Income Splitting for Couples: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet
One of the best ways Canadian couples can cut their tax bill in retirement is through income splitting. The idea is simple: move taxable income from the higher earner to the lower earner so that you pay less as a household.
But not all income qualifies, and the rules depend on your age and the type of account. In this post, we’ll focus on helping you clear it up and help you create a more tax-efficient family household.
How Income Splitting Works
You and your spouse file a joint election (Form T1032) each year to split up to 50% of eligible pension income. On top of that, many of these income sources qualify for the Pension Income Tax Credit, which gives retirees up to $2,000 of eligible pension income each year completely tax-free.
Both spouses are eligible for this, and the CRA automatically applies this credit when you file your taxes, saving your household hundreds of dollars in taxes every year.
What Income Counts (and when)…
| Income Source | Able to Split? | Age Requirement | Pension Credit Eligible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defined Benefit (DB) Pension | Yes | Any age | Yes |
| RRIF Withdrawals | Yes | 65+ | Yes |
| RRSP Withdrawals | No | N/A | No |
| Old Age Security (OAS) | No | N/A | No |
| Canada Pension Plan (CPP) | Yes (via Service Canada) | 60+ | No |
| Corp. Dividends | Yes (subject to TOSI) | 65+ (spouse) | No |
Summary of Rules by Age
- Under 65: Only DB pension income is eligible for tax-return splitting (and the credit). CPP can still be shared if you apply through Service Canada.
- 65 and older: RRIF withdrawals, RRSP annuities, and some foreign pensions become eligible. This is also when the $2,000 pension income credit expands to cover more types of income.
- Business owners at 65+: Dividends to a spouse can qualify, but they don’t qualify for the pension credit.
Case Study: Meet John and Linda
- John (68): Earns $76,000 (DB Pension, RRIF, CPP).
- Linda (66): Earns $24,000 (RRIF, CPP, Part-time).
Before Splitting: John pays tax on $76k; Linda pays tax on $24k. Household tax bill is approx. $21,500.
After Splitting:
1. John splits 50% of his DB pension ($25,000) with Linda.
2. John splits 50% of his RRIF withdrawals ($6,000) with Linda.
3. They share CPP equally.
The Result: John reports ~$45,000. Linda reports ~$55,000. The household tax bill drops to ~$19,450.
Total Savings: Roughly $2,050 per year.
Bottom Line
Income splitting isn’t just a tax trick, it’s a smart way to balance retirement income between spouses, protect government benefits, and take advantage of valuable credits. The key is knowing which income streams qualify and timing things like your RRSP-to-RRIF conversion at the right moment.