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Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Calculator

Calculate how much you must withdraw from your traditional IRA or 401(k) this year, how much tax you'll owe, and how your balance will change over time.

Inputs

$

Total balance of all traditional IRA and 401(k) accounts subject to RMDs. Use the prior December 31 balance as required by the IRS.

Enter your age as of December 31 of the distribution year.

%

Expected annual return on the account after withdrawals. Used only for projections; actual returns will vary.

%

Tax rate applied to RMD withdrawals. RMDs are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal federal (and state) rate.

Results update as you type, and the address bar keeps your numbers so the link you share reopens this exact calculation.

This year's RMD

$0.00

Distribution period factor not yet verified — value will be updated once IRS Publication 590-B table is confirmed.

Estimated tax on RMD

$0.00

After-tax RMD

$0.00

Detailed results
RMD as % of balance0%
Projected next-year RMD$0.00
Years until balance depletedCannot project — distribution period factors are pending verification.Never

What this result means

This year's RMD: $0.00.

Based on a $500,000 account balance at age 73, your RMD cannot be calculated yet because the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table distribution period factor for age 73 has not been verified. Once the table is populated, this calculator will show your required withdrawal, estimated tax at your 22% rate, and a 20-year projection.

20-Year RMD Projection

Year-by-year projection of required minimum distributions, taxes owed, and account balance. Assumes constant growth rate and the entered tax rate. Actual amounts will vary with market performance.

20-Year RMD Projection. 20 rows, first 12 shown.
YearAgeDistribution PeriodStart BalanceRMD AmountTax on RMDAfter-Tax RMDEnd Balance
1730$500,000$0.00$0.00$0.00$525,000
2740$525,000$0.00$0.00$0.00$551,250
3750$551,250$0.00$0.00$0.00$578,813
4760$578,813$0.00$0.00$0.00$607,753
5770$607,753$0.00$0.00$0.00$638,141
6780$638,141$0.00$0.00$0.00$670,048
7790$670,048$0.00$0.00$0.00$703,550
8800$703,550$0.00$0.00$0.00$738,728
9810$738,728$0.00$0.00$0.00$775,664
10820$775,664$0.00$0.00$0.00$814,447
11830$814,447$0.00$0.00$0.00$855,170
12840$855,170$0.00$0.00$0.00$897,928

How this is calculated

RMD = account_balance / distribution_period_factor[age]
tax_on_rmd = rmd × marginal_tax_rate
projected_balance = (account_balance − rmd) × (1 + growth_rate)
next_year_rmd = projected_balance / distribution_period_factor[age + 1]

What is a Required Minimum Distribution?

A required minimum distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from a traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or most other employer-sponsored retirement plans. The IRS mandates these withdrawals to ensure that retirement savings — which grew tax-deferred — are eventually taxed.

RMDs apply to accounts funded with pre-tax dollars. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the owner's lifetime (though inherited Roth IRAs are), and Roth 401(k)s were exempted from RMDs beginning in 2024 under the SECURE 2.0 Act.

SECURE 2.0 Act Changes

The SECURE 2.0 Act, signed into law in December 2022, significantly changed RMD rules:

  • RMD start age raised to 73: Anyone who turned 72 after December 31, 2022 must begin RMDs at age 73 rather than 72.
  • RMD start age rises to 75 in 2033: Those who turn 74 after December 31, 2032 will not need to begin RMDs until age 75.
  • Reduced penalty for missed RMDs: The excise tax for failing to take an RMD was reduced from 50% to 25% of the amount not withdrawn — and further reduced to 10% if the error is corrected within a two-year correction window.
  • Roth 401(k) RMD exemption: Roth accounts in employer plans are no longer subject to RMDs during the owner's lifetime, aligning them with Roth IRAs.

How the RMD Is Calculated

The IRS calculates your RMD by dividing your prior December 31 account balance by a distribution period factor from the Uniform Lifetime Table (IRS Publication 590-B, Appendix B, Table III). The factor decreases as you age, requiring larger withdrawals as a percentage of your balance over time.

There is a separate Joint and Last Survivor table that applies when your sole beneficiary is your spouse and that spouse is more than 10 years younger than you — that table produces lower RMDs and is not modeled here.

Most IRA custodians will calculate your RMD for you, but you are ultimately responsible for ensuring the correct amount is withdrawn by the deadline.

RMD Deadlines

Your first RMD must be taken by April 1 of the year after you reach the applicable starting age. All subsequent RMDs must be taken by December 31 of the distribution year. If you delay your first RMD to April 1, you will take two RMDs in the same tax year — which can push you into a higher bracket.

