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Required Minimum Distribution (Rmd) Calculator

Calculate your annual IRS Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from Traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and other tax-deferred retirement accounts using your prior year-end balance and age.

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Account Balance (Prior Year-End)

Your Age (as of Year-End)

Required Minimum Distribution

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Required Minimum Distribution—

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What Is a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount the IRS requires holders of tax-deferred retirement accounts — including Traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s — to withdraw each year once they reach the applicable starting age. These mandatory withdrawals ensure that retirement savings, which grew tax-deferred, eventually become subject to ordinary income tax. Failing to take the full RMD by the deadline triggers a substantial IRS excise tax penalty.

The RMD Formula

The calculation follows a single, consistent formula:

RMD = Account Balance (Prior Year-End) ÷ IRS Uniform Lifetime Table Factor (for your age)

Two variables determine the distribution amount:

Account Balance (Prior Year-End): The total fair market value of the retirement account on December 31 of the year preceding the distribution year. This figure must be obtained from the official year-end account statement.
IRS Uniform Lifetime Table Factor: A life-expectancy divisor assigned to each age by the IRS and published in IRS Publication 590-B, Appendix B. A higher factor produces a smaller required withdrawal; as age increases, the factor decreases and required distributions grow proportionally.

IRS Uniform Lifetime Table — Key Reference Factors

The IRS updated the Uniform Lifetime Table effective January 1, 2022, reflecting longer average life expectancies. These revisions produce slightly smaller RMD amounts compared to the prior table. Selected age factors include:

Age 73: factor 26.5
Age 75: factor 24.6
Age 80: factor 20.2
Age 85: factor 16.0
Age 90: factor 12.2
Age 95: factor 8.9
Age 100: factor 6.4

The complete table — covering ages 72 through 120 — is available in IRS Publication 590-B.

Step-by-Step Calculation Example

Consider a 73-year-old retiree with a Traditional IRA balance of $500,000 on December 31 of the prior year.

Identify the prior year-end account balance: $500,000
Look up the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor for age 73: 26.5
Divide: $500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,867.92
This retiree must withdraw at least $18,867.92 by December 31 of the distribution year — or by April 1 of the following year for the very first RMD only.

When Do RMDs Begin?

The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 raised the RMD starting age from 72 to 73 for individuals who turned 72 after December 31, 2022. For those born in 1960 or later, the starting age rises again to 75, effective in 2033. Current authoritative guidance on all RMD rules is available at IRS.gov — Required Minimum Distributions.

Retirement Accounts Subject to RMD Rules

Traditional IRAs
401(k) plans
403(b) plans
457(b) governmental plans
SEP IRAs
SIMPLE IRAs
Inherited IRAs (10-year rule applies for most non-spouse beneficiaries)

Roth IRAs are exempt from RMDs during the original owner's lifetime. Starting in 2024, Roth 401(k) accounts also became exempt under SECURE 2.0, aligning them with Roth IRA treatment.

Penalty for Missing an RMD

Missing the RMD deadline triggers an IRS excise tax of 25% on the shortfall amount. Under SECURE 2.0, this penalty drops to 10% if the missed distribution is corrected within two years and IRS Form 5329 is filed with an amended return. A $5,000 shortfall, for example, would incur a $1,250 excise tax at the 25% rate — or just $500 at the corrected 10% rate with timely action.

Tax Planning and RMD Strategy

RMDs have significant tax implications for retirement planning. Account holders should consider RMD amounts when projecting annual tax liability, especially if additional income sources like Social Security or pensions push them into higher tax brackets. Strategic RMD timing, coordinate withdrawals from multiple accounts when permitted, and evaluating charitable giving opportunities through qualified charitable distributions can help optimize overall tax efficiency in retirement.

Aggregation Rules for Multiple Accounts

Account holders with multiple Traditional IRAs may calculate each account's RMD separately, then aggregate the totals and take the combined amount from any single IRA or combination of IRAs. However, 401(k) plan RMDs must be calculated and withdrawn separately from each individual plan. Understanding aggregation rules enables more strategic withdrawal sequencing and can help minimize unnecessary tax exposure across a diversified retirement portfolio.

Reference

Frequently asked questions

What is a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

A Required Minimum Distribution is the minimum annual withdrawal the IRS mandates from tax-deferred retirement accounts such as Traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s. These distributions ensure that pre-tax retirement savings eventually become taxable income. Account holders must begin RMDs at age 73 (rising to 75 in 2033 under the SECURE 2.0 Act), and the withdrawal amount is recalculated every year based on the prior year-end account balance divided by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor assigned to the account holder's age.

At what age do RMDs begin in 2024 and beyond?

Under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, RMDs begin at age 73 for individuals who turned 72 after December 31, 2022. For those born in 1960 or later, the starting age increases to 75 effective in 2033. The very first RMD may be delayed until April 1 of the year following the year the account holder reaches the starting age, but doing so requires taking two full taxable distributions in that calendar year, which can push the account holder into a significantly higher income tax bracket.

How do I find the correct IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor for my age?

The IRS Uniform Lifetime Table is published in IRS Publication 590-B, Appendix B, and is freely available on the IRS website. Each age from 72 through 120 carries a specific life-expectancy divisor — for example, age 73 has a factor of 26.5, age 80 has 20.2, and age 90 has 12.2. The IRS updated this table in 2022 to reflect longer life expectancies, producing moderately smaller required distributions compared to the previous version that was in effect before 2022.

What is the penalty for missing an RMD deadline?

Missing the RMD deadline triggers an IRS excise tax of 25% on the amount not withdrawn by December 31. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, this penalty decreases to 10% if the shortfall is corrected within two years and IRS Form 5329 is filed with an amended return. For example, a $10,000 RMD shortfall would incur a $2,500 penalty at the standard 25% rate, or only $1,000 at the corrected 10% rate — making prompt corrective action highly worthwhile financially.

Can a retiree withdraw more than the RMD amount each year?

Yes. The RMD represents a minimum floor, not a cap on withdrawals. Account holders may take any amount above the RMD without IRS penalty, and all Traditional IRA and 401(k) distributions are taxed as ordinary income in the year of withdrawal. Withdrawing beyond the minimum — for instance, to fund a partial Roth conversion during a lower-income year before Social Security begins — can reduce future RMD amounts, lower lifetime tax liability, and improve estate planning outcomes by shrinking the taxable balance passed to heirs.

Are Roth IRAs subject to Required Minimum Distributions?

Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the original account owner's lifetime, making them a powerful tool for tax-free growth and long-term estate planning. Starting in 2024, Roth 401(k) accounts are also exempt from RMDs under the SECURE 2.0 Act, bringing them in line with Roth IRA treatment. However, non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit a Roth IRA must generally distribute the entire account within 10 years of the original owner's death, though qualified distributions remain fully income-tax-free provided the five-year holding rule has been satisfied.