Canadian retirement rules, in plain language.
Guides for the decisions that change a plan, and a short record when an official number actually changes.
Watched from official sources. Reviewed before publishing.
Start here
- Can I Retire?A savings balance on its own cannot answer the date. Income, tax, and the years before benefits start can.
- How Much Do I Need to Retire in Canada?There is no single Canadian retirement number. Spending, pensions, and account type change the gap savings have to cover.
- CPP at 60, 65, or 70Starting at 60 is 36% lower than at 65. Waiting until 70 is 42% higher. The rest of the plan decides which one fits.
Changes
No rule change is waiting on a plan. The guides on this page are current for the 2026 tax year.
Guides
- TFSA vs RRSPThe same contribution can leave a different after-tax result once the refund and the withdrawal tax are both counted.
- OAS Recovery TaxFor 2026 the recovery tax starts at $95,323 of net income and takes 15% of each dollar above that, up to the OAS you receive.
- RRSP Contribution RoomNew room is 18% of last year's earned income, capped at $33,810, plus room you have not used.
- Coast FIRE in CanadaInvestments already saved might grow to a later target, so new savings are no longer the piece that gets you there. Canadian benefits and tax change that target.
- CPP and OAS BreakevenCPP at 60 is 36% lower than at 65. CPP at 70 is 42% higher, and OAS at 70 is 36% higher.
How this is written
Official Government of Canada and Canada Revenue Agency pages are checked on a schedule. A change in the page text opens a review with the source quoted. A person publishes the note. Nothing here is posted automatically.
The pages are educational. They are not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Figures on this page were reviewed 21 Oct 2026.
See what these rules do to your dates.
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