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RMD Calculator

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Enter your age and prior year-end account balance to calculate your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.

RMD Calculator

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Required minimum distribution
$18,867.92
Distribution period (factor)
26.5
Uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (for most account owners). Does not apply if your spouse is your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger - that case uses a different IRS table. Not tax advice.

The formula

RMD = Account balance (December 31 of the prior year) / Distribution period The distribution period comes from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, based on the age you turn this year. It decreases each year, so the required percentage of your balance rises as you age.
Example

A $500,000 balance for someone turning 73: distribution period 26.5, RMD = 500,000 / 26.5 = $18,867.92.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Find your account balance as of December 31 of last year - not today's balance, and not adjusted for this year's contributions or withdrawals.
  2. Enter your age for this year (the age you turn, or have already turned, by December 31 of this year).
  3. Read your RMD - the minimum you must withdraw; you're always free to withdraw more.

Why your RMD start age depends on your birth year

The SECURE 2.0 Act changed the age RMDs begin, and the new rule is birth-year-dependent rather than a single fixed age for everyone. If you were born in 1951 through 1959, your RMDs start at age 73. If you were born in 1960 or later, they start at age 75. This means two people who are only a few years apart in age can have meaningfully different timelines for when their first mandatory withdrawal is due - worth confirming precisely rather than assuming a single universal starting age applies to everyone.

Common mistakes

Using today's account balance instead of the December 31 prior-year balance - contributions, withdrawals, and market movement during the current year don't affect this year's RMD calculation.
Missing the deadline entirely - failing to take a required RMD triggers a significant excise tax penalty (up to 25% of the shortfall, though it can drop to 10% if corrected promptly).

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I don't take my RMD?

The IRS charges an excise tax penalty on the amount you should have withdrawn but didn't - up to 25% of the shortfall, though this can be reduced to 10% if you correct the mistake within a two-year correction window.

Can I take more than my required minimum?

Yes - the RMD is a floor, not a ceiling. You can withdraw more than the required amount at any time; you just can't withdraw less than the calculated minimum.

What's a Qualified Charitable Distribution and how does it help?

A QCD sent directly from your IRA to a qualified charity can count toward your RMD without adding to your adjusted gross income - unlike a normal RMD withdrawal, which is fully taxable, a QCD can help avoid pushing you into a higher tax bracket or triggering higher Medicare premiums.

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