RMD Calculator
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Account Details
Required Minimum Distribution
Enter your account details to calculate your RMD.
This calculator provides an educational estimate only and is not tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified tax professional or your plan administrator to confirm your actual RMD obligation.
Understanding Required Minimum Distributions
A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount you must withdraw each year from most tax-advantaged retirement accounts once you reach a certain age -- the IRS doesn't let tax-deferred savings grow forever without eventually taxing it. This calculator uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table to estimate that minimum withdrawal.
RMDs Begin at Age 73
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, RMDs currently begin at age 73 (this age has been raised twice in recent years, so double-check current law as it can change again). No RMD is owed before then.
The Uniform Lifetime Table
The IRS publishes a life-expectancy divisor for each age. Your RMD is simply your prior year-end balance divided by the divisor for your current age -- the divisor shrinks as you age, so a larger share of the balance must come out each year.
Penalties for Missing an RMD
Failing to withdraw the full RMD by the deadline can trigger a steep excise tax penalty on the shortfall -- RMDs aren't optional once they apply to you.
Roth Accounts Are Different
Roth IRAs have never had RMDs during the original owner's lifetime, and as of 2024 the SECURE 2.0 Act extended that same exemption to Roth 401(k) accounts -- select "Roth 401(k)" above to see that noted on your result.
Worked Example
Suppose your Traditional IRA held $500,000 at the end of last year, and you're 75 years old this year:
- Divisor at age 75 (Uniform Lifetime Table): 24.6.
- RMD: $500,000 ÷ 24.6 ≈ $20,325.20.
A 68-year-old with the same balance owes no RMD at all yet -- the requirement doesn't start until age 73.
Age 75, $500,000 Balance
- Divisor Used: 24.6
- RMD: $20,325.20
Key Takeaways
- Nothing Owed Before 73: If you're younger than 73, you have no RMD obligation yet -- this calculator won't produce a divide-by-zero or bogus figure for those ages, it simply reports that none is required.
- The Divisor Shrinks With Age: As you get older, the same balance produces a larger required withdrawal, since the divisor gets smaller each year.
- Roth Accounts Are Exempt: Roth IRAs (always) and Roth 401(k)s (since 2024) have no lifetime RMD requirement for the original owner.
- This Is an Estimate: Special rules apply for inherited accounts and for still-working exceptions on employer plans -- verify your actual obligation with a tax professional or plan administrator.