RMD Calculator
Calculate your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from a traditional IRA or 401(k) using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
| Age | Life Expectancy Factor | RMD (same balance) |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 | $18,867.92 |
| 74 | 25.5 | $19,607.84 |
| 75 | 24.6 | $20,325.20 |
| 76 | 23.7 | $21,097.05 |
| 77 | 22.9 | $21,834.06 |
| 78 | 22 | $22,727.27 |
The IRS factor shrinks every year, so the required distribution grows even if your balance doesn't.
- IRS Life Expectancy Factor24.6
Uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. A different table applies if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger.
About the RMD Calculator
The IRS doesn't let a traditional IRA or 401(k) grow tax-deferred forever — once you reach RMD age, it forces a minimum withdrawal every year, calculated by dividing your prior year-end balance by a life-expectancy factor from the Uniform Lifetime Table. That factor shrinks a little every year you age, which is the part people miss: even a balance that stays perfectly flat produces a growing required withdrawal, and skipping it or underpaying it triggers a steep IRS excise tax on the shortfall.
This is the calculator for the specific chore that shows up every year once you're retired and holding tax-deferred accounts: figuring out the exact dollar amount you're required to pull out before the December 31 deadline, so you can plan the tax hit and decide whether to take more than the minimum.
Your account balance and age are personal enough that you probably don't want them sitting on a server somewhere — everything here runs in your browser, with no login and nothing saved beyond the tab you're looking at.
How it’s calculated
The RMD is your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year, divided by the IRS life-expectancy factor for your age this year — a smaller factor at older ages divides into a larger required amount, which is why the table below shows the requirement climbing over time even off an unchanged balance.
This calculator uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, the one that applies to the large majority of account owners. A different, more generous table applies only if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger than you.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I don't take my full RMD by the deadline?
The IRS charges an excise tax on the amount you failed to withdraw — historically as high as 50%, though recent law changes have reduced it in many cases. It's a genuinely steep penalty, so missing or shorting an RMD is one of the costliest retirement-account mistakes to make.
Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?
Not during the original owner's lifetime — RMDs apply to traditional IRAs, 401(k)s and similar pre-tax accounts, but a Roth IRA is exempt for as long as the original account holder is alive, which is one reason people convert balances to Roth before RMD age.
Can I take my RMD from just one account if I have several?
For IRAs, yes — you can calculate each IRA's RMD separately and then withdraw the total from any one IRA or combination of them. Workplace plans like 401(k)s are different and generally require the RMD to come out of that specific plan.
Does the RMD amount count as taxable income?
Yes — an RMD from a traditional account is taxed as ordinary income in the year you take it, same as any other withdrawal. It's not a penalty in itself; the penalty only applies to the portion you fail to withdraw.
Can I take more than my RMD in a given year?
Yes — the RMD is only a floor, not a cap. Taking more is common if you need the cash or are managing your tax bracket across years, but any withdrawal above the minimum doesn't reduce what you're required to take in future years.
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