RMD Calculator

Calculate Your Required Minimum Distribution

Starting at age 73, the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount from Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s each year. Missing an RMD triggers a 25% penalty. Use the table below to calculate your RMD, then create a free plan for year-by-year projections.

How to Calculate Your RMD

Your RMD is calculated by dividing your December 31 account balance by the IRS life expectancy factor for your age:

Formula: RMD = Prior Year-End Account Balance ÷ IRS Life Expectancy Factor

Example: RMD at Age 73

Account Balance (Dec 31)

$750,000

Traditional IRA

IRS Life Expectancy Factor

26.5

Age 73 (Uniform Lifetime Table)

Your RMD

$28,302

$750,000 ÷ 26.5

Effective Withdrawal Rate

3.77%

Increases each year as you age

RMD by Age: How It Grows

As you age, the life expectancy factor decreases, which means your RMD percentage increases. Here's how RMDs grow for a $750,000 starting balance (assuming 5% annual growth):

Age 73

$28,302

3.77% of balance

Age 78

$38,900

4.55% of balance

Age 83

$49,700

5.85% of balance

Age 88

$57,200

7.52% of balance

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Year-by-year RMD projections for all your accounts
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2024 IRS Uniform Lifetime Table for RMD Calculations

Use this table to find your life expectancy factor. Divide your December 31 account balance by this factor to calculate your RMD. This table applies to most account owners. If your spouse is your sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger, use the Joint Life Table instead.

Age	Factor	RMD %	Age	Factor	RMD %
73	26.5	3.77%	85	16.0	6.25%
74	25.5	3.92%	86	15.2	6.58%
75	24.6	4.07%	87	14.4	6.94%
76	23.7	4.22%	88	13.7	7.30%
77	22.9	4.37%	89	12.9	7.75%
78	22.0	4.55%	90	12.2	8.20%
79	21.1	4.74%	91	11.5	8.70%
80	20.2	4.95%	92	10.8	9.26%
81	19.4	5.15%	93	10.1	9.90%
82	18.5	5.41%	94	9.5	10.53%
83	17.7	5.65%	95	8.9	11.24%
84	16.8	5.95%	96+	8.4	11.90%

Source: IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (updated 2022 under SECURE Act). Factors shown for ages 96+ use age 96 factor; actual IRS table continues to age 120+.

Which Accounts Require RMDs?

Not all retirement accounts have Required Minimum Distributions. Here's a breakdown:

Accounts That Require RMDs

Traditional IRA - RMDs start at age 73 (75 if born after 1960)
SEP IRA - Same rules as Traditional IRA
SIMPLE IRA - Same rules as Traditional IRA
401(k) - RMDs at 73 (can delay if still working at the same employer)
403(b) - Same as 401(k)
457(b) - Government plans: same as 401(k)
Inherited IRAs - Different rules based on relationship to deceased and year inherited

Accounts Exempt from RMDs

Roth IRA - No RMDs for original owner during their lifetime
Roth 401(k) - Starting in 2024, no RMDs required (SECURE Act 2.0)
HSA - No RMDs (medical expenses only)
Taxable Brokerage - No RMDs (not a retirement account)

This is a key reason why Roth conversions are such a powerful planning tool. Every dollar moved to Roth is a dollar that never requires a forced withdrawal.

5 Strategies to Minimize RMD Taxes

1. Roth Conversion Ladder

Convert Traditional IRA money to Roth during low-income years before RMDs start. You pay taxes on the conversion, but at a lower rate than you'd pay on future RMDs. Every dollar converted is exempt from future RMDs.

2. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

If you're 70.5 or older, you can transfer up to $105,000 per year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. QCDs count toward your RMD but aren't included in your taxable income. This is one of the most tax-efficient ways to satisfy RMDs if you're charitably inclined.

3. Start Withdrawals Before 73

Nothing prevents you from taking distributions before RMDs begin. If you have years with lower income (between retirement and Social Security), strategic early withdrawals can spread the tax burden over more years and keep you in lower brackets.

4. Aggregate Your RMDs

If you have multiple Traditional IRAs, you can calculate the total RMD across all of them and withdraw the entire amount from one account. This lets you choose which account to draw from based on performance or your desired asset allocation.

5. Consider the Still-Working Exception

If you're still employed at 73+, you can delay RMDs from your current employer's 401(k) until you retire (if you don't own 5%+ of the company). However, this exception doesn't apply to IRAs or 401(k)s from previous employers.

Create a free RetirePlanAI account to see your projected RMDs and test strategies to minimize their tax impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age do Required Minimum Distributions start?

For most people, RMDs begin at age 73. If you were born in 1960 or later, RMDs start at age 75 (under SECURE Act 2.0). Your first RMD must be taken by April 1 of the year after you reach the applicable age, then by December 31 each year after.

What is the penalty for missing an RMD?

The penalty for failing to take your RMD is 25% of the amount you should have withdrawn. If you correct the shortfall within 2 years, the penalty is reduced to 10%. Before 2023, the penalty was 50%, so the SECURE Act 2.0 significantly reduced this penalty.

Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?

No. Roth IRAs have no Required Minimum Distributions for the original owner during their lifetime. Starting in 2024, Roth 401(k)s also have no RMDs. This is one of the major advantages of Roth accounts and a key reason to consider Roth conversions before RMDs begin.

How do I calculate my RMD?

Divide your retirement account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by the IRS life expectancy factor for your current age (found in the Uniform Lifetime Table above). For example, at age 73 with a $750,000 balance: $750,000 / 26.5 = $28,302.

Can I take more than my Required Minimum Distribution?

Yes. The RMD is the minimum you must withdraw, but you can always take more. However, excess withdrawals cannot be applied to future years' RMDs. Each year has its own independent RMD calculation.

What is a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)?

A QCD allows you to transfer up to $105,000 per year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. The distribution counts toward your RMD but isn't included in your taxable income. You must be 70.5 or older to make a QCD.

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