employer chooses to participate in a PRPP); or
• a PRPP administrator (such as a bank or insurance company).

Once enrolled, a PRPP account is created under your SIN. You choose the amounts to be contributed from your pay cheque. Your contributions, your employers’ contributions, and any lump-sum contributions, are all pooled together and credited to your account.

The amount you can contribute is limited by your RRSP deduction limit.

The amount that can be contributed is calculated based on the earned income you report on your income tax and benefit returns from prior years, it is important to file an income tax and benefit return each year when participating in the PRPP to keep your RRSP deduction limit up-to-date.

Contributions to a PRPP

Similar to RRSPs, the maximum amount that you and your employer can both contribute to a PRPP in a given tax year without tax implications is determined by your RRSP deduction limit that appears on your latest notice of assessment or notice of reassessment, or on a T1028, Your RRSP/PRPP Information for 2016. You can also find out your 2016 RRSP deduction limit by going to My Account for Individuals, the MyCRA mobile app at Mobile apps or call our Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS) at 1-800-267-6999.

Any PRPP contributions you make that are not deducted on your income tax and benefit return are referred to as unused PRPP contributions.

It is important for you to know how much unused contribution room you have available in a given tax year. For more information, see Keeping track of your RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions – Schedule 7.

Employer PRPP contributions, combined with your PRPP, SPP and RRSP contributions, as well as contributions to your spouse’s or common-law partner’s RRSP or SPP that are above your RRSP deduction limit, may be considered excess contributions. Excess RRSP, PRPP and SPP contributions you make may be subject to a tax of 1% per month for every month they are left in the account. If you withdraw the unused contributions from your PRPP, an offsetting deduction may be claimed. For more information, see Withdrawing the unused contributions.

Member contributions

You can make voluntary contributions to your PRPP between January 1 in a given year and 60 days into the following year, up until the end of the year in which you turn 71.

You can deduct your contributions on your income tax and benefit return but your deduction must not exceed the difference between your RRSP deduction limit and the employer’s contributions to your PRPP. You cannot deduct employer PRPP contributions on your income tax and benefit return.

Employer contributions

An employer can make voluntary contributions to your PRPP in the year or within 120 days after the end of the year. Contributions are not included in your income and are not deductible on your income tax and benefit return. Only your contributions to your PRPP are deductible on line 208. Employer contributions must be reported on line 205.

Contributions on tax-exempt income

For the purposes of contributing to a PRPP, the Income Tax Act allows tax-exempt income earned by an Indian (as defined by the Indian Act), to be included in the calculation of his or her RRSP deduction limit for the year. Though his or her PRPP contributions made against tax-exempt income are not tax-deductible, they can be used as a repayment under the HBP or the LLP. For more information, see Lines 6 and 7 – Repayments under the HBP and the LLP. Fill out an RC383, Tax-Exempt Earned Income and Contributions for a Pooled Registered Pension Plan and attach it to your income tax and benefit return.

PRPP transfers

Where it is permissible, you can ask your PRPP administrator to directly transfer funds from one registered plan to another on a tax‑deferred basis. Since you are not receiving an amount from the PRPP, you will not have to include the amount of the transfer as income on your income tax and benefit return.

Transfers to a PRPP

You can directly transfer amounts to your PRPP from another PRPP that you hold. You can also transfer amounts to your PRPP from your RRSP, RRIF, SPP, or DPSP under which you are the annuitant or member.

You can also transfer funds to your PRPP account from the same plans belonging to your spouse or common‑law partner when you are entitled to those amounts because of a breakdown of the marriage or common‑law partnership or death.

Transfers from a PRPP

You can directly transfer amounts from your PRPP funds to another PRPP that you hold. You can also transfer amounts from your PRPP to your SPP, RRSP, or RRIF.

The same transfers can be made for your spouse or common-law partner if he or she is entitled to the amount because of a breakdown of the marriage or common-law partnership or death.

For deaths occurring after March 3, 2010, the existing RRSP rollover rules are extended to allow a rollover of a deceased member's PRPP proceeds to the RDSP of an eligible individual.

