Home Buyer's Plan - spousal RRSP account withdrawals -Fred Snyder -

Canadian-specific

QUESTION:

My wife quit drawing a pay cheque a few years ago to raise our two children. Because I will have an indexed pension when I retire (in about 20 years), I have been making bi-weekly contributions to a spousal RRSP (mutual funds) in my wife’s name.
We currently have a mortgage on our house that is a very good rate however the term will expire in 2 years. In light of the poor performance, of late, of our RRSP mutual funds and the probability of having to renew our mortgage at a much higher rate in two years, we are considering withdrawing some of my wife’s RRSPs to pay down our mortgage. 

My wife has some RRSPs that she purchased a few years ago when she working as well as the ones I have purchased in her name as spousal.

I have recently been transferred with work and we sold our home and purchased a new house in a different town. We are porting our mortgage to the new house. In the past we have both used the first time home buyers plan (to withdraw RRSPs for down payments), myself 17 years ago to buy my first house and my wife, 5 years ago to buy our first house. Do you know if this plan is still available and could we use it in our situation to reduce our mortgage?

If this is not the case, are we able to withdraw RRSPs in my wife’s name in the same year that I am making spousal RRSP contributions? What would be the optimum amount of withdrawal (with the least amount of tax) per year given, that she currently has little personal income. What would the tax hold back be on her withdrawal and does it change depending on her situation?

Please let me know what you think and where I might look to find out more information on this.

Your help is greatly appreciated

Sincerely,

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david ingram replies:


To qualify for a first time Home Buyers withdrawal from an RRSP,  you can NOT have owned a house you lived in for five years before the withdrawal.  Obviously, that  does not work for you.

Any Spousal RRSP withdrawals within 3 years of the date of deposit are taxed to the spouse who contributed the money (you) at 'your' highest marginal tax rate.

Your wife could take up to $35,000 out of her own RRSP at a tax rate of 23%. The withholding would be different but when the tax return is done at the end of the year, her tax rate would be about 23%.

Of course, if she just took out about $9,000, she woul dnot pay any tax and would get a refund any tax (uusally 10% on amounts of $5,000 and less) withheld but you would then lose her as an exemption at the same 23%.
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Disclaimer:  This question has been answered without detailed information or consultation and is to be regarded only as general comment.   Nothing in this message is or should be construed as advice in any particular circumstances. No contract exists between the reader and the author and any and all non-contractual duties are expressly denied. All readers should obtain formal advice from a competent and appropriately qualified legal practitioner or tax specialist for expert help, assistance, preparation, or consultation  in connection with personal or business affairs such as at www.centa.com. If you forward this message, this disclaimer must be included." expert  US Canada Canadian American  Mexican Income Tax help.
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This is not intended to be definitive but in general I am quoting $800 to $2,800 for a dual country tax return.
 
$800 would be one T4 slip one W2 slip one or two interest slips and you lived in one country only - no self employment or rentals or capital gains - you did not move into or out of the country in this year.
 
$1,000 would be the same with one rental
 
$1,200 would be the same with one business no rental
 
$1,200 would be the minimum with a move in or out of the country. These are complicated because of the back and forth foreign tax credits. - The IRS says a foreign tax credit takes 1 hour and 53 minutes.
 
$1,500 would be the minimum with a rental or two in the country you do not live in or a rental and a business and foreign tax credits  no move in or out

$1,600 would be for two people with income from two countries

$2,800 would be all of the above and you moved in and out of the country.
 
This is just a guideline for US / Canadian returns
 
We will still prepare Canadian only (lives in Canada, no US connection period) with two or three slips and no capital gains, etc. for $150.00 up.
 
With a Rental for $350
 
A Business for $350 - Rental and business likely $450
And an American only (lives in the US with no Canadian income or filing period) with about the same things in the same range with a little bit more if there is a state return.
 
Moving in or out of the country or part year earnings in the US will ALWAYS be $800 and up.
 
TDF 90-22.1 forms are $50 for the first and $25.00 each after that when part of a tax return.
 
8891 forms are generally $50.00 to $100.00 each.
 
18 RRSPs would be $900.00 - (maybe amalgamate a couple)
 
Capital gains *sales)  are likely $50.00 for the first and $20.00 each after that.
 
Just a guideline not etched in stone. 
 
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