Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Calculator
Estimate your required minimum distribution and project your RMD schedule for the years ahead.
These calculators are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.
A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from most tax-deferred retirement accounts, once you reach a certain age. The IRS requires these withdrawals because it eventually wants to collect tax on money that’s grown tax-deferred for decades.
Traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and similar employer plans are all subject to RMD rules. Getting the calculation wrong, or missing a deadline, can trigger a real IRS penalty — so it’s worth understanding exactly how the number is derived before you rely on it.
Who Should Use This Calculator?
This calculator is for anyone approaching or past age 73 with a Traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), SEP IRA, or SIMPLE IRA. Enter your account balance, your age, and (if applicable) your spouse’s age, and the calculator estimates your required withdrawal for the year using the IRS distribution period that applies to your situation.
The result shown is an estimate based on the inputs you provide. Your actual RMD depends on your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year and the correct IRS table for your circumstances.
How Does an RMD Calculator Work?
- Retirement account balance — your account’s fair market value as of December 31 of the previous year.
- IRS life expectancy factor — a number from an IRS table reflecting how many more years your account is expected to last, based on age.
- Distribution period — the specific factor from the applicable table for your age (or you and your spouse’s ages).
- Withdrawal amount — your account balance divided by that distribution period, which is the minimum you must withdraw for the year.
What Information Do You Need to Calculate an RMD?
Current Age
Your age determines whether you’re required to take an RMD at all, and which distribution period applies. Under current IRS rules, RMDs generally begin at age 73 (or 75 for those born in 1960 or later) — using the wrong age is one of the most common calculation errors.
Retirement Account Balance
This is your account’s value as of December 31 of the prior year — not today’s balance. Most tax-deferred accounts are subject to RMDs:
- Traditional IRA — subject to RMDs; balances can be aggregated across all Traditional IRAs for one combined withdrawal.
- 401(k) — subject to RMDs; each employer plan generally requires its own separate withdrawal.
- 403(b) — subject to RMDs; multiple 403(b) accounts can typically be aggregated together, separately from IRAs.
- SEP IRA — treated like a Traditional IRA for RMD purposes.
- SIMPLE IRA — also treated like a Traditional IRA for RMD purposes.
IRS Life Expectancy Factor
The IRS publishes three main tables, and which one applies depends on your situation:
- Uniform Lifetime Table — used by most account owners, including those who are unmarried, or married to a spouse who isn’t more than 10 years younger.
- Joint Life and Last Survivor Table — used when your spouse is your sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger than you, producing a longer distribution period and a smaller required withdrawal.
- Single Life Expectancy Table — used primarily by certain beneficiaries of inherited retirement accounts, not original account owners.
Which Retirement Accounts Require RMDs?
| Account Type | RMD Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional IRA | Yes | Can aggregate balances across multiple Traditional IRAs. |
| 401(k) | Yes | Generally must withdraw separately from each employer plan. |
| 403(b) | Yes | Multiple 403(b)s can typically be aggregated with each other. |
| SEP IRA | Yes | Treated the same as a Traditional IRA. |
| SIMPLE IRA | Yes | Treated the same as a Traditional IRA. |
| Roth IRA | No | Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the original owner’s lifetime. |
| Roth 401(k) | No (as of 2024+) | SECURE 2.0 eliminated RMDs for Roth 401(k) accounts starting in 2024. |
When Do Required Minimum Distributions Begin?
The RMD starting age has changed twice in recent years:
Your first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you reach your RMD age, but doing so means you’ll need to take two RMDs in that calendar year — which can push you into a higher tax bracket. Every RMD after your first is due by December 31 each year.
