IRA RMD Calculator

Q: Which account balance should I enter in the calculator?

Enter the value of your traditional IRA on December 31 of last year . That is the only balance the IRS uses. Do not use today's balance, even if the market has moved a lot since then.

IRA RMD Calculator

Updated Aug 10, 2026 By Jehan Wadia

Introduction

When you turn 73, the IRS says you must start taking money out of your traditional IRA each year. This yearly withdrawal is called a Required Minimum Distribution, or RMD. If you skip it or take too little, you can owe a penalty.

This IRA RMD calculator shows how much you must withdraw. Just enter your age and your IRA balance from December 31 of last year. The tool divides your balance by the IRS life expectancy factor from the Uniform Lifetime Table and gives you your RMD amount right away.

You can also see:

Your RMD as a percent of your balance
What happens if you delay your first RMD to April 1 (which means two RMDs in one year)
A year-by-year table of future RMDs and account balances
Values in today's dollars if you add an inflation rate

Every answer comes with step-by-step math, so you can see exactly how the number was found. Use it to plan your withdrawals and avoid a tax surprise. If you inherited an account instead of owning it yourself, use the Inherited IRA RMD Calculator, and for broader planning try our Retirement Withdrawal Calculator.

How to use our IRA RMD Calculator

Enter your age, your IRA balance, and a few simple assumptions. The calculator shows your required minimum distribution (RMD) for this year, the IRS life expectancy factor used, and a year-by-year projection of your future RMDs and account balance.

Your Current Age: Pick your age from the list. RMDs start at age 73, so the list begins there. Your age sets the IRS distribution period used in the math. Not sure of your exact age in years and months? Check with the Age Calculator.

IRA Account Balance: Type the value of your IRA on December 31 of last year. The IRS uses that prior year-end balance, not today's balance. If you are still building that balance, the IRA Calculator shows how contributions grow over time.

Is this your first year taking RMDs? Choose "Yes" if this is your first RMD year. Choose "No" if you have taken one before.

Do you plan to delay your first RMD until the April 1 deadline? This choice only shows if it is your first year. Pick "Yes" to wait until April 1 of next year, and the tool will show both RMDs you must take in that one calendar year. Pick "No" to take it by December 31.

Expected Annual Rate of Return: Move the slider or type a percent from 0% to 12%. This is how much you think your IRA will grow each year and it shapes your future RMD amounts. See how growth stacks up over decades with the Compound Interest Calculator.

Assumed Annual Inflation Rate: Enter a percent from 0% to 8%, or leave it at 0%. Adding a rate shows your RMDs and balance in today's dollars. Our Present Value Calculator uses the same discounting idea.

Click Calculate to see your results, the step-by-step math, the projection table, and the chart. Click Reset to start over.

What Is an IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

A required minimum distribution, or RMD, is the smallest amount you must take out of your retirement account each year once you reach a certain age. The IRS lets your money grow tax-deferred for years, but it does not let you keep it there forever. RMDs make sure that money