RMD Calculator
Estimate required minimum distributions with our RMD Calculator. Enter your age and your retirement account balance from the end of last year to estimate this year's minimum withdrawal using the standard IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. Perfect for traditional IRA planning, rollover-IRA withdrawals, SEP or SIMPLE IRA review, and retirement cash-flow organization before year-end. The calculator also shows the distribution period used, a simple monthly equivalent, and a basic post-withdrawal balance projection. All calculations happen instantly in your browser with no data storage.
How it works: Enter your age and the account balance from the end of last year. The calculator applies the standard IRS Uniform Lifetime Table to estimate this year's required minimum distribution and shows a simple post-withdrawal balance projection.
What Is an RMD Calculator?
An RMD calculator computes the Required Minimum Distribution you must withdraw from a traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other pre-tax retirement account each year. The IRS mandates annual withdrawals starting at age 73 (under SECURE 2.0, effective 2023) to ensure deferred taxes are eventually collected. The formula is simple: your December 31 account balance divided by your IRS life expectancy factor from the Uniform Lifetime Table. Missing or underpaying an RMD triggers a penalty of 25% of the shortfall (reduced to 10% if corrected within two years). This calculator shows your exact RMD, the penalty risk, and how distributions grow as you age.
How to Calculate Your RMD
- Find your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year.
- Look up your age's distribution period in the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (or Joint Life Table if your sole beneficiary spouse is more than 10 years younger).
- Divide: RMD = Account Balance ÷ Distribution Period.
- Withdraw at least that amount by December 31 of the current year (or April 1 of the year after you turn 73, for the first RMD only).
- Repeat annually — the distribution period decreases each year, so your required withdrawal percentage grows.
Worked Example: $400,000 IRA at Age 74
Dec 31 balance: $400,000 | Age: 74 | IRS Uniform Lifetime Table distribution period: 25.5
RMD = $400,000 ÷ 25.5 = $15,686
Penalty for missing this RMD: 25% × $15,686 = $3,922
If the account grows to $420,000 by next Dec 31 and you are 75: $420,000 ÷ 24.6 = $17,073 next year
Note: If you have multiple IRAs, you calculate the RMD for each account separately but can take the total from any one or combination of IRAs. For 401(k)s, you must withdraw from each plan separately.
IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Key Ages)
| Age | Distribution Period | RMD % of Balance | RMD on $500K |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 | 3.77% | $18,868 |
| 74 | 25.5 | 3.92% | $19,608 |
| 75 | 24.6 | 4.07% | $20,325 |
| 76 | 23.7 | 4.22% | $21,097 |
| 78 | 21.8 | 4.59% | $22,936 |
| 80 | 20.2 | 4.95% | $24,752 |
| 85 | 16.0 | 6.25% | $31,250 |
| 90 | 12.2 | 8.20% | $40,984 |
Source: IRS Publication 590-B, 2023 Uniform Lifetime Table (updated per SECURE 2.0).
Key Concepts: SECURE 2.0, Inherited IRAs, and Roth Conversions
SECURE 2.0 Act (2022) pushed the RMD starting age from 72 to 73 (effective 2023), and to 75 for those born in 1960 or later (effective 2033). It also reduced the RMD excise tax from 50% to 25%, and to 10% if the missed RMD is corrected within two years. If you turned 72 before January 1, 2023, your RMD rules under the original SECURE Act (age 72) still apply.
Inherited IRA rules changed dramatically. Non-spouse beneficiaries who inherited after December 31, 2019 must generally withdraw the entire account within 10 years (the 10-year rule), with no annual RMD required but a hard deadline. Spouses still have the option to treat an inherited IRA as their own, deferring RMDs to their own age 73.
Roth conversions before RMD age are a key strategy for reducing future RMDs. Converting traditional IRA funds to a Roth IRA in your 60s — during the window between retirement and age 73 — reduces the balance subject to RMDs. Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the owner's lifetime. The tradeoff is paying income tax on the conversion amount now rather than later.
Tips for Managing RMDs
Take RMDs early in the year. The IRS requires withdrawal by December 31 (with a one-time extension to April 1 for the first year). Taking it in January gives you the full year to reinvest the after-tax proceeds and avoid a year-end scramble. Waiting until December risks a market dip reducing your account value right before you calculate the withdrawal.
Use RMDs to fund a QCD. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows you to transfer up to $105,000/year (2024, indexed for inflation) directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. QCDs count toward your RMD but are excluded from taxable income — a powerful tax strategy if you give to charity and are in a high bracket.
Aggregate IRA RMDs — but not 401(k) RMDs. If you have multiple traditional IRAs, you can calculate each RMD separately but take the combined total from any single IRA. This flexibility doesn't apply to 401(k)s — each plan must distribute its own RMD independently. Consolidating IRAs before RMD age simplifies administration.
Frequently Asked Questions About RMDs
At what age do RMDs start?
Under SECURE 2.0, RMDs start at age 73 for anyone who turned 72 after December 31, 2022. The age increases to 75 for those born in 1960 or later (effective 2033). If you reached 72 before 2023, your RMD start age was 72 under the original SECURE Act.
What is the RMD penalty for missing a distribution?
Missing or underpaying an RMD incurs a 25% excise tax on the shortfall (reduced from 50% by SECURE 2.0). If you correct the missed RMD within the correction window (2 years for tax-year RMDs), the penalty is reduced to 10%. File IRS Form 5329 to pay the penalty.
Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?
No. Roth IRA owners are never required to take RMDs during their lifetime. This is one of the key benefits of Roth IRAs for estate planning — the entire account can pass to heirs without forced withdrawals. However, Roth 401(k)s do have RMDs (though you can roll them to a Roth IRA to avoid this).
Can I reinvest my RMD?
Yes — after paying any taxes owed, you can reinvest RMD proceeds in a taxable brokerage account, a Roth IRA (if you have earned income and meet income limits), a high-yield savings account, or any other investment. The RMD amount must come out of the pre-tax account; what you do with the after-tax proceeds is your choice.
What accounts are subject to RMDs?
Traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457(b)s, and other employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement plans all require RMDs. Roth IRAs and health savings accounts (HSAs) do not. Roth 401(k)s had RMDs prior to 2024 but are now exempt under SECURE 2.0.
Can I take more than my RMD?
Yes. The RMD is a minimum — you can always withdraw more. Many retirees withdraw more than the minimum to fund living expenses, complete Roth conversions, or manage their tax bracket. Excess withdrawals are taxable in the year taken but do not carry forward to reduce future RMDs.
How does a QCD reduce my taxes?
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows IRA owners aged 70½ or older to transfer up to $105,000/year directly to a qualified charity. The amount counts toward the RMD but is excluded from adjusted gross income — effectively making the charitable gift with pre-tax dollars. This can reduce your AGI, lower Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and reduce the taxable portion of Social Security benefits.
What is the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table?
The Uniform Lifetime Table is published in IRS Publication 590-B and lists life expectancy factors (distribution periods) by age. You divide your December 31 account balance by the factor for your age to get your RMD. The table was updated in 2022 with longer life expectancy factors, slightly reducing RMDs across the board. A separate Joint Life and Last Survivor Table applies when your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger.
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