When can a divorced person use an RRSP under the

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My question is: Canadian-specific
QUESTION: My son and daughter in law are proceeding towards a divorce. =
They currently are joint owners of their first home. She intends to buy =
out his interest and my son wants to purchase a place of his own. Can he =
take funds from his RRSP, to cover the downpayment, without paying tax.
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david ingram replies:
The answer is no!
I have included the government's own words from the Home Buyer's Guide: =
Go to the section that defines a first time buyer
You can find the whole pamphlet at:  =
http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc4135/rc4135eq.html#P286_14687
      Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)
      RC4135(E) Rev. 01
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large print, or on audio cassette or computer diskette, by calling =
1-800-267-1267 weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
      La version fran=E7aise de cette publication est intitul=E9e =
R=E9gime d'accession =E0 la propri=E9t=E9 (RAP).
      This document is also available for download in other formats.
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      Table of Contents
        a.. Your opinion counts!=20
        b.. Before You Start=20
          a.. Is this guide for you?=20
          b.. What is the HBP?=20
          c.. Do you need more information?=20
          d.. Forms and Publications=20
          e.. Internet access=20
        c.. Glossary=20
        d.. Chapter 1 - Participating in the HBP=20
          a.. What is the HBP?=20
            a.. Can a withdrawal be made from any RRSP?=20
          b.. What are the conditions for participating in the HBP?=20
            a.. You have to enter into a written agreement to buy or =
build a qualifying home=20
            b.. You have to intend to occupy the qualifying home as your =
principal place of residence=20
            c.. You have to be considered a first-time home buyer=20
            d.. Your HBP balance on January 1 of the year of withdrawal =
has to be zero=20
            e.. Neither you nor your spouse or common-law partner can =
own the qualifying home more than 30 days before the withdrawal=20
            f.. You have to be a resident of Canada=20
            g.. You have to complete Form T1036=20
            h.. You have to receive all withdrawals in the same year=20
            i.. You cannot withdraw more than $20,000=20
            j.. You have to buy or build the qualifying home before =
October 1 of the year after the year of withdrawal=20
            k.. How do you make an HBP withdrawal?=20
            l.. You have to file a tax return=20
        e.. Chapter 2 - Repaying your withdrawals=20
          a.. How do you make your repayments?=20
          b.. What happens if you choose to begin your repayments =
earlier?=20
          c.. What happens if you repay more than the amount you have to =
repay?=20
          d.. What happens if you repay less than the amount you have to =
repay?=20
          e.. Situations where the repayments have to be made in less =
than 15 years=20
            a.. If the participant dies=20
            b.. If you become a non-resident=20
            c.. If you are 70 years of age or over=20
        f.. Chapter 3 - Other rules you should know=20
          a.. What happens if you do not meet all the HBP conditions?=20
            a.. Cancelling your participation=20
          b.. If you cannot participate in the year, can you participate =
in a later year?=20
          c.. Can you use funds withdrawn under the HBP for other =
purposes?=20
          d.. Can you participate in the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) at =
the same time?=20
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      Your opinion counts!
      We review our income tax guides and pamphlets each year. If you =
have any comments or suggestions to help us improve our publications, =
we'd like to hear from you!
      Please send your comments to:
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      Before You Start
      Is this guide for you?
      Use this guide if you want information about the rules that apply =
to the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP).
      What is the HBP?
      The HBP is a program that allows you to withdraw up to $20,000 =
from your registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) to buy or build a =
qualifying home. Withdrawals that meet all applicable HBP conditions do =
not have to be included in your income, and your RRSP issuer will not =
withhold tax on these amounts. If you buy the qualifying home together =
with your spouse or common-law partner, or other individuals, each of =
you can withdraw up to $20,000.
      Under the HBP, you have to repay all withdrawals to your RRSPs =
within a period of no more than 15 years. Generally, you will have to =
repay an amount to your RRSPs each year until you have repaid all the =
amount you withdrew. If you do not repay the amount due for a year, it =
will be included in your income for that year.
      Do you need more information?
      In this guide, we use plain language to explain the most common =
income tax situations. If you need more information after reading this =
guide, contact the General Enquiries section of your tax services =
office. You can find the address and telephone numbers in the government =
section of your telephone book. They are also available on our Web site =
under the heading "Contact us" at www.ccra.gc.ca.
