RDSP limits, transfers, and rollovers

The contribution limit for RDSPs

There is no annual limit on amounts that can be contributed to an RDSP of a particular beneficiary in a given year. However, the overall lifetime limit for a particular beneficiary is $200,000 (all previous contributions and rollovers that have been made to an RDSP of a particular beneficiary will reduce this amount). Contributions are permitted until the end of the year in which the beneficiary turns 59.

Transfers

An amount can be transferred from one RDSP to another RDSP only under the following conditions:

• the transfer must be made directly from a beneficiary's current RDSP to a new RDSP for the same beneficiary
• a transfer can only be made if all holders of the current RDSP agree to the transfer
• all funds must be transferred from the current RDSP to the new RDSP
• the current RDSP must be terminated immediately following the transfer to another RDSP

• where the beneficiary has attained 59 years of age before the year in which the transfer takes place, the issuer of the new plan agrees to pay any DAPs required to be made under the plan

Rollovers

Rolling over retirement savings property on a tax deferred basis to an RDSP

The maximum rollover amount into an RDSP is $200,000. All contributions and rollover amounts made to any RDSP of a beneficiary will reduce this amount. A grant will not be paid into the RDSP on amounts that are rolled over.

The RDSP rules allow for a rollover of a deceased individual's registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) proceeds to an RDSP of the deceased individual's financially dependent child or grandchild with an impairment in physical or mental functions. For more information, see eligible individual.

If the beneficiary is no longer approved for DTC, the rollover must be done before the end of the fifth taxation year throughout which the beneficiary is no longer approved for DTC.

These rollover rules also apply to:

•  Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) proceeds
•  certain lump-sum amounts paid from Registered Pension Plans (RPPs), and Specified Pension Plans (SPPs)
• Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs) proceeds.

RDSP rollover reporting

The retirement savings rollover transaction must be documented using Form RC4625, Rollover to a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Under Paragraph 60(m) or the form provided by the RDSP issuer. A tax slip will be issued (for example, T4A, T4RSP, or T4RIF). The amount of the retirement savings rollover is reported and deducted on the eligible individual’s income tax and benefit return. In some cases, the amount may also need to be reported and deducted in the deceased individual’s final return. For more information on how rollovers should be reported, see Transfers to registered disability savings plans in Guide T4040, RRSP and Other Registered Plans for Retirement.

The retirement savings rollover to an RDSP:

• will be considered a private contribution for the purpose of determining whether the RDSP is a PGAP, but will not be eligible for grants
• will be included in the taxable portions of RDSP withdrawals made to the beneficiary
• may not exceed, and will reduce the RDSP contribution lifetime limit

Eligible individual

An eligible individual is a child or grandchild of a deceased annuitant under an RRSP or RRIF, or of a deceased member of an RPP or SPP or PRPP, who was financially dependent on the deceased for support, at the time of the deceased’s death, by reason of an impairment in physical or mental functions. The eligible individual must also be the beneficiary under the RDSP into which the eligible proceeds will be paid.

Forms and publications

• Form RC4625, Rollover to a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Under Paragraph 60(m)