Required Minimum Distribution Calculator

Last updated July 2, 2026

Required Minimum Distributions are the IRS's mechanism for ensuring that the tax-deferred growth in retirement accounts eventually gets taxed. Starting at age 73 — raised from 72 by the SECURE 2.0 Act, and scheduled to rise to 75 for those born after 1960 — account holders must withdraw a minimum amount from traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, SEP IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs each year. The calculation is straightforward: divide your December 31 prior-year account balance by the IRS life expectancy factor for your age from the Uniform Lifetime Table. At 73, that factor is 26.5, meaning the RMD on a $300,000 balance is $11,321. At 80, the factor drops to 20.2, producing a higher withdrawal percentage.

Failing to take the full RMD triggers a 25 percent excise tax on the amount not withdrawn, reduced to 10 percent if corrected within two years. Roth IRAs are exempt from RMDs during the account owner's lifetime, which is one reason Roth conversions before age 73 are a common tax-reduction strategy. The strategy works because every dollar converted from a traditional account to a Roth before RMDs begin reduces the future RMD amount — and therefore the future ordinary income tax exposure. Qualified Charitable Distributions offer a related strategy: directing up to $108,000 per person in 2026 from an IRA directly to a charity counts toward the RMD without appearing as taxable income, effectively fulfilling the IRS requirement while reducing the tax bill.

Knowing your first RMD deadline — April 1 of the year after you turn 73 — and calculate the amount from your December 31 prior-year account balance using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. If you're still years away, Roth conversions and Qualified Charitable Distribution planning are the two most powerful tools for managing the tax impact RMDs will create when they begin.