T3012A: Tax Deduction Waiver on the Refund of Unused RRSP, PRPP or SPP Contributions
Form T3012A is the Canada Revenue Agency form used to withdraw unused RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions and, once the CRA certifies it, have the plan issuer refund the amount without withholding tax. Download the official PDF below.
This is the genuine CRA PDF, unmodified. Source: CRA official page.
What is T3012A?
T3012A, Tax Deduction Waiver on the Refund of your Unused RRSP, PRPP, or SPP Contributions, lets a taxpayer take back contributions they made but did not deduct, without the plan issuer withholding tax on the refund. You complete the form, the CRA reviews and certifies it, and the certified copy is given to the issuer so the refund can be paid tax-free at source. The refunded amount still has to be reported, and an offsetting deduction is claimed so the withdrawal is not taxed twice.
T3012A is a dynamic PDF that the CRA publishes in Adobe XFA format. It does not fill in a web browser, so it will not display in the in-browser editor or quick-fill form here. Download it and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader to complete the fields, then send it to the CRA to be certified.
Who files T3012A?
- Taxpayers who made RRSP, PRPP or SPP contributions they did not and will not deduct
- People who over-contributed and want the excess refunded without tax withheld
- Individuals seeking CRA certification before the plan issuer pays the refund
- Filers who then report the refund and claim the offsetting deduction on their return
How to fill out T3012A
- Download the form and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader, since it is a dynamic PDF that will not fill in a browser.
- Enter your identifying details and the plan and contribution information for the unused amount.
- Complete the amount you want refunded and the certification area for the CRA.
- Send the form to the Canada Revenue Agency so it can review and certify the waiver.
- Give the certified copy to your plan issuer to receive the refund without tax withheld, and report it on your return.
Get T3012A
This is a dynamic PDF from CRA: it only fills in correctly in Adobe Acrobat Reader, so there is no in-browser fill here. Download the genuine T3012A below and open it in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to complete and save it.
Download the official T3012A PDFFrequently asked questions
Why send T3012A to the CRA first?
The CRA certifies the waiver so the plan issuer can refund your unused contributions without withholding tax. Without the certified form, the issuer would normally withhold tax on the withdrawal.
Do I still report the refund?
Yes. You report the refunded amount on your return and claim an offsetting deduction for the same amount, so the withdrawal is not taxed a second time.