Example RMD Calculations
$500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,868 required withdrawal
$750,000 ÷ 24.6 = $30,488 required withdrawal
$1,000,000 ÷ 22.0 = $45,455 required withdrawal
$600,000 ÷ 29 ≈ $20,690 required withdrawal (illustrative — verify your exact joint-table divisor in IRS Publication 590-B, Table II)
IRA: $300,000 ÷ 23.7 = $12,658 | 403(b): $200,000 ÷ 23.7 = $8,439
Total RMD ≈ $21,097 (the IRA and 403(b) RMDs must be calculated separately, though each type can be aggregated with same-type accounts)
IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Current Version)
| Age | Distribution Period |
|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 |
| 74 | 25.5 |
| 75 | 24.6 |
| 76 | 23.7 |
| 77 | 22.9 |
| 78 | 22.0 |
| 79 | 21.1 |
| 80 | 20.2 |
| 81 | 19.4 |
| 82 | 18.5 |
| 83 | 17.7 |
| 84 | 16.8 |
| 85 | 16.0 |
This table reflects the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Treasury Decision 9930), unchanged since 2022. Always verify current figures against the latest IRS Publication 590-B before filing or relying on these numbers.
What Happens If You Don’t Take an RMD?
Missing an RMD, or withdrawing less than required, triggers an IRS excise tax on the shortfall. Under SECURE 2.0, that penalty dropped significantly:
- 25% excise tax on the amount you should have withdrawn but didn’t.
- Reduced to 10% if you correct the missed distribution within two years.
- This is a meaningful reduction from the pre-SECURE 2.0 penalty of 50%, though it’s still a significant cost worth avoiding.
If you miss an RMD, correcting it as soon as possible and filing IRS Form 5329 is generally the recommended path — a tax professional can help you request a penalty waiver if the shortfall was due to reasonable error.
Strategies to Reduce the Tax Impact of RMDs
Common RMD Mistakes to Avoid
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an RMD?
A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from most tax-deferred retirement accounts, once you reach a certain age.
At what age do RMDs start?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, RMDs begin at age 73 for people born between 1951 and 1959, and at age 75 for people born in 1960 or later.
How do I calculate my RMD?
Divide your retirement account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by the IRS distribution period for your age, found in the Uniform Lifetime Table.
Which retirement accounts require RMDs?
Traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, SEP IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs all require RMDs. Roth IRAs and, as of 2024, Roth 401(k)s do not.
Does a Roth IRA have an RMD?
No. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the original account owner’s lifetime.
What happens if I don’t take my RMD?
You’ll owe a 25% excise tax on the amount you should have withdrawn, reduced to 10% if you correct the shortfall within two years.
Can I withdraw more than my RMD?
Yes. Your RMD is a minimum, not a maximum — you can withdraw more if you choose, though the extra amount is still taxable income.
Do I have to pay taxes on my RMD?
Yes, in most cases. RMDs from Traditional IRAs and similar accounts are generally taxed as ordinary income in the year you receive them.
Which IRS table should I use?
Most account owners use the Uniform Lifetime Table. Use the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table only if your spouse is your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger than you.
Can I combine RMDs from multiple IRAs?
Yes. You can calculate the RMD for each Traditional IRA separately, then withdraw the total from any one IRA or a combination of them.
Do inherited IRAs follow different rules?
Yes. Inherited IRAs often follow different distribution timelines, including in some cases a 10-year full distribution requirement, depending on your relationship to the original owner.
Does my spouse affect my RMD calculation?
Only if your spouse is your sole primary beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger than you — in that case, you’d use the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table instead of the Uniform Lifetime Table.
Can I delay my first RMD?
Yes. You can delay your very first RMD until April 1 of the year after you reach your RMD age, but you’ll then need to take two RMDs that same year.
How often should I calculate my RMD?
Every year. Your RMD changes annually based on your updated age and prior year-end account balance, so it needs to be recalculated each year.
Is this calculator an official IRS calculator?
No. This is an independent educational tool, not an official IRS resource. Always verify your exact RMD with IRS Publication 590-B or a qualified tax professional.
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RMDs are one of the few parts of retirement that aren’t optional. Understanding how your distribution period is set, and calculating your withdrawal correctly each year, is the simplest way to stay compliant and avoid an unnecessary IRS penalty.
Use the RMD Calculator above to estimate this year’s required withdrawal, and revisit it annually — your distribution period and required amount change every year.