      Forms and Publications
      Throughout the guide, we refer to other forms and publications. =
You can get these documents from any tax services office or tax centre, =
or by calling us toll free at 1-800-959-2221.
      Internet access
      You can find most of our publications at www.ccra.gc.ca on the =
Internet.
      Glossary
      This glossary gives you a general description of the technical =
terms that we use in this guide.
      Common-law partner - This refers to a person of the opposite or =
the same sex who is not your spouse (see the definition of spouse on the =
next page) when you live and have a relationship with that person. In =
addition, at least one of the following has to apply. He or she:
        a.. is the natural or adoptive parent (legal or in fact) of your =
child;=20
        b.. has been living and having a relationship with you for at =
least 12 continuous months; or=20
        c.. lived with you previously as your spouse for at least 12 =
continuous months.
      The above includes any period that you were separated for less =
than 90 days because of a breakdown in the relationship.
      Disabled person - For purposes of the HBP, a disabled person =
includes you or a person related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption, =
if you or the related person are entitled to the disability amount for =
the year of the HBP withdrawal. A related disabled person does not have =
to reside with you in the same home.
      We consider a person to be entitled to the disability amount if =
one of the following situations applies:
        a.. the person was entitled to the disability amount on line 316 =
of the person's return for the year before the HBP withdrawal, and still =
meets the eligibility requirements for the disability amount when the =
HBP withdrawal is made; or=20
        b.. if the person was not entitled to the disability amount for =
any year before the HBP withdrawal, a Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit =
Certificate, that a medical doctor or appropriate medical practitioner =
(i.e., an optometrist, audiologist, psychologist, or occupational =
therapist) has certified, is filed for the person for the year of the =
HBP withdrawal. If Form T2201 is not approved, your withdrawals will not =
be considered eligible withdrawals under the HBP and they will have to =
be included in income for the year.
      If all other eligibility requirements are met, we consider a =
person to be entitled to the disability amount even if costs for an =
attendant or for care in a nursing home were claimed as a medical =
expense by or on behalf of that person.
      Eligible withdrawal - This is an amount you withdraw from your =
RRSP that meets all HBP conditions that apply to your situation.
      HBP balance - When you withdraw funds from your RRSPs under the =
HBP, you create an HBP balance. Your HBP balance at any time is the =
total of all eligible withdrawals you made from your RRSPs minus the =
total of all amounts you designated as an HBP repayment and the amounts =
included in your income (because they were not repaid to your RRSPs), in =
previous years.
      Participant - You are considered an HBP participant if:
        a.. you make an eligible withdrawal from your RRSP to buy or =
build a qualifying home for yourself;=20
        b.. for 1999 and future years, you make an eligible withdrawal =
from your RRSP under the HBP to buy or build a qualifying home for a =
related disabled person or to help such a person buy or build a =
qualifying home; or=20
        c.. you are the spouse or common-law partner of a deceased HBP =
participant and you elected to continue making the repayments for the =
deceased participant.
      Participation period - Your HBP participation period starts on =
January 1 of the year you receive an eligible withdrawal from your RRSP =
and ends in the year your HBP balance is zero.
      Qualifying home - A qualifying home is a housing unit located in =
Canada. This includes existing homes and those being constructed. =
Single-family homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, mobile homes, =
condominium units, and apartments in duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, or =
apartment buildings, all qualify. A share in a co-operative housing =
corporation that entitles you to possess, and gives you an equity =
interest in, a housing unit located in Canada also qualifies. However, a =
share that only provides you with a right to tenancy in the housing unit =
does not qualify.
      RRSP deduction limit - This refers to the maximum amount you can =
deduct for contributions you made to your RRSP or to your spouse's or =
common-law partner's RRSP.
      Spouse - You have a spouse when you are legally married. You still =
have a spouse if you are living apart for reasons other than a breakdown =
of your relationship.
      Chapter 1 - Participating in the HBP
      What is the HBP?
      The HBP is a program that allows you to withdraw up to $20,000 =
from your registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) to buy or build a =
qualifying home. The home can be for yourself or it can be for a related =
disabled person if one or both of the following applies:
        a.. it is more accessible to that person than his or her current =
home; or=20
        b.. it is better suited to that person's needs.
