Got an RSP and Turning 71?

If you have been accumulating wealth in a Registered Savings Plan and are turning 71 this year or next, you should be aware of the decisions you have to make.  The Income Tax Act says that you have to terminate your RSP’s by December 31^st in the year you turn age 71.  In doing so, you basically have three options:

1.  You can withdraw all the funds in your RSP in one lump sum.  Unless you have a negligible amount in your registered plan this is not a good option.
2. You can transfer the balance of your Registered Savings Plan into a Retirement Income Fund (RIF).  This is a simple process involving the transfer of the assets. You can keep the same investments you had before the transfer and nothing really changes except for the fact you will now be drawing income from the RIF, but the remaining funds will continue to accumulate tax-deferred.
3. You can use all or part of your RSP funds to purchase a life or term certain to age 90 annuity.  Partial use would give you a combination of a RIF and an annuity providing your retirement income.

There are also three factors that should be taken into consideration in the year you turn 71:

1. You can make one last final contribution in your 71^st year based on your RSP contribution limit.  The important factor is that, unlike in other years where you have until March 1^st of the following year to make this contribution it must be made by December 31^st in the year you turn 71.
2. If you have a younger spouse and you are still earning income you can still contribute to his or her RSP to the extent of your unused contribution room.  You are able to do so until your spouse turns 71.
3. If you have unused contribution room that you have carried forward from previous years, this amount can be contributed in your last year as well. Again, you will only have until December 31^st to make that contribution or it will be lost forever.

If you have any questions with respect to your RSP planning or the switch from accumulation to income, please call me, or use the social sharing buttons below to share this article with a friend or family member you think might benefit from this information.