Amounts can also be transferred to a licensed annuity provider to acquire a qualifying annuity. However, if PRPP amounts are transferred to purchase a qualifying annuity, and there is an amount paid out of the annuity in the year, the amount paid out is to be included in the income tax and benefit return of the annuitant for the year of transfer.

PRPP payments

Payments from a PRPP are considered to be pension income and are eligible for pension income splitting and the pension income amount if you are:

• the PRPP member aged 65 years or older; or
• the spouse or common law partner of a deceased PRPP member.

If you receive payments from a PRPP, it is taxable on your income tax and benefit return in the year you receive them. Since benefits such as old age security or guaranteed income supplements are calculated on the income you report on your income tax and benefit return each year, your benefits may be reduced accordingly.

PRPP withdrawals

While the Income Tax Act places no restrictions on withdrawing funds from your PRPP account at any time, it does place limits on the credits available to you depending on your age when you receive payments. For example, if you receive payments from your PRPP before you are 65 years of age, you will not be eligible for pension income splitting or the pension income amount.

The Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act also limits the distributions (withdrawals) that you can make to ensure that your PRPP funds are available for your retirement. Similar to other RPPs, the funds in your PRPP are generally "locked-in" and cannot be withdrawn before you retire from employment.

You cannot for example, withdraw amounts from your PRPP to participate in the HBP or LLP. For more information, see PRPP life events or visit the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada for information about pension unlocking.

PRPP life events

Although the legislation indicates that the funds within a PRPP are to be used for retirement purposes, the Income Tax Act does provide for certain situations where the funds are distributed prior to retirement age, and to someone other than the PRPP member..

Death of a PRPP member

When the member of a PRPP dies, where there is no successor member, we consider that all property held in the PRPP is deemed to have been distributed immediately before the date of death. The fair market value (FMV) of the assets held in the account less amounts distributed to qualifying survivors is included on the deceased member's final income tax and benefit return.

A beneficiary will not have to pay tax on any amount paid out of the deceased member’s account if it can reasonably be regarded as having been included in the deceased member’s income.

In the case of the death of a member who had a spouse or common‑law partner, named in the PRPP contract with his financial institution, the deceased member's spouse or common‑law partner becomes the successor member of the plan, taking over ownership and future direction of the PRPP account for the deceased. The successor member is then entitled to receive a lump-sum amount from the PRPP or can choose to transfer the amount directly, on a tax‑deferred basis, into another investment plan such as another PRPP, RRSP, SPP, RRIF or RPP. For more information, see PRPP transfers.

A qualifying survivor is the deceased member’s spouse or common-law partner or a financially dependent child or grandchild. In general, the amount received or deemed received in a year by the qualifying survivor from the deceased member’s PRPP account must be reported by the qualifying survivor on his or her income tax and benefit return filed for the year he or she receives the amount.

A surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased PRPP member do not need to report the part of the amount designated to his or her income tax and benefit return if the amount was directly transferred to a PRPP, an RPP, an RRSP, a RRIF, or directly purchase an eligible annuity.

If the financially-dependent child or grandchild has a physical or mental infirmity and is eligible for the disability tax credit, the lump sum amount from the deceased’s PRPP can be directly transferred or “rolled over” on a tax‑deferred basis, into an RDSP for an eligible individual. The child or grandchild can buy a qualifying annuity with the amount he or she receives and deduct the cost in his income tax and benefit return.

Breakdown of marriage or common‑law partnership

A spouse or common-law partner or former spouse or common‑law partner of a PRPP member who is entitled to the funds from the member’s PRPP account as a result of a breakdown of the marriage or common‑law partnership, may transfer the lump sum amount to:

• another registered plan, such as another PRPP, RRSP, SPP, RRIF or RPP of the individual; or
• purchase a qualifying annuity.

