RMD Calculator
Calculate your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. Enter your age and prior year-end account balance to find the required annual withdrawal, monthly equivalent, and after-tax income. A 10-year projection shows how RMDs evolve as your balance changes and the divisor decreases each year.
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How It Works
The IRS Uniform Lifetime Table provides a life expectancy factor for each age starting at 73. Divide your December 31 prior year balance by this factor to find the minimum required distribution. The factor decreases each year, requiring a higher withdrawal percentage.
RMD = December 31 Balance ÷ IRS Life Expectancy Factor$850,000 ÷ 26.5 (age 73) = $32,075 required withdrawalUnder the SECURE 2.0 Act (effective 2023), RMDs must begin by April 1 following the year you turn 73. The age was previously 70½ (before 2020) and then 72 (2020-2022). In 2033, it rises further to 75 for those born after 1959.
First RMD by: April 1 of the year after turning 73Born 1951: first RMD due April 1, 2025; can delay and take two in 2025If you have multiple traditional IRAs, you must calculate the RMD for each account but can take the total from any combination of accounts. 401(k), 403(b), and 457 RMDs are calculated separately and must be taken from each plan individually.
IRA total RMD = sum of individual RMDs; can take from any IRATwo IRAs: $20K + $15K RMDs = $35K total; can take all from one IRAAll traditional IRA and 401(k) RMDs are taxed as ordinary income in the year received. Large RMDs can push retirees into higher brackets, trigger Medicare IRMAA surcharges, or increase Social Security taxation. Tax planning around RMDs is critical.
Tax = RMD Amount × Ordinary Income Rate$32,075 RMD at 22% bracket = $7,057 federal taxIRA owners 70½ or older can donate up to $105,000 per year directly from the IRA to a qualified charity. This Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) satisfies the RMD and is excluded from taxable income — saving taxes even if you do not itemize deductions.
QCD satisfies RMD and is excluded from gross income$32,075 QCD instead of RMD = $7,057 in taxes saved at 22%The SECURE 2.0 Act reduced the penalty for missing an RMD from 50% to 25% of the shortfall. If corrected within 2 years via a tax-advantaged account, the penalty drops to 10%. File Form 5329 and include a reasonable cause statement to request penalty waiver.
Penalty = 25% of missed RMD amount (10% if corrected quickly)Missed $30,000 RMD = $7,500 penalty (or $3,000 if corrected promptly)Quick Reference
Common examples — verify instantly above.
$850K balance, age 73
RMD required (divisor 26.5)
$32,075
$1M balance, age 75
RMD required (divisor 24.6)
$40,650
$1M balance, age 80
RMD required (divisor 20.2)
$49,505
$32,075 RMD, 22% tax
After-tax monthly income
$2,083/mo
QCD benefit
$32K RMD donated, 22% bracket
$7,040 tax saved
Missed RMD penalty
$30,000 not withdrawn
$7,500 (25% penalty)
Age 73 factor
IRS Uniform Lifetime Table
26.5 years
Age 80 factor
IRS Uniform Lifetime Table
20.2 years
Tips & Shortcuts
Use the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) strategy to satisfy your RMD tax-free. Donating directly from the IRA to charity avoids the income tax on the distribution, even if you take the standard deduction.
Consider taking RMDs early in the year to allow the withdrawn funds to earn returns in a taxable account throughout the year.
Review whether large RMDs will trigger Medicare IRMAA surcharges. IRMAA adds $69 to $419 per month to Medicare Part B and Part D premiums based on income from 2 years prior.
Roth conversions before age 73 can reduce the size of future RMDs by shifting pre-tax traditional IRA funds to Roth (no RMDs). This is especially valuable in the years between retirement and RMD age.
Set up automatic RMD withdrawals with your IRA custodian to never miss a deadline. Most major brokerages offer automatic RMD calculation and distribution services.
If you are still working at 73, 401(k) RMDs from your current employer may be delayed until you retire. This does not apply to IRAs or plans from former employers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Waiting until December 31 to take the first RMD without knowing the April 1 first-year rule
In the first year RMDs are required, you can delay until April 1 of the following year. But delaying means taking two RMDs in the second year (one for each year), which could push you into a higher bracket. Often better to take the first RMD in the first required year.
Calculating one total RMD and taking it all from the wrong account type
IRA RMDs can be aggregated and taken from any traditional IRA. But 401(k) and 403(b) RMDs must each be taken from their own plan. You cannot satisfy a 401(k) RMD by taking extra from an IRA.
Not adjusting for the prior year December 31 balance
The RMD is calculated using the balance as of December 31 of the prior year — not today's balance. If markets rise or fall significantly, the RMD amount for the year has already been determined.
Forgetting inherited IRA RMDs have different rules
Inherited IRAs (non-spouse beneficiaries) are now generally subject to a 10-year rule under SECURE 2.0, requiring full distribution within 10 years of the original owner's death. Annual RMDs within the 10 years depend on whether the original owner had already started RMDs.
Overlooking QCDs to reduce taxable income from RMDs
If you are charitably inclined, QCDs are the most tax-efficient way to give. Unlike regular charitable deductions, QCDs reduce AGI directly — helping avoid IRMAA surcharges, Social Security taxation, and other income-based phaseouts.
Not planning for the impact of RMDs on Social Security taxation
Social Security benefits become 85% taxable when combined income exceeds $34,000 (single) or $44,000 (married). Large RMDs can push provisional income above these thresholds, dramatically increasing the effective tax on both RMDs and Social Security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional IRAs, SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans all require RMDs starting at age 73. Roth IRAs have no RMD requirement during the owner's lifetime, making them valuable for estate planning. Roth 401(k)s were also exempted from RMDs starting in 2024 under SECURE 2.0.
Divide your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor for your age. At 73, the factor is 26.5; at 80, it is 20.2; at 90, it is 12.2. The factor decreases each year, requiring a progressively higher percentage of your balance to be withdrawn.
Under SECURE 2.0, the penalty is 25% of the amount not withdrawn (reduced from 50%). If you correct the missed RMD within 2 years by filing a corrected return and a tax-advantaged account correction, the penalty drops to 10%. File Form 5329 and provide a reasonable cause explanation to request the IRS waive the penalty entirely.
Yes. The RMD is the minimum — you can always withdraw more. Additional withdrawals are also taxed as ordinary income. Some retirees take larger distributions in years when their tax bracket is lower to reduce future RMDs and the associated tax burden.
A QCD allows IRA owners aged 70½ or older to donate up to $105,000 per year directly from the IRA to a qualified charity. The QCD counts toward satisfying the RMD and is excluded from taxable income — saving taxes equal to your marginal rate times the donation amount, even if you take the standard deduction.
If you are still working at 73 and participating in your current employer's 401(k), you may be able to delay RMDs from that specific plan until you retire. However, RMDs from all IRAs and any former employer plans must still begin at 73 regardless of employment status.
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