RMD Calculator
Calculate your required minimum distribution (RMD) from IRAs and 401(k)s using IRS life expectancy tables. Plan withdrawals and avoid penalties.
Account Information
RMD Details
Life Expectancy Factor
26.5 years
Percentage of Account
3.77%
Required Distribution
Annual RMD amount
After-Tax Amount
Estimated net distribution
Tax Impact
Estimated total taxes
RMD Penalties & Deadlines
• Deadline: December 31st each year (April 1st for first RMD)
• Penalty: 25% of the amount not withdrawn (reduced to 10% if corrected within 2 years)
• Exception: Still working exception for employer 401(k)s
• Important: Calculate RMD based on December 31st balance of prior year
How it works
A Required Minimum Distribution is the amount the IRS makes you withdraw each year from tax-deferred retirement accounts once you reach the required age (73). It's your prior-year-end balance divided by a life-expectancy factor from the IRS tables.
Required Minimum Distribution
RMD = prior year-end balance ÷ IRS life-expectancy factor
- balance
- account value on Dec 31 of the prior year
- factor
- IRS distribution-period factor for your age
Worked example
- Account balance = $500,000
- Age 73 → factor ≈ 26.5
- RMD = 500,000 ÷ 26.5
≈ $18,868 must be withdrawn this year.
Good to know
- RMDs are taxed as ordinary income; missing one used to trigger a steep penalty (now 25%, reducible).
- Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the owner's lifetime.
- The life-expectancy factor falls each year, so the required percentage rises with age.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a required minimum distribution (RMD)?
An RMD is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from traditional IRAs and workplace plans like 401(k)s once you reach RMD age — currently 73, rising to 75 for those born in 1960 or later under SECURE 2.0.
How is my RMD calculated?
Divide your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by the IRS life-expectancy factor for your age, usually from the Uniform Lifetime Table. At age 73 the factor is 26.5, making your first RMD roughly 3.8% of the balance.
What is the penalty for missing an RMD?
The excise tax is 25% of the amount you failed to withdraw, reduced to 10% if you correct the shortfall within the IRS correction window. Filing Form 5329 with a reasonable-cause explanation can sometimes get the penalty waived.
Do Roth accounts have RMDs?
Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the owner's lifetime, and since 2024 Roth 401(k)s are exempt as well. Beneficiaries who inherit retirement accounts, however, face their own distribution rules.
Can I delay my first RMD?
Yes — your first RMD can be postponed until April 1 of the year after you reach RMD age. The catch is you'd then take two RMDs in the same year, which can push you into a higher tax bracket.