Related forms and publications

Guides

• RC4112 – Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) Includes Form RC96
• RC4137 – Pension Adjustment Reversal Guide
• RC4460 – Registered Disability Savings Plan
• T4084 – Pension Adjustment Guide
• T4104 – Past Service Pension Adjustment Guide

Information sheets

• RC4092 – Registered Education Savings Plans
• RC4177– Death of an RRSP Annuitant or a PRPP Member
• RC4178 – Death of a RRIF Annuitant

Forms

• NRTA1 – Authorization for Non-Resident Tax Exemption
• RC96 – Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) Request to Withdraw Funds from an RRSP
• RC249 – Post-Death Decline in the Value of a RRIF, an Unmatured RRSP and Post-Death Increase or Decline in the Value of a PRPP
• RC267 – Employee Contributions to a United States Retirement Plan for 2016 – Temporary Assignments
• RC268 – Employee Contributions to a United States Retirement Plan for 2016 – Cross-Border Commuters
• RC269 – Employee Contributions to a Foreign Pension Plan or Social Security Arrangement for 2016 – Non-United States Plans or Arrangements
• RC339 – Individual Return for Certain Taxes for RRSPs or RRIFs
• RC4625 – Rollover to a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Under Paragraph 60(m)
• T1-OVP – 2016 Individual Tax Return for RRSP, SPP and PRPP Excess Contributions
• T1-OVP-S – 2016 Simplified Individual Tax Return for RRSP, SPP and PRPP Excess Contributions
• T746 – Calculating Your Deduction for Refund of Unused RRSP, PRPP, and SPP Contributions
• T1004 – Applying for the Certification of a Provisional PSPA
• T1006 – Designating an RRSP Withdrawal as a Qualifying Withdrawal
• T1007 – Connected Person Information Return
• T1036 – Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) Request to Withdraw Funds from an RRSP
• T1043 – Deduction for Excess Registered Pension Plan Transfers You Withdrew from an RRSP or RRIF
• T1090 – Death of a RRIF Annuitant – Designated Benefit
• T1171 – Tax Withholding Waiver on Accumulated Income Payments from RESPs
• T1172 – Additional Tax on Accumulated Income Payments from RESPs
• T2019 – Death of an RRSP Annuitant – Refund of Premiums or Joint Designation on the Death of a PRPP Member
• T2030 – Direct Transfer Under Subparagraph 60(l)(v)
• T2033 – Direct Transfer under Subsection 146.3(14.1), 147.5(21), or 146(21), or Paragraph 146(16)(a) or 146.3(2)(e)
• T2078 – Election Under Subsection 147(10.1) in Respect of a Single Payment Received from a Deferred Profit-Sharing Plan
• T2151 – Direct Transfer of a Single Amount Under Subsection 147(19) or Section 147.3
• T2205 – Amounts from a Spousal or Common-law Partner RRSP, RRIF, or SPP to Include in Income
• T2220 – Transfer from an RRSP, RRIF, PRPP, or SPP to Another RRSP, RRIF, or SPP on Breakdown of Marriage or Common-law Partnership
• T3012A – Tax Deduction Waiver on the Refund of your Unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP Contributions from your RRSP

Interpretation bulletins and income tax folios

• IT-124 – Contributions to Registered Retirement Savings Plans
• IT-167 – Registered Pension Funds or Plans – Employee's Contributions
• IT-307 – Spousal or Common-Law Partner Registered Retirement Savings Plan
• IT-320 – Qualified Investments – Trusts Governed by Registered Retirement Savings Plans, Registered Education Savings Plans and Registered Retirement Income Funds
• IT-337 – Retiring Allowances
• IT-412 – Foreign Property of Registered Plans
• IT-499 – Superannuation or Pension Benefits
• IT-500 – Registered Retirement Savings Plans – Death of an Annuitant
• IT-528 – Transfers of Funds Between Registered Plans
• S5-F1-C1 – Determining an Individual's Residence Status

Information circulars

• IC00-1 – Voluntary Disclosure Program
• IC07-1 – Taxpayer Relief Provisions
• IC31-1 – Pooled Registered Pension Plans
• IC72-22 – Registered Retirement Savings Plans
• IC77-1 – Deferred Profit-Sharing Plans
• IC78-18 – Registered Retirement Income Funds
• IC93-3 – Registered Education Savings Plans

Online services

My Account

Using the CRA’s My Account service is a fast, easy, and secure way to access and manage your tax and benefit information online, seven days a week.

