RMD Calculator

SECURE 2.0 · IRS Uniform Lifetime Table

RMD Calculator

Calculate your Required Minimum Distribution for 2026 — and avoid the 25% penalty.

Once you reach RMD age, the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount from your traditional IRA and most workplace retirement accounts every year — whether you need the money or not. Miss it, and the penalty is steep: 25% of the amount you should have withdrawn (10% if you fix it within two years). This calculator uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table to show your exact required withdrawal.

$
Please enter your account balance to calculate.
Your required minimum distribution this year
$0
The minimum you must withdraw by December 31.
Life expectancy factor
0
As % of balance
0%
Penalty if missed (25%)
$0
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Missing account balance

Please enter your account balance before calculating — it's the required field.

How your RMD is calculated

Your RMD equals your account balance as of December 31 of the previous year, divided by a "life expectancy factor" from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table that corresponds to your age. As you get older, the factor shrinks, which means the required percentage of your balance you must withdraw grows each year — even if your balance stays flat or grows.

The RMD formula
RMD = prior Dec 31 balance ÷ Uniform Lifetime Table factor
Missed RMD penalty = 25% of the shortfall (10% if corrected within 2 years)
Worked example — $500,000 balance, age 75: factor = 24.6. RMD = $500,000 ÷ 24.6 = $20,325 (about 4.07% of the balance) for the year.

When RMDs start under SECURE 2.0

BornRMD starting age
1950 or earlier72 (or 70½ under older rules)
1951–195973
1960 or later75 (effective 2033)

Your very first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you reach your starting age — but if you do, you'll owe a second RMD by December 31 of that same year, doubling your taxable income for that year. Most retirees are better off taking the first RMD in the year they reach the threshold age.

Uniform Lifetime Table (selected ages)

AgeFactorAgeFactor
7326.58516.0
7524.69012.2
8020.2958.9
8218.51006.4

Reducing your RMD tax hit

  • Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): direct up to $111,000/year straight from your IRA to charity. It counts toward your RMD but is excluded from taxable income entirely.
  • Roth conversions earlier in retirement: Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs, so converting funds before RMD age shrinks future required withdrawals. See the Roth conversion calculator.
  • Watch the IRMAA effect: a large RMD can push your Medicare premiums up two years later — check the IRMAA calculator if you're near or on Medicare.

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Frequently asked questions

At what age do RMDs start?+
Age 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1959. Age 75 if you were born in 1960 or later, though that higher age doesn't take effect until 2033. The age was previously 72 under the original SECURE Act and 70½ before that.
What happens if I miss an RMD?+
The IRS imposes a 25% excise tax on the amount you should have withdrawn but didn't. If you correct the mistake within two years by taking the missed distribution and filing Form 5329, the penalty drops to 10%.
Do Roth IRAs require RMDs?+
No, not during the original owner's lifetime. Roth IRAs are exempt from lifetime RMDs, which is one reason many retirees convert traditional IRA funds to Roth before reaching RMD age.
Can I take more than my RMD?+
Yes, there's no maximum. You can withdraw as much as you like above your RMD. However, you can't apply an excess withdrawal in one year toward a future year's RMD — each year's requirement is calculated fresh.
Do I have to take an RMD from every account separately?+
For IRAs, no — you can calculate the RMD for each IRA separately, then withdraw the total from any one IRA or a combination. For 401(k)s and other workplace plans, RMDs generally must be taken from each plan separately; they don't aggregate with IRAs or with each other.
What if my spouse is much younger than me?+
If your spouse is your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger, you use the IRS Joint and Last Survivor Table instead of the Uniform Lifetime Table, which produces a smaller required distribution. This calculator uses the standard Uniform Lifetime Table.
Can a Qualified Charitable Distribution satisfy my RMD?+
Yes. If you're 70½ or older, you can send up to $111,000 (2026 limit) directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. It counts toward satisfying your RMD for the year but is excluded from your taxable income entirely — a meaningful tax advantage over taking the RMD and donating afterward.
This calculator provides general estimates only and is not tax or financial advice. It uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Publication 590-B, Table III) and assumes a single owner whose spouse is not more than 10 years younger and not the sole beneficiary. It does not cover inherited IRA rules, the Joint and Last Survivor Table, or annuitized account special rules. Confirm your exact RMD with your account custodian or a tax professional.

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