Tax on a $20,000 RRSP Withdrawal in Ontario (2026)
What you get in hand, what you owe or get back at filing, and how 2026 federal and Ontario tax on the withdrawal changes with the rest of your income.
Withheld by your bank
$6,000
30% of $20,000
Cash you receive
$14,000
on the day of the withdrawal
Final 2026 tax on it
$605–$7,082
depends on your other income (table below)
If the withdrawal is your only income this year, the tax is $605 (3.0%) and you get $5,395 of the withholding back when you file. Put in your own income in the RRSP withdrawal tax calculator, prefilled with this withdrawal.
$20,000 on top of your other income
The whole withdrawal is added to your taxable income, so the more you already earn, the higher the rate it is taxed at. Other income means employment, pension, CPP, OAS or anything else taxable in 2026.
| Other income | Tax on withdrawal | Effective | Marginal | At filing | You keep | Half next year | OAS clawback* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $605 | 3.0% | 24.1% | +$5,395 | $19,395 | saves $605 | — |
| $20,000 | $4,506 | 22.5% | 19.1% | +$1,494 | $15,494 | costs $396 | — |
| $40,000 | $4,306 | 21.5% | 29.6% | +$1,694 | $15,694 | saves $196 | — |
| $60,000 | $6,080 | 30.4% | 29.6% | −$80 | $13,920 | saves $150 | — |
| $80,000 | $6,023 | 30.1% | 31.5% | −$23 | $13,977 | saves $93 | $702 |
| $100,000 | $7,082 | 35.4% | 43.4% | −$1,082 | $12,918 | saves $679 | $3,000 |
"At filing" is the withheld $6,000 minus the real tax: + is a refund, − is a balance owing. "Half next year" compares taking $10,000 this year and $10,000 next year, with the same other income both years. *If you're 65 or older and your other income includes OAS, the withdrawal also triggers this much OAS recovery tax. Tax includes the Ontario Health Premium.
Need exactly $20,000 in your account?
Withdraw $28,571. The bank withholds $8,571 (30%) and you receive $20,000. The whole $28,571 counts as income, so the tax at filing is on that, not on $20,000.
Decisions that change the bill
- Several smaller withdrawals: 4 withdrawals of $5,000 are each withheld at the lowest rate, $2,000 in total instead of $6,000. That only changes cash now: the final tax is the same, so you pay the difference when you file. Institutions can apply the higher rate when the withdrawals are made together.
- Splitting across two tax years: the biggest saving here is $679, at $100,000 of other income. A December and a January withdrawal land in different tax years.
- If you're 65+ and get the GIS: a single senior whose only other income is OAS ($9,000 a year) would pay $1,144 of tax on this withdrawal and lose $12,111 of GIS over the next July-to-June benefit year, because the GIS is based on last year's income and RRSP withdrawals count. Together that is 66% of the withdrawal. TFSA withdrawals don't affect the GIS. See OAS and GIS payment amounts.
- Buying a first home or going back to school: withdrawals under the Home Buyers' Plan or the Lifelong Learning Plan are not taxed if you repay them on schedule.
- A spousal RRSP: if your spouse contributed in this year or the two years before, the withdrawal is taxed in their hands instead. See the spousal RRSP calculator.
$20,000 in other provinces
Tax on the withdrawal with no other income, and with $60,000.
| Province | Only income | +$60,000 |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $497 | $5,640 |
| Alberta | $497 | $6,076 |
| Ontario | $605 | $6,080 |
| Manitoba | $952 | $6,650 |
| Quebec | $561 | $7,224 |
How this is worked out
- Withholding: one withdrawal of $20,000 falls in the highest tier, 10% up to $5,000, 20% up to $15,000, 30% over $15,000.
- Tax: 2026 federal and Ontario brackets and basic personal amounts, single filer, on the withdrawal added to the other income shown.
- Age amount: the table is for any age and leaves it out. The 65+ GIS case above includes the federal and provincial age amounts. RRSP withdrawals do not qualify for the pension income credit.
- OAS clawback: 15% of net income above $95,323 in 2026, until the OAS is fully repaid at $155,320 (ages 65 to 74).
- GIS: a single senior with the full OAS ($762.50 a month at 65 to 74) and this quarter's GIS, up to $1,138.90 a month and nothing once other income reaches $23,112.