To register go to My Account for Individuals. You will need to complete two steps. You will be asked to enter some personal information and create a user ID and password or use a Sign‑in Partner. Be sure to have your current and previous year’s personal tax returns on hand when registering. After you complete step one, you will have instant access to some of your tax and benefit information. Step two includes the mailing of the CRA security code. We will mail it to the address we have on file for you. The separate mailing of the security code is a measure used to protect you from identity theft and to ensure the security of your personal information. You will have access to the full suite of services available in My Account once you enter your code.

An authorized representative can access most of these online services through Represent a Client.

MyCRA – Mobile app

Getting ready to file? Use MyCRA to:

• check your RRSP deduction limit;
• look up a local tax preparer; and
• see what tax filing software the CRA has certified.

Done filing? Use MyCRA to:

• check the status of your tax return; and
• view your notice of assessment.

Use MyCRA throughout the year to:

• view your personalized benefit and credit payment amounts;
• check your TFSA contribution room;
• update your contact details;
• manage your direct deposit and online mail information; and
• request your proof of income (option C).

To get more details on what you can do with MyCRA and to access the CRA’s web-based mobile app, go to Mobile apps.

Electronic payments

Make your payment using:

• your financial institution’s online or telephone banking services;
• the CRA’s My Payment service at My Payment—save time, pay online!; or
• pre-authorized debit at My Account.

For more information on all payment options, go to Make a payment to the Canada Revenue Agency.

For more information

What if you need help?

If you need more information after reading this guide, visit our website or call 1-800-959-8281.

Forms and publications

To get our forms and publications, go to Forms and Publications, or call 1-800-959-8281.

Electronic mailing lists

We can notify you by email when new information on a subject of interest to you is available on our website. To subscribe, go to Electronic mailing lists.

Tax Information Phone Service (TIPS)

For personal and general tax information by telephone, use our automated service, TIPS, by calling 1-800-267-6999.

Teletypewriter (TTY) users

If you have a hearing or speech impairment and use a TTY call 1-800-665-0354 during regular business hours.

Service complaints

You can expect to be treated fairly under clear and established rules, and get a high level of service each time you deal with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); see the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

If you are not satisfied with the service you received, try to resolve the matter with the CRA employee you have been dealing with or call the telephone number provided in the CRA’s correspondence. If you do not have contact information, go to Contact information.

If you still disagree with the way your concerns were addressed, you can ask to discuss the matter with the employee’s supervisor.

If you are still not satisfied, you can file a service complaint by filling out Form RC193, Service-Related Complaint. For more information, go to Make a service complaint.

If the CRA has not resolved your service-related complaint, you can submit a complaint with the Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsman.

Reprisal complaint

If you believe that you have experienced reprisal, fill out Form RC459, Reprisal Complaint.

For more information about reprisal complaints, go to Reprisal Complaints.

Tax information videos

We have a number of tax information videos for individuals on topics such as the income tax and benefit return, the Canadian tax system, and tax measures for persons with disabilities. To watch our videos, go Video gallery.

Due dates

When the due date falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a public holiday recognized by the CRA, we consider your payment to be on time if we receive it on the next business day. Your return is considered on time if we receive it or if it is postmarked on or before the next business day.

For more information, go to Important dates.

Cancel or waive penalties or interest

The CRA administers legislation, commonly called the taxpayer relief provisions, that gives the CRA discretion to cancel or waive penalties or interest when taxpayers are unable to meet their tax obligations due to circumstances beyond their control.

The CRA’s discretion to grant relief is limited to any period that ended within 10 calendar years before the year in which a request is made.

For penalties, the CRA will consider your request only if it relates to a tax year or fiscal period ending in any of the 10 calendar years before the year in which you make your request. For example, your request made in 2017 must relate to a penalty for a tax year or fiscal period ending in 2007 or later.

For interest on a balance owing for any tax year or fiscal period, the CRA will consider only the amounts that accrued during the 10 calendar years before the year in which you make your request. For example, your request made in 2017 must relate to interest that accrued in 2007 or later.

To make a request, fill out Form RC4288, Request for Taxpayer Relief – Cancel or Waive Penalties or Interest. For more information about relief from penalties or interest and how to submit your request, go to Taxpayer relief provisions.

Date modified:

2016-11-30