Tax on a $15,000 RRSP Withdrawal (2026)
Withdraw $15,000 from your RRSP in 2026 and CRA withholds $3,000 immediately (20%) — or $3,600 (24%) if you're in Quebec. Your final tax bill depends on your marginal rate (other income + province).
Withheld at source (outside Quebec)
$3,000
20% of $15,000 — you receive $12,000 cash
Withheld at source (Quebec)
$3,600
24% combined fed + QC — you receive $11,400 cash
CRA Withholding Tiers (why 20%?)
| Withdrawal amount | Outside Quebec | Quebec (fed + prov) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $5,000 | 10% | 19% (5% + 14%) |
| $5,001 – $15,000 | 20% | 24% (10% + 14%) |
| Over $15,000 | 30% | 29% (15% + 14%) |
Source: CRA S3-F10-C3 and Regulation 103. Withholding is a prepayment — your final tax is your marginal rate, reconciled on your T1.
Per-Province Final Tax (if RRSP is your only income for 2026)
Pure withdrawal scenario — e.g. retiree with no employment or CPP/OAS yet. Assumes 2026 basic personal amount (BPA) shelters the first ~$16,129 federally.
| Province | Withheld | Actual tax | Effective rate | Refund / (Owing) | Net in hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $3,000 | $102 | 1.0% | $2,898.44 | $14,898 |
| British Columbia | $3,000 | $100 | 1.0% | $2,900.10 | $14,900 |
| Alberta | $3,000 | $0 | 0.0% | $3,000.00 | $15,000 |
| Quebec | $3,600 | $0 | 0.0% | $3,600.00 | $15,000 |
| Manitoba | $3,000 | $0 | 0.0% | $3,000.00 | $15,000 |
| Saskatchewan | $3,000 | $0 | 0.0% | $3,000.00 | $15,000 |
| Nova Scotia | $3,000 | $270 | 2.0% | $2,730.32 | $14,730 |
| New Brunswick | $3,000 | $126 | 1.0% | $2,874.42 | $14,874 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $3,000 | $332 | 2.0% | $2,668.36 | $14,668 |
| Prince Edward Island | $3,000 | $0 | 0.0% | $3,000.00 | $15,000 |
| Northwest Territories | $3,000 | $0 | 0.0% | $3,000.00 | $15,000 |
| Yukon | $3,000 | $0 | 0.0% | $3,000.00 | $15,000 |
| Nunavut | $3,000 | $0 | 0.0% | $3,000.00 | $15,000 |
With Other Income (Ontario 2026)
What a $15,000 withdrawal actually costs when stacked on top of your existing income. Effective rate rises as your marginal rate climbs.
Other income: $0
$102
1.0% effective
Withheld $3,000 → refund $2,898
Other income: $30,000
$2,858
19.0% effective
Withheld $3,000 → refund $143
Other income: $60,000
$4,448
30.0% effective
Withheld $3,000 → owe $1,448
Other income: $100,000
$4,593
31.0% effective
Withheld $3,000 → owe $1,593
Run the numbers with your exact province, other income, and year: Open RRSP Withdrawal Tax Calculator →
Tax on Other RRSP Withdrawal Amounts
RRSP Withdrawal Tax by Province
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do you pay on a $15,000 RRSP withdrawal?
CRA withholds $3,000 at source outside Quebec (20%), or $3,600 (24%) in Quebec. At filing you settle up at your marginal rate. With no other income in Ontario 2026, actual tax is $102 (1.0% effective).
How much is withheld on a $15,000 RRSP withdrawal?
CRA withholds $3,000 (20%) outside Quebec or $3,600 (24%) combined federal + provincial in Quebec. Tiers: 10%/20%/30% on ≤$5k / $5,001–$15k / $15k+ (doubled to 19%/24%/29% in Quebec).
Is a $15,000 RRSP withdrawal taxable income?
Yes — fully added to your taxable income for the year and taxed at your combined federal + provincial marginal rate. The 20% withholding is a deposit, not the final bill.
Does splitting a $15,000 withdrawal reduce tax?
Splitting $15,000 into several ≤$5,000 withdrawals drops each withholding to 10% (19% in Quebec) — but final tax at filing is identical regardless of splits. Only your cash flow before filing changes. Note: CRA can apply higher withholding if withdrawals are clearly coordinated to game the tiers.