Penalties for Missing an RMD

Failing to take your full RMD triggers a 25% IRS excise tax on the amount not withdrawn. That penalty drops to 10% if you take the missed RMD and file IRS Form 5329 within two years. Correcting the mistake promptly is almost always worth it.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

If you are 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $105,000 (2024 figure; indexed for inflation) per year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. This qualified charitable distribution counts toward your RMD for the year but is excluded from your taxable income — meaning you satisfy the RMD without the tax hit. This is particularly valuable if you don't need the RMD income for living expenses and already donate to charity.

Aggregating Multiple Accounts

If you have multiple traditional IRAs, you calculate the RMD separately for each account but can withdraw the total from any combination of IRAs you choose. For 401(k) accounts, each plan must satisfy its own RMD separately — you cannot use an IRA withdrawal to satisfy a 401(k) RMD.

What This Calculator Does Not Model

This calculator uses a single account balance, a single growth rate, and a flat marginal tax rate. It does not account for multiple accounts, state income tax separately, Social Security taxation thresholds, Medicare IRMAA surcharges triggered by higher income, or market volatility. Treat projections as planning estimates rather than precise forecasts.

Assumptions

  • RMD amounts are calculated using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Table III, Publication 590-B). Distribution period factors are pending verification and are shown as zero until confirmed.
  • A single account balance and growth rate are used. Multiple accounts, RMD aggregation rules, and the Joint and Last Survivor table are not modeled.
  • Tax is applied at a flat marginal rate with no bracket, deduction, or credit modeling. State income taxes are not calculated separately.
  • The growth rate is applied to the balance remaining after each year's RMD withdrawal.
  • The SECURE 2.0 Act RMD start age of 73 (and future age of 75 starting in 2033) is reflected in guidance text; the calculator accepts any age from 72 onward.
  • Qualified charitable distributions and Roth conversions are not modeled.
  • Projections assume annual RMD withdrawals; required distribution deadlines (April 1 for first RMD, December 31 thereafter) are not modeled.

Frequently asked questions

›At what age do I have to start taking RMDs?

Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, the RMD starting age is 73 if you turned 72 after December 31, 2022. It will increase to 75 for those who turn 74 after December 31, 2032. If you turned 72 before 2023, you were already subject to the prior age-72 rule.

›Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?

No. Original Roth IRA owners are not subject to RMDs during their lifetime. However, beneficiaries who inherit a Roth IRA are generally required to take distributions. Roth 401(k) accounts were exempted from RMDs beginning in 2024 under SECURE 2.0.

›What happens if I miss my RMD deadline?

The IRS imposes a 25% excise tax on the amount you failed to withdraw. If you correct the mistake by taking the missed RMD and filing IRS Form 5329 within two years of the required withdrawal date, the penalty is reduced to 10%. In certain cases the IRS may also waive the penalty upon a showing of reasonable cause.

›Can I take more than my RMD?

Yes. The RMD is a minimum — you can always withdraw more. Any amount above the RMD is also taxed as ordinary income, but there is no additional penalty. Withdrawing more can make sense if you expect to be in a higher bracket later, or to enable a Roth conversion.

›What is a qualified charitable distribution and how does it help?

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a direct transfer of up to $105,000 per year from your IRA to a qualified charity, available if you are age 70½ or older. It counts toward your RMD but is excluded from your taxable income — unlike a regular withdrawal followed by a charitable donation, which would increase your income and only partially offset it with a deduction (if you itemize).

›If I have multiple IRAs, how do I calculate the RMD?

Calculate the RMD for each IRA separately using its own December 31 balance and your age, then add them together. You can withdraw the combined total from any one IRA or any combination of IRAs — you don't have to take a proportionate share from each. For 401(k) plans, each plan must satisfy its own RMD independently.

›Are RMDs taxed?

Yes. RMDs from traditional IRAs and pre-tax 401(k) accounts are taxed as ordinary income in the year you take them. They can push you into a higher tax bracket, increase the taxable portion of Social Security benefits, and trigger Medicare IRMAA premium surcharges if your modified adjusted gross income crosses certain thresholds.

›Can I reinvest my RMD?

Yes, in a taxable brokerage account. After paying income tax on the withdrawal, you can invest the after-tax proceeds in any taxable account. You cannot roll an RMD back into an IRA or 401(k) — RMDs are explicitly ineligible for rollover.

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