The OAS Clawback Explained — And How to Avoid It (2026)

The OAS clawback quietly reduces — or eliminates — Old Age Security for higher-income Canadian retirees, and most people never see it coming. Here's exactly how it works and the legal ways to stay under the line. In this video, Mac breaks it down in plain English: 🍁 What the OAS clawback (the "recovery tax") actually is 🍁 The income threshold and how the 15% rule works 🍁 The one-year-lag trap that catches retirees off guard 🍁 The income level where OAS disappears completely 🍁 Legal, general strategies to reduce or avoid it (TFSA, pension splitting, withdrawal timing) If you're approaching or in retirement in Canada and your income is in the six figures, this is the breakdown you need. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 The clawback nobody warns you about 0:30 What OAS actually is 1:30 How the clawback works (the 15% rule) 4:00 The one-year-lag trap 5:30 When OAS disappears completely 6:45 How to legally stay under the line 9:00 Recap + what to watch next ▶️ WATCH NEXT: GIS Explained — The Benefit Many Retirees Miss → [link when published] ▶️ RELATED: CPP at 60 vs 65 vs 70 — The Real Math → [    • CPP at 60 vs 65 vs 70: The Real Math (2026)   ] ▶️ START HERE: How Much Do You Really Need to Retire in Canada? → [    • How Much Do You REALLY Need to Retire in C...   ] 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for plain-English Canadian retirement explainers, every Mon/Wed/Fri: [    / @maplefinancewithmac   ] ————————————— 📊 SOURCES (figures as of June 2026): OAS amounts & recovery tax thresholds — Government of Canada / Service Canada (canada.ca) OAS recovery tax (clawback) — Canada Revenue Agency (canada.ca) ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This video is general education only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. OAS amounts and clawback thresholds change quarterly and are based on a prior tax year's income. Figures are accurate as of June 2026. Always confirm current numbers and your personal situation with the CRA, Service Canada, or a licensed Canadian professional. #OAS #OASClawback #CanadianRetirement