      You can acquire the home for the disabled person, or you can =
provide the withdrawn funds to the disabled person to acquire the home.
      You do not have to include eligible withdrawals in your income, =
and your RRSP issuer will not withhold tax on these amounts. You can =
withdraw a single amount or make a series of withdrawals throughout the =
same year, provided the total of your withdrawals is not more than =
$20,000. If you buy the qualifying home together with your spouse or =
common-law partner, or other individuals, each of you can withdraw up to =
$20,000.
      You have to repay all withdrawals to your RRSPs within a period of =
no more than 15 years. Generally, you will have to repay an amount to =
your RRSPs each year until you have repaid all the amount you withdrew. =
If you do not repay the amount due for a year, it will be included in =
your income for that year.
      Can a withdrawal be made from any RRSP?
      You can only withdraw funds from an RRSP under which you (the =
participant) are the annuitant. If your spouse or common-law partner =
contributed to your RRSP, you are the annuitant of the RRSP, even if =
your spouse or common-law partner deducted the contributions from =
taxable income. If you contributed to your spouse's or common-law =
partner's RRSP, that individual is the annuitant of the RRSP, even if =
you have deducted the contributions from your income.
      Some RRSPs, such as locked-in or group RRSPs, do not allow you to =
withdraw funds from them. Your RRSP issuer can give you more information =
about the types of RRSPs that you have and whether or not withdrawals =
under the HBP can be made from them.
        Note
        If you withdraw an amount from an RRSP to which you made a =
contribution during the 89-day period just before your withdrawal, you =
might not be able to deduct the contribution you made. For more =
information, see "How do you make an HBP withdrawal?".
      What are the conditions for participating in the HBP?
      A number of conditions have to be met to participate in the HBP. =
While some conditions have to be met before you can withdraw funds from =
your RRSPs, others apply when or after you receive the funds.
      If you participate in the HBP, you have to meet all the HBP =
conditions yourself. However, depending on your situation, some =
conditions may have to be met by another person. For example, if you =
withdraw funds from your RRSPs to help a related disabled person buy or =
build a qualifying home, some conditions have to be met by that person.
      Regardless of the situation, you are responsible for making sure =
that all HBP conditions are met. If at any time during your =
participation period a condition is not met, your withdrawal will not be =
considered an eligible withdrawal and it will have to be included in =
income for the year you received it.
      The following chart lists all the HBP conditions and who has to =
meet them in different situations. We explain each condition in greater =
detail in the pages that follow the chart.
                  Conditions for participating in the HBP
                =20
                  Situation 1 - You buy or build a qualifying home for =
yourself.
                  Situation 2 - You, a disabled person, buy or build a =
qualifying home for yourself.
                  Situation 3 - You buy or build a qualifying home for a =
related disabled person.
                  Situation 4 - You help a related disabled person buy =
or build a qualifying home.
                =20
                  Situation
                 1
                 2
                 3
                 4
                =20
                  Person responsible for meeting the HBP conditions
                =20
                  You
                =20
                  You
                =20
                  You
                 Related
                  disabled
                  person
                =20
                  You
                 Related
                  disabled
                  person
                =20
                  Conditions you have to meet before applying to =
withdraw funds under the HBP
                =20
                  You have to enter into a written agreement to buy or =
build a qualifying home.
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  You have to intend to occupy the qualifying home as =
your principal place of residence.
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  You have to be considered a first-time home buyer.
                 4=20
                 N/A
                 N/A
                 N/A
                 N/A
                 N/A
                =20
                  Your HBP balance on January 1 of the year of =
withdrawal has to be zero.
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  Conditions you have to meet when a withdrawal is made
                =20
                  Neither you nor your spouse or common-law partner can =
own the qualifying home more than 30 days before a withdrawal is made.
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  You have to be a resident of Canada.
                 4
                 4
                 4
                 N/A
                 4
                 N/A
                =20
                  You have to complete Form T1036.
                 4
                 4
                 4
                 N/A
                 4
                 N/A
                =20
                  You have to receive all withdrawals in the same year.
                 4
                 4
                 4
                 N/A
                 4
                 N/A
                =20
                  You cannot withdraw more than $20,000.
                 4
                 4
                 4
                 N/A
                 4
                 N/A
                =20
                  Condition you have to meet after all your withdrawals =
have been made
                =20
                  You have to buy or build the qualifying home before=20
                  October 1 of the year after the year of withdrawal.
