Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Calculator
Estimate the minimum you must withdraw this year from a traditional IRA or 401(k) using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
How it works
RMD = prior-year-end balance ÷ IRS Uniform Lifetime factor for your age
Once you reach the RMD age (73 under current rules), the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount each year from tax-deferred accounts so the deferred tax finally gets paid. The amount is your prior-year-end balance divided by a life-expectancy factor from the Uniform Lifetime Table, which shrinks as you age — so the required percentage rises every year. Missing an RMD triggers a steep excise tax on the shortfall.
Worked example
A 73-year-old with $500,000 in a traditional IRA uses the table factor 26.5. The RMD is 500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,868 for the year — about 3.8% of the balance. At 80 the factor drops to 20.2, pushing the required withdrawal to roughly 5% of the balance.
Frequently asked questions
At what age do RMDs start?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act the starting age is 73 for those reaching it in 2023–2032, rising to 75 later. Your first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of the year after you turn the starting age, but doing so stacks two RMDs into one tax year.
Which accounts require RMDs?
Traditional IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and most employer plans like 401(k)s and 403(b)s. Roth IRAs have no RMDs for the original owner, and — under SECURE 2.0 — Roth 401(k)s no longer require them during the owner’s lifetime either.
What happens if I skip an RMD?
The penalty is an excise tax on the amount you failed to withdraw (25% under current law, reducible to 10% if corrected promptly). It is one of the harshest penalties in the tax code, so RMDs are worth tracking carefully.
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Educational estimate, not financial or tax advice. Rules and limits change — confirm current figures with a qualified advisor.