Calculate your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) based on IRS Publication 590-B — free, accurate, and 100% private (all calculations run in your browser).
Once you reach age 73, the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount from your retirement accounts each year. Enter your details below to calculate your RMD.
Your RMD for 2026 is $0.00
| Year | Your Age | Distribution Period | RMD Amount | End of Year Balance |
|---|
A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount the IRS mandates you to withdraw from certain tax-deferred retirement accounts each year. The specific amount varies based on your account balance and life expectancy as determined by the IRS. As you withdraw your RMD, you will also pay income taxes on the distribution.
Note that RMDs are just the minimum required distributions — if you need to pull more money from your accounts after reaching retirement age, you can. Withdrawing more than required does not reduce your future RMD obligations; each year's RMD is calculated independently based on that year's account balance and life expectancy factor.
You're required to take your first RMD by April 1st in the calendar year after you turn 73. This age was increased from 72 due to the passage of the SECURE Act 2.0 in December 2022. It is scheduled to increase again to 75 in 2033. Prior to 2019, the RMD age was 70.5; it was then increased to 72 due to the SECURE Act in 2019.
Technically RMDs are due every December 31, but the IRS allows you to delay the first withdrawal. If you take this route, you'll have to take a second RMD before December 31 of the same year. Taking two RMDs in one year creates two taxable events — and might even push you into a higher tax bracket.
The IRS gives retirees a break after they turn 73 by allowing you to delay your first withdrawal until April 1 of the next year. Another way to delay your RMD is by continuing employment at the company that sponsors your retirement account after your 73rd birthday. Assuming you own less than 5% of the company in question, you can delay your first RMD until retirement.
That said, you'll still have to take RMDs from any other retirement accounts you have, such as an IRA account. And once you leave the company, the RMD mandate kicks in for that account, too.
Calculating your RMD follows three simple steps based on IRS guidelines:
The exact IRS table you need depends on your marital or inheritance situation. You can find these life expectancy tables in the IRS's Publication 590-B. In general:
The distribution period decreases as you age, which means your RMD as a percentage of your account grows over time. Here are some representative values:
| Age | Distribution Period | Approx. RMD % of Balance |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 | 3.77% |
| 75 | 24.6 | 4.07% |
| 80 | 20.2 | 4.95% |
| 85 | 16.0 | 6.25% |
| 90 | 12.2 | 8.20% |
| 95 | 8.9 | 11.24% |
| 100 | 6.4 | 15.63% |
| 105 | 4.6 | 21.74% |
| 110 | 3.5 | 28.57% |
| 115+ | 2.9 | 34.48% |
While these values give you a rough estimate, our RMD calculator uses the full official IRS tables to give you the most accurate result. Just input the required information and we'll do the hard work for you!
Most tax-advantaged and defined contribution retirement accounts impose RMD requirements. These include:
A notable exception is Roth IRAs, which don't require RMDs typically until the owner dies, as these are funded with after-tax dollars. However, inherited Roth IRAs do have different rules — see the section on inherited IRAs below.
Yes. If you have several retirement accounts, like multiple traditional IRAs and 403(b)s from different employers, you'll need to calculate your RMDs for each account individually. However, you may be able to combine your total RMD from the same type of account and withdraw a consolidated distribution from one or more accounts of the same type:
Unfortunately, taking withdrawals from a Roth IRA never satisfies RMD requirements, because those withdrawals aren't taxed. Additionally, pulling out more than your required minimum distribution doesn't reduce your RMD load for future years.
As the "R" in RMD stands for "required," it's no surprise that there are steep penalties for failing to take your distributions.
But remember that you don't have to take your RMD on a specific schedule. The IRS only demands that you meet your annual withdrawal requirement by December 31 of each year. That offers flexibility in taking monthly or lump-sum withdrawals, as long as they add up to the annual minimum.
The IRS enforces RMDs to ensure that taxpayers don't skip out on their obligations. Since the money in these accounts has been tax-deferred for decades, Uncle Sam hasn't taken his cut. By taking RMDs, you create a "taxable event."
Generally, RMDs are taxed as ordinary income at the state and federal levels. In other words, withdrawals count toward your total taxable income for the year in question. But be careful: if you're working or withdrawing from other accounts, RMDs may push you into a higher tax bracket.
The IRS requires that brokerage firms, custodians, and trustees offer to calculate RMDs for accountholders. That requirement extends to administrators of employer-sponsored plans like 401(k)s. However, the IRS also stipulates that RMD calculations and withdrawals are ultimately the taxpayer's responsibility.
That means if your brokerage or custodian makes a mistake, you can still be held liable for any penalties. And though it's possible to get penalties waived if the shortfall occurs due to "reasonable errors," there's no guarantee. That's why we recommend calculating your own RMDs for each account, each year — just to be on the safe side.
When you inherit a retirement account that has RMDs like an IRA, the rules vary based on your relationship with the original owner or the type of account.
Post-2019, non-spouse beneficiaries must distribute the full amount of the IRA within ten years after the original accountholder's death. The SECURE Act of 2019 mostly eliminated the option for non-spouse IRA inheritors to stretch IRA withdrawals based on their own life expectancy. However, exceptions exist for eligible designated beneficiaries:
Generally, these individuals may delay or stretch RMDs, though the length of time varies.
Spouses who inherit a deceased partner's IRA may roll the funds into their own IRA to keep saving. Alternatively, spouses can roll the funds into an Inherited IRA, which comes with its own distribution rules. As a spouse using an Inherited IRA, you can:
Roth IRAs come with several tax-advantaged perks — one of which is that you don't have to take RMDs upon retirement. However, that benefit changes when you die and someone else inherits your assets:
The rules are also different for inheriting a deceased person's 401(k). Because these get complicated fast, it's often wise to hire a financial advisor or an attorney specializing in inheritance laws to navigate these situations.
By law, 401(k) beneficiaries are required to be spouses unless the employee is single or the spouse signs a waiver. If you inherit a 401(k), you may be able to leave funds within the plan, be required to remove the funds immediately, or take distributions over five years, depending on the plan's policies.
Another option is to roll 401(k) assets into an Inherited IRA, in which case the above RMD rules apply. However, these are just generalizations. State laws and company policies can all affect 401(k) inheritance rules.
If you want to avoid getting taxed on required distributions, consider these strategies:
Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s tax contributed funds upfront, meaning there are rarely back-end taxes to worry about. While Roth 401(k)s technically require RMDs, you can rollover that 401(k) to a Roth IRA, which eliminates RMDs altogether.
Donate your entire RMD to charity via a QCD. QCDs satisfy your RMD and lower your tax bill while benefiting charity. For 2024, you can donate up to $105,000 per year via QCDs (this limit is indexed for inflation).
Convert portions of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA in years before RMDs begin. You'll pay taxes on the conversion at your current (often lower) rate, and the Roth will grow tax-free with no RMDs.
Before RMDs kick in, you can strategically withdraw from taxable brokerage accounts or Roth IRAs to reduce the balance subject to future RMDs.
If possible, bunch deductions (like charitable contributions) into years when you'll have higher RMD income to offset the tax impact.
Some states don't tax retirement income at all. If you're considering relocation in retirement, this can dramatically impact your RMD tax picture.