TFSA withdrawal rules made simple

The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) has become a highly popular savings vehicle since it first became available in 2009 –?almost 15 million Canadians?have opened one. Its appeal lies in its simplicity and flexibility:

• Any Canadian adult may deposit after-tax dollars up to their?allowable limit.
• Money in the account can be invested in a wide array of financial products.
• Investment returns are all tax free, whether they are capital gains, interest or dividends.
• There are no TFSA withdrawal taxes or TFSA penalties for withdrawals.

There are some TFSA withdrawal rules, but they are easy to follow.

Taking money from your?TFSA

TFSA withdrawal rules allow you to take money out of your TFSA at any time, without penalties or tax consequences. The only rule here is that you may have to wait before re-contributing the withdrawn amount.

While there is no TFSA withdrawal limit, any money you take out of your TFSA will be added back to your contribution limit, but only after the start of the following calendar year (unless you still have contribution room left over).

For example:

• Leah turned 18 in 2019 and has accumulated $24,000 in contribution space for her TFSA.
• She has contributed $20,000 and withdrew $6,000 in 2022.
• She may still contribute $4,000 in the same year, because she had not previously maxed out her $24,000 limit.
• She may?not?contribute the $6,000 she withdrew until January 1, 2023.

This makes the TFSA far more flexible that an RRSP, where withdrawals are permanently subtracted from your contribution limit.

Funding retirement with TFSA?withdrawals

Taking money out of a TFSA for a down payment on a home purchase is a popular option, as is using the TFSA to save for a specific near-term need, such as a wedding or car purchase.

TFSA withdrawal rules and their tax-free status also makes them a valuable option for retirement planning, because withdrawals have no impact on income-tested benefits, such as Old Age Security (OAS).

Over the long term, a diligent TFSA investor may be able to build enough retirement savings to delay withdrawals from their RRSP or supplement their government benefits after depleting their RRSP.

I can help you to maximize the benefits of a TFSA, depending on your unique circumstances. Make an appointment to discuss this with me today.