Eligible pension income

Eligible pension income is generally the total of the following amounts received by the transferring spouse or common-law partner in the year (these amounts also qualify for the pension income amount):

For a more detailed list of eligible pension and annuity income, see the following charts:

Pension income that is not eligible

The following amounts received by the transferring spouse or common-law partner are not eligible for pension income splitting:

Note 

Variable pension benefits paid from a money purchase provision of a registered pension plan or payments out of a pooled registered pension plan are not considered life annuity payments and do not qualify unless the transferring spouse or common-law partner is 65 years of age or older at the end of the year, or the variable benefits or payments are received as a result of the death of a spouse or common-law partner.

Can you elect to split your pension income?

The transferring spouse or common-law partner and the receiving spouse or common-law partner can elect to split the transferring spouse's or common-law partner's eligible pension income received in the year if all of the following conditions are met:

Notes 

Eligible pension income can only be split between the transferring spouse or common-law partner and the receiving spouse or common-law partner.

You and your spouse or common-law partner will still be eligible to split pension income if you were living apart at the end of the year for medical, educational, or business reasons (rather than a breakdown in the marriage or common-law partnership).

You can split your eligible pension income with your spouse or common-law partner, regardless of their age, if you meet all of the other conditions.

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