RMD Calculator

Calculate your Required Minimum Distributions from retirement accounts

The RMD Calculator helps you determine the minimum amount you must withdraw from your traditional IRA, 401(k), or other tax-deferred retirement accounts each year starting at age 73. Failing to take RMDs results in a 25% penalty on the amount that should have been withdrawn.

What would you like to calculate?

Account Information

Current Age

RMDs begin at age 73

Account Balance as of December 31st ($)

Use the balance from the end of the previous year

Account Type

Marital Status

Spouse's Age

Required if spouse is sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger

Tax Information

Current Tax Bracket (%)

State Tax Rate (%)

Quick Scenarios

RMD Results

Enter your information to calculate RMD

How Required Minimum Distributions Work

RMD Basics

Starting Age: RMDs begin at age 73 (changed from 72 in 2023).

Deadline: First RMD can be delayed until April 1st of the year after turning 73.

Annual Requirement: Subsequent RMDs must be taken by December 31st each year.

Calculation: Account balance ÷ life expectancy factor from IRS tables.

Penalty: 25% excise tax on amounts not withdrawn (reduced to 10% if corrected within 2 years).

Affected Accounts

Traditional IRA:Required

401(k), 403(b), 457:Required

SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA:Required

Roth IRA (owner):Not Required

Inherited Accounts:Special Rules

RMD Calculation Formula

Standard Calculation

RMD = Account Balance (Dec 31) ÷ Life Expectancy Factor

Account Balance: Fair market value as of December 31st of the previous year

Life Expectancy Factor: From IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (most common)

Special Cases: Joint and Last Survivor Table if spouse is sole beneficiary and >10 years younger

Life Expectancy Factors (Sample)

Age 73: 26.5

Age 75: 24.6

Age 80: 20.2

Age 85: 16.0

Example: 75-Year-Old Retiree

Scenario: Standard RMD Calculation

Given Information

Age:75

Account Balance:$500,000

Life Expectancy Factor:24.6

Tax Bracket:22%

Calculation Results

Required RMD:$20,325

Federal Tax:$4,472

After-Tax Amount:$15,853

Penalty if Missed:$5,081

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't take my RMD?

The IRS imposes a 25% excise tax on the amount you should have withdrawn but didn't. This penalty can be reduced to 10% if you correct the error within two years. For example, if your RMD was $10,000 and you didn't take it, you'd owe a $2,500 penalty.

Can I take more than the required minimum?

Yes, you can withdraw more than the RMD amount, but excess withdrawals don't count toward future years' RMDs. Each year's RMD must be calculated and withdrawn separately. Taking more than required will result in additional taxable income for that year.

Do I need to take RMDs from each account separately?

For IRAs, you can calculate the RMD for each account but take the total from one or more accounts. For 401(k)s and other employer plans, you must take the RMD from each plan separately. Inherited IRAs must be handled individually and cannot be aggregated.