Calculate your annual RMD from IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement accounts using IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factors.
Age must be 72 or older.
Please enter a valid balance.
Enter a rate between 0–50%.
Age must be 72 or older.
Please enter a valid balance.
5%
How to Use This Required Minimum Distribution Calculator
Enter your age (must be 72 or older, per IRS rules), your retirement account balance as of December 31 of the prior year, and your estimated tax rate. For single-year calculations, you'll see your exact RMD, estimated taxes owed, and your take-home amount. Switch to Multi-Year Projection to see how your RMDs evolve over time as your balance grows or shrinks.
The calculator uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (updated for 2022 and beyond), which applies to most account holders. The "Inherited IRA" rule uses a different table — consult a tax advisor if you've inherited an account.
Why This Matters
Required Minimum Distributions are the IRS's way of collecting deferred taxes on your retirement savings. Starting at age 73 (72 if you turned 72 before January 1, 2023), you must withdraw a minimum amount each year — and failing to do so triggers a steep 25% excise tax on the amount you should have taken out.
Consider a retiree with $800,000 in a traditional IRA at age 73. Their 2024 RMD would be about $30,303. If they skip it, the IRS penalty alone is $7,576 — before any regular income tax. At 85, the same account (assuming 5% growth) might require withdrawals of $60,000+ per year, potentially pushing the retiree into a higher tax bracket and increasing Medicare premiums (IRMAA surcharges kick in above $103,000 for individuals).
Smart RMD planning — including Roth conversions in your 60s, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), or spreading withdrawals — can save tens of thousands in lifetime taxes. This calculator gives you the foundation for those conversations.
How It's Calculated
The IRS uses the Uniform Lifetime Table to assign a life expectancy factor (also called a distribution period) to each age. Your RMD is simply:
RMD = Prior Year-End Account Balance ÷ Life Expectancy Factor
For example, at age 75, the factor is 24.6. A $600,000 balance produces an RMD of $600,000 ÷ 24.6 = $24,390. The factor decreases each year, meaning a larger share of your balance must be withdrawn as you age. This calculator uses the updated 2022 IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, which uses longer life expectancy estimates and results in slightly lower RMDs than the previous table.
Multi-year projections apply your expected growth rate to the post-RMD balance each year, then apply the next year's factor to that new balance.
Tips & Common Mistakes
Use December 31 balance, not current balance. Your RMD is based on what your account was worth at the end of the previous year — not today's value.
Each account has its own RMD. If you have multiple 401(k)s, you must calculate and take RMDs from each one separately. Traditional IRAs can be aggregated — take the total from any one or combination of IRAs.
Don't miss your first RMD deadline. For your first RMD (age 73), you have until April 1 of the following year — but that means you'll take two RMDs in year two, potentially doubling your taxable income that year.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are powerful. At age 70½+, you can donate up to $105,000 directly from an IRA to charity, satisfying your RMD without the amount counting as taxable income.
Roth IRAs don't have RMDs. Only traditional (pre-tax) IRAs and 401(k)s require minimum distributions. Roth 401(k)s do have RMDs unless rolled into a Roth IRA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age do I have to start taking RMDs?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, the starting age is 73 for anyone born between 1951–1959, and age 75 for those born in 1960 or later. If you turned 72 before January 1, 2023, the old rules applied and your RMD age was 72. This calculator assumes age 72 as the minimum for simplicity, but double-check your birth year to confirm your exact start date.
Do I pay taxes on my RMD?
Yes — RMDs from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are taxed as ordinary income in the year you receive them. They are added to your other income sources (Social Security, pensions, etc.) and taxed at your marginal rate. The calculator's tax estimate is a straightforward percentage — your actual liability depends on your total income picture.
Can I take more than the minimum?
Absolutely. The RMD is a floor, not a ceiling. You can withdraw as much as you want above the minimum — but everything you take out is taxable. Some retirees deliberately take more to reduce future RMDs (and associated taxes), especially in lower-income years before Social Security begins.
What if I'm still working at 73?
If you're still working and participating in your current employer's 401(k), you may be able to delay RMDs from that specific plan until you retire — this is the "still working" exception. However, this does NOT apply to IRAs or 401(k)s from former employers. Check with your plan administrator to confirm eligibility.