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  4
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  N/A
                =20
                  4
                =20
          =20
      You have to enter into a written agreement to buy or build a =
qualifying home
      To withdraw funds from your RRSPs under the HBP, you must first =
have entered into a written agreement to buy or build a qualifying home. =
Obtaining a preapproved mortgage does not satisfy this condition.
        Note
        If you are withdrawing funds from your RRSPs to help a related =
disabled person to buy or build a qualifying home, that person must meet =
this condition.
      When you withdraw funds from your RRSPs under the HBP, you have to =
intend to occupy the qualifying home as your principal place of =
residence no later than one year after buying or building it. Once you =
occupy the home, there is no minimum period of time that you have to =
live there.
      In some cases, you may not occupy the qualifying home by the end =
of the 12-month period after you bought or built it. If this happens to =
you, we still consider you a participant in the HBP because you intended =
to occupy the home as your principal place of residence no later than =
one year after buying or building it.
        Note
        If you are withdrawing funds from your RRSPs to buy or build a =
qualifying home for a related disabled person or to help a related =
disabled person to buy or build a qualifying home, that person must meet =
this condition.
      You have to be considered a first-time home buyer
      Generally, before you can withdraw funds from your RRSPs to buy or =
build a qualifying home, you have to meet the first-time home buyer's =
condition.
      You are not considered a first-time home buyer if, at any time =
during the period beginning January 1 of the fourth year before the year =
of withdrawal and ending 31 days before your withdrawal, you or your =
spouse or common-law partner owned a home that you occupied as your =
principal place of residence.
        Example 1
        You want to participate in the HBP in 2002. To be considered a =
first-time home buyer, you or your spouse or common-law partner cannot =
have owned and occupied a home as your principal place of residence at =
any time during the period beginning January 1, 1998, and ending 31 days =
before your withdrawal in 2002.
      In this section, the word "home" has the same meaning as the term =
"qualifying home".
        Note
        You must meet the first-time home buyer's condition at the time =
you withdraw an amount from your RRSPs under the HBP. If you are not =
considered a first-time home buyer when you withdraw an amount, that =
amount will have to be included in your income.
      To determine if you are considered a first-time home buyer, =
complete the following questionnaire:
              Are you considered a first-time home buyer?
            Question 1 - Did you, at any time during the period =
beginning January 1 of the fourth year before the year of withdrawal and =
ending 31 days before the withdrawal, own a home that you occupied as =
your principal place of residence?
                  Yes
                 [__]  You are not considered a first-time home buyer.
                =20
                  No
                 [__]  Go to question 2.
                =20
            Question 2 - Do you have a spouse or common-law partner?
                  Yes
                 [__]  Go to question 3.
                =20
                  No
                 [__]  You are considered a first-time home buyer.
                =20
            Question 3 - Did your spouse or common-law partner have an =
owner-occupied home, at any time during the period beginning January 1 =
of the fourth year before the year of withdrawal and ending 31 days =
before the withdrawal, that you occupied with that individual while you =
were living together as spouses or common-law partners?
                  Yes
                 [__]  You are not considered a first-time home buyer.
                =20
                  No
                 [__]  You are considered a first-time home buyer.
                =20
            If you cannot participate in the HBP in a year because you =
do not meet this condition, see the section called "If you cannot =
participate in the year, can you participate in a later year?".
          =20
      If at the time of withdrawal you have a spouse or common-law =
partner, it is possible that only one of you will be considered a =
first-time home buyer.
      Exception to the first-time home buyer's condition -You do not =
have to meet the first-time home buyer condition to participate in the =
HBP if any of the following situations applies to you:
        a.. you are a disabled person and you withdraw funds from your =
RRSPs under the HBP to acquire a home that is more accessible, or better =
suited to your needs;=20
        b.. you withdraw funds from your RRSPs under the HBP to acquire =
a home for a disabled person related to you by blood, marriage, or =
adoption, that is more accessible to, or better suited to the needs of, =
that person; or=20
        c.. you withdraw funds from your RRSPs under the HBP and give =
those funds to a disabled person related to you by blood, marriage, or =
adoption, to acquire a home that is more accessible to, or better suited =
to the needs of, that person.
    =20
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