Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Calculator

Follow these steps to calculate your Required Minimum Distribution:

1. Enter your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year. This is the balance used by the IRS for your current-year RMD calculation. If you have multiple IRAs, you can enter the combined total (IRA RMDs can be aggregated).
2. Enter your age as of December 31 of this year. RMDs begin at age 73 (born 1951-1959) or 75 (born 1960+).
3. If your spouse is your sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger, enter their age. This qualifies you for the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table, which provides a larger distribution period and a smaller RMD. Otherwise, leave this at 0.
4. Enter your estimated marginal tax rate (federal + state) to see the tax impact. Common rates: 12% (low income), 22% ($47K-$100K), 24% ($100K-$192K), 32% ($192K-$384K).
5. Select the number of IRA accounts you hold for reference. Remember: IRA RMDs can be taken from any IRA, but 401(k) RMDs must be taken from each plan separately.
6. Choose a projection period to see how your RMDs and account balance evolve over the next 5-20 years.

The calculator shows your required distribution amount, effective withdrawal rate, estimated taxes, after-tax proceeds, and the penalty you would face if you miss the deadline.

A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) calculator determines the minimum amount you must withdraw each year from your tax-deferred retirement accounts, including traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b) plans. The IRS requires these distributions to ensure that money saved in tax-advantaged accounts is eventually taxed as income during retirement.

Under the SECURE Act 2.0, the age at which RMDs begin depends on your birth year: age 73 for those born between 1951 and 1959, and age 75 for those born in 1960 or later. This change from the original age 70½ rule gives retirees additional years of tax-deferred growth before mandatory withdrawals begin.

RMDs are calculated by dividing your prior year-end account balance by a distribution period (life expectancy factor) from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. As you age, the distribution period decreases, meaning you must withdraw a larger percentage of your account each year. At age 73, the factor is 26.5 (approximately 3.8% of your balance), while at age 85, the factor drops to 16.0 (approximately 6.25%).

Failing to take your full RMD by the deadline results in a 25% excise tax penalty on the shortfall (reduced from 50% by SECURE Act 2.0). If corrected within two years, the penalty drops to 10%. Understanding your RMD helps you plan for the tax impact, manage your retirement income strategy, and avoid costly penalties.

The RMD formula is straightforward:

RMD = Account Balance (Dec 31 prior year) ÷ Distribution Period

The Distribution Period comes from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Table III), which assigns a life expectancy factor based on your age. Here is a selection of key ages:

If your spouse is your sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger, you use the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table (Table II) instead, which provides a larger divisor and a smaller required withdrawal.

Variable definitions:

Key deadlines:

• First RMD: April 1 of the year after you reach the applicable age (73 or 75)
• All subsequent RMDs: December 31 of each year
• Penalty for missing: 25% excise tax (10% if corrected within 2 years)

Example 1: Age 75 with $500,000 Balance

Robert is 75 years old and his traditional IRA had a balance of $500,000 on December 31, 2025. Using the Uniform Lifetime Table, his distribution period at age 75 is 24.6.

RMD = $500,000 ÷ 24.6 = $20,325

Robert must withdraw at least $20,325 during 2026. At a 22% marginal tax rate, he'll owe approximately $4,472 in taxes, keeping $15,853 after tax. If he misses the deadline entirely, the penalty would be $5,081 (25% of the RMD).

Example 2: Age 80 with $1,000,000 Balance

Patricia is 80 with a $1,000,000 401(k) balance. Her distribution period is 20.2.

RMD = $1,000,000 ÷ 20.2 = $49,505

Patricia must withdraw at least $49,505. At a 24% tax rate, her estimated tax is $11,881. Note that this large RMD could push her into a higher tax bracket or trigger Medicare IRMAA surcharges if her modified adjusted gross income exceeds $103,000 (single) or $206,000 (married filing jointly).

Example 3: Younger Spouse Beneficiary

David is 80 and his sole beneficiary is his wife Sarah, age 65 (15 years younger). Because the age gap exceeds 10 years, David qualifies for the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table. His distribution period is approximately 23.2 instead of 20.2, reducing his RMD on a $750,000 balance from $37,129 to $32,328 — a savings of $4,801 in required withdrawals and approximately $1,056 in taxes at 22%.