Registered savings plans and your estate

How to avoid a tax surprise from your RRSP or RRIF.   

Most Canadians are familiar with the tax advantages of using registered savings plans to save for retirement. Contributions to Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) are tax-deductible, and any growth or income earned on the underlying investments inside an RRSP or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) is not taxed until withdrawn. But what happens when an RRSP or RRIF owner passes away? To help provide some clarity, we’ve compiled a list of answers to some frequently asked questions. 

Why am I receiving a T4RSP or T4RIF?[1]

Under Canadian income tax laws, an individual is deemed to have sold or cashed in their assets for their fair market value at the time of death, including RRSPs and RRIFs. This means a T4RSP or T4RIF slip will be issued indicating the fair market value of the RRSP or RRIF at death. 

It is the responsibility of the estate, and ultimately the estate beneficiaries, to pay income taxes on RRSP or RRIF assets even though those assets may have been paid directly to a beneficiary named on the plan. It is also important to note that for Canadian residents, no taxes are withheld on amounts paid out of an RRSP or RRIF due to death.

What are the income tax implications? 

The value of the RRSP or RRIF, as indicated on the T4RSP or T4RIF slip, must be included in the owner’s income for the year of death. This amount is fully taxable as regular income. 

How can the income tax bill be reduced? 

If the RRSP or RRIF is left to a qualifying beneficiary (named directly on the plan or will), it is possible for the value of the RRSP or RRIF at death to be taxable to the qualifying beneficiary and not the estate.

Who is a qualifying beneficiary? 

1. Spouse or common-law partner[2]

The assets of an RRSP or RRIF can be transferred directly to a spouse or common-law partner’s RRSP or RRIF as a tax-free rollover. If the surviving spouse or partner is under age 71, the assets can be transferred to their RRSP. If the surviving spouse or partner is age 71 or older, the assets can be transferred to their RRIF or eligible annuity. 

The surviving spouse or common-law partner will report the value of the deceased’s RRSP or RRIF on their tax return for the year and will receive an offsetting deduction for the transfer. They will be taxed on any withdrawals made in the future. The actual transfer of the RRSP or RRIF must take place in the year the survivor receives the deceased's RRSP or RRIF, or within the first 60 days of the next year. If the transfer does not take place during the required time frame, the full value of the RRSP or RRIF can still be included on the surviving spouse or partner’s tax return, but no offsetting tax deduction will be allowed. 

In the case of a RRIF, the surviving spouse or common law partner may be named a successor annuitant in the plan or the will. This means that they will simply receive the same periodic payments the deceased received from the RRIF. No special taxation issues arise on death when a successor annuitant is named; instead, the successor is taxed on the payments received each year. 

2. Financially dependent infirm child or grandchild If an RRSP or RRIF is left to a child or grandchild who was financially dependent on the deceased by reason of mental or physical infirmity, the value of the RRSP or RRIF is usually not taxed in the hands of the deceased. In this situation, the child or grandchild can transfer the assets into their own RRSP or RRIF, or purchase a life annuity.[3] The transfer must take place in the year the RRSP or RRIF is received, or within the first 60 days of the next year, and the dependent child or grandchild will be taxed only on future income or withdrawals. 

An infirm child or grandchild is considered financially dependent on the deceased if his or her income in the previous year was less than the basic personal amount plus the disability amount for that previous year. If the child’s or grandchild’s income is above this amount, he or she may still qualify as financially dependent, but only if the financial dependency can be demonstrated based on the particular situation. 

3. Financially dependent minor child or grandchild If an RRSP or RRIF is left to a minor child or grandchild who was financially dependent on the deceased, the value of the RRSP or RRIF is usually not taxed in the hands of the deceased. Instead, the minor child or grandchild can use the RRSP or RRIF to purchase a term certain annuity. The maximum term for the annuity is a period equal to 18 years minus the age of the child at the time of purchase. Depending on the age of the child, this may defer tax only for a short time. However, since a minor most likely has few or no other sources of income, this may allow the income to be taxed at a lower tax rate than it would have been on the deceased’s final tax return. 

What happens if an adult child is named as beneficiary?

If an RRSP or RRIF is left to an adult child who is not mentally or physically infirm, there is no tax deferral available. The amount will be fully taxable on the final tax return of the deceased and will be passed directly to the adult child named as beneficiary.  

What happens if the estate of the deceased is named as beneficiary? 

If the estate is named as beneficiary of the RRSP or RRIF, generally the fair market value of the RRSP or RRIF is included as income on the deceased’s final tax return. However, if an amount is paid from an RRSP or RRIF to the estate and a qualifying beneficiary is named in the will, the legal representative of the estate and the beneficiary may file a joint election to treat the RRSP or RRIF proceeds as being paid directly to the beneficiary, in which case the same potential tax planning opportunities to the deceased's estate will be available. 

Speak with your advisor 

The tax rules when a person passes away can be complicated, and your advisor is the best person to talk to. He or she can refer you to a tax or legal specialist, depending on your specific situation. 

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