What is a LIRA?
A locked-in retirement account (LIRA) is a registered account for funds that used to be invested in a corporate pension plan.
When workers who are members of a corporate pension plan leave their employer for any reason, they can remain in the plan and receive a monthly pension income at retirement, or they can exit the plan and transfer the commuted value of the pension to a LIRA.
Similar to a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), a LIRA can hold a number of investments, including GICs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, index funds and exchange-traded funds. And, like RRSPs, the earnings on those investments grow tax-free while they remain inside the LIRA, and are fully taxable upon withdrawal.
In some provinces, LIRAs are actually called locked-in RRSPs, which is a good way of thinking of them. That’s because unless there are extreme mitigating circumstances, such as shortened life expectancy, disability or financial hardship, the money invested in a LIRA is “locked-in” — meaning no funds can be added or withdrawn — until retirement.
The good news is that you can easily open a LIRA with one of the best robo-advisors in Canada. Our top choice is Wealthsimple Invest because of its competitive pricing, usability, socially responsible investment options, and unique perks.
Or if you’re comfortable with DIY investing, open a LIRA with a reputable online brokerage such as Questrade. Our choice for the best discount brokerage in Canada, you’ll get free ETF purchases, no annual fees, and ultra-low trading fees With Questrade.
Alternatively, there’s Wealthsimple Trade account — the only online brokerage in Canada to offer commission-free trades. Plus, Wealthsimple Trade will reimburse an outgoing administrative transfer fee of up to $150 on investment account transfers valued at more than $5,000.
Either way, you’ll save big bucks on fees and maximize the return on your investment.
Difference between LIRA and RRSP
As mentioned, the main differences between these two registered accounts are that LIRAs hold money transferred from a corporate pension and are locked until retirement, while RRSPs hold the money you contribute directly and can be taken out at any time.
Of course, the flexibility of RRSPs can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, investors may want to withdraw funds before retirement for a variety of reasons, such as to buy a home, pay for education or cover emergency expenses. On the other hand, if they tap into their RRSP money too often, they won’t have anything left at retirement.
The locked-in nature of LIRAs ensures that the money intended for retirement will not be used until retirement.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the similarities and differences between RRSPs and LIRAs, and the pros and cons for investors:
| LIRA | RRSP | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment options: | Pro: Can choose own investments | Pro: Can choose own investments |
| Tax rules: | Pro: Tax-sheltered growth on investments | Pro: Tax-sheltered growth on investments |
| Direct contributions? | Con: Can't make contributions -- funds can only be transferred from a corporate pension | Pro: Can contribute directly (18% of previous year's earned income up to $29,210 for 2022) |
| Withdrawal rules: | Con: Can’t make withdrawals before retirement——Pro: Ensures an income at retirement, since money is locked-in | Pro: Can withdraw any amount at any time, subject to income tax——Con: If you cash out, you won’t have anything left at retirement |
| Eligibility for incentives: | Con: Not eligible for Home Buyers/ Lifelong Learning Plan | Pro: Withdrawals made under the Home Buyers Plan or Lifelong Learning Plan are tax-free |
| Rules and regulations: | Con: Rules vary slightly from province to province | Pro: Rules are consistent across Canada |
How to best use your LIRA when you retire
Similar to RRSPs, a LIRA account must be converted to an income-generating vehicle by the end of the year you turn 71.
While an RRSP can be turned into a RIF (registered income fund) any time before age 71, a LIRA usually cannot be converted to an income fund until age 55 at the earliest (age 50 in Alberta). The options available at that point are to turn the account into a LIF (life income fund) or LRIF (locked-in retirement income fund), or to buy a life annuity.
A LIF or LRIF operates like a RIF, in that you can control the investments in your account and must withdraw a minimum amount every year. The minimum annual withdrawals are the same as with a RIF, and are based on your age and the size of your account (see table below). Those withdrawals are included as taxable income on your annual tax return.
Unlike a RIF, however, a LIF/LRIF also has a cap on how much you can withdraw each year. These maximum withdrawal amounts are in place to make sure the money will last for the rest of your life and won’t run out early in your retirement.
2021 LIF/LRIF withdrawal limits
| Age on Jan.1 | Minimum Withdrawal | Maximum Withdrawal | Age on Jan. 1 | Minimum Withdrawal | Maximum Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 2.86% | 4.33% | 73 | 5.53% | 6.66% |
| 56 | 2.94% | 4.38% | 74 | 5.67% | 7.01% |
| 57 | 3.03% | 4.43% | 75 | 5.82% | 7.42% |
| 58 | 3.13% | 4.49% | 76 | 5.98% | 7.89% |
| 59 | 3.23% | 4.55% | 77 | 6.17% | 8.43% |
| 60 | 3.33% | 4.62% | 78 | 6.36% | 9.07% |
| 61 | 3.45% | 4.70% | 79 | 6.58% | 9.82% |
| 62 | 3.57% | 4.78% | 80 | 6.82% | 10.72% |
| 63 | 3.70% | 4.87% | 81 | 7.08% | 11.82% |
| 64 | 3.85% | 4.98% | 82 | 7.38% | 13.19% |
| 65 | 4.00% | 5.09% | 83 | 7.71% | 14.96% |
| 66 | 4.17% | 5.21% | 84 | 8.08% | 17.32% |
| 67 | 4.35% | 5.35% | 85 | 8.51% | 20.63% |
| 68 | 4.55% | 5.51% | 86 | 8.99% | 25.59% |
| 69 | 4.76% | 5.68% | 87 | 9.55% | 33.85% |
| 70 | 5.00% | 5.88% | 88 | 10.21% | 50.39% |
| 71 | 5.28% | 6.10% | 89 | 10.99% | 100.00% |
| 72 | 5.40% | 6.36% | 90 | 11.92% | 100.00% |
- Maximums are for federally regulated LIFs/LRIFs only. Maximums for provincially regulated funds are set by each province’s registered pension plan regulator. Note: No withdrawal is required in the year the LIF/LRIF is started. (Source: https://www.investingforme.com/withdrawals)
Another option open to retirees is to use the money in their LIRA to buy a life annuity contract, which would provide them with a guaranteed fixed income for life. In addition, in some provinces, half of the money in a LIRA can be transferred into an RRSP at retirement.
Final word
Locked-in retirement accounts are a valuable alternative for investors who decide to leave their corporate pension plan after a job change or layoff. Individuals can transfer the money within their pension to a LIRA, choose whatever investments they want, and watch their investment earnings grow tax-free.
Because funds in a LIRA account are locked-in, the money cannot be withdrawn early and spent on other priorities — ensuring Canadians have that money for its intended purpose: retirement. LIRAs, used in conjunction with RRSPs and TFSAs, can provide well-rounded investment income for Canadian retirees.
