Home Buyers' Plan - Smith, Sykes, Leeper & Tunstall LLP

Withdrawal

You (and your spouse) can “borrow” up to $35,000 from your RRSP to use toward the purchase of a home
To qualify, you or your spouse must not have owned a home during the last five years
You must file form T1036 (signed by your financial institution)
You are given until October 1 of the year following the RRSP withdrawal to purchase a home
If you fail to purchase a home by the October 1 deadline, you can return your funds to the RRSP by December 31 of that year without penalty
You cannot withdraw money from an RRSP that has been contributed within 90 days, otherwise it will be taxed to you

The money you borrow must be repaid in annual instalments over a 15-year period or sooner
Each year the Canada Revenue Agency will send you a Home Buyers’ Plan Statement of Account, which will indicate the repayment you have to make for the next year
Repayment begins no later than 60 days after the second year following the withdrawal
For example, for a withdrawal during 2024, the 1st repayment is due by March 1, 2027 (60 days following 2026 year-end)
Amounts designated as repayments are not deductible from income, and have no effect on your RRSP contribution limits since they represent repayment of money borrowed from the plan
If you do not make the required payment for any particular year, the shortfall for that year will be added to your income

Complications can arise where there are special circumstances such as;

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