RMD Calculator 2026: Required Minimum Distribution by Age
RMD Calculator
Required minimum distributions from IRAs and 401(k)s
20-year RMD projection
| Year | Age | Start balance | Factor | RMD |
|---|
Estimate only. Uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (in effect since 2022). Future years assume steady growth and withdrawing only the RMD. Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s have no RMDs for the original owner. Inherited accounts follow different rules. Not tax advice.
Once you reach a certain age, the IRS requires you to start taking money out of most tax-deferred retirement accounts every year. This yearly withdrawal is called a required minimum distribution, or RMD. Our free RMD calculator shows how much you need to withdraw this year, when your RMDs start, and how your future RMDs may change, using the official IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
What is a required minimum distribution (RMD)?
An RMD is the minimum amount you must withdraw each year from accounts such as a traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) plan. You saved in these accounts with tax-deferred money, so the IRS requires you to start taking it out, and paying income tax on it, once you reach your RMD age.
You can always withdraw more than your RMD. The RMD is only the minimum.
When do RMDs start?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, your RMD starting age depends on the year you were born:
- Born 1950 or earlier: You should already be taking RMDs.
- Born 1951 to 1959: RMDs start in the year you turn 73.
- Born 1960 or later: RMDs start in the year you turn 75.
Your first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you reach your RMD age. Every RMD after that is due by December 31 each year. Be careful: if you delay your first RMD to April 1, you will have to take two RMDs in that same year, which could push you into a higher tax bracket.
How to calculate your RMD
The RMD formula is simple:
RMD = Account balance on December 31 of last year ÷ IRS distribution period for your age
The distribution period, sometimes called the life expectancy factor, comes from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. Most account owners use this table. Here are some common factors:
- Age 73: 26.5
- Age 75: 24.6
- Age 80: 20.2
- Age 85: 16.0
- Age 90: 12.2
As you get older, the factor gets smaller, so your RMD becomes a larger share of your account each year.
Example: RMD on a $500,000 IRA
Let's say you were born in 1953 and turn 73 in 2026. Your traditional IRA was worth $500,000 on December 31, 2025.
- IRS factor for age 73: 26.5
- Your 2026 RMD: $500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,867.92
- That is about $1,572 per month.
Because 2026 is your first RMD year, you could wait until April 1, 2027, to take it. If you were born in 1952 instead, you would be 74 in 2026, the factor would be 25.5, and your RMD would be $19,607.84.
How to use this RMD calculator
- Enter your birth year. The calculator uses it to find your RMD starting age.
- Choose the RMD year you want to calculate.
- Enter your account balance on December 31 of the prior year. You can find this on your year-end statement.
- Enter an expected yearly growth rate to estimate future RMDs.
- Tick the box if your spouse is more than 10 years younger and your only beneficiary. You may qualify for a smaller RMD under a different IRS table.
- Your RMD, deadline and a 20-year chart update instantly as you type.
If you have several accounts, calculate an RMD for each one. You can add up the RMDs from all your IRAs and take the total from any one IRA, or a mix. The same is true for 403(b) accounts. But 401(k) RMDs must be taken from each 401(k) separately.
What happens if you miss an RMD?
If you do not withdraw your full RMD by the deadline, the IRS charges an excise tax of 25% on the amount you should have withdrawn. If you correct the mistake within two years, the penalty drops to 10%. To fix a missed RMD, take the missing amount as soon as possible and file IRS Form 5329 with your tax return.
Accounts that do not need RMDs
- Roth IRAs: No RMDs while the original owner is alive.
- Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b): No RMDs for the original owner since 2024.
- Your current employer's plan: If you are still working and do not own 5% or more of the company, you can usually delay RMDs from that plan until you retire. This does not apply to IRAs.
Inherited IRAs follow separate rules, often including the 10-year rule, so this calculator does not cover them.
Smart ways to manage your RMD
- Plan for taxes. RMDs are taxed as ordinary income. You can ask your provider to withhold federal tax from the withdrawal.
- Give to charity tax-free. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) lets people age 70½ and older send money directly from an IRA to a charity. It can count toward your RMD and is not added to your taxable income.
- Spread it out. You can take your RMD in one payment or in monthly withdrawals throughout the year.
- Reinvest if you do not need it. You must withdraw the RMD, but you can invest it in a regular taxable account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RMD age in 2026?
The RMD age is 73 for people born from 1951 to 1959, and 75 for people born in 1960 or later. In 2026, people born in 1953 reach age 73 and must take their first RMD by April 1, 2027.
How is an RMD calculated?
Divide your account balance on December 31 of the previous year by the IRS distribution period for your age from the Uniform Lifetime Table. For example, $500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,867.92 at age 73.
Can I take more than my RMD?
Yes. The RMD is only the minimum. You can withdraw more at any time, but withdrawing extra this year does not reduce next year's RMD.
Do I have to pay taxes on my RMD?
Yes. RMDs from traditional IRAs and pre-tax 401(k)s are taxed as ordinary income in the year you take them, unless part of the money came from after-tax contributions.
What is the penalty for missing an RMD?
The IRS charges a 25% excise tax on the amount you failed to withdraw. It is reduced to 10% if you correct the shortfall within two years.
This calculator and article are for educational purposes only and are not tax or financial advice. Please read our Disclaimer and check IRS Publication 590-B or speak with a tax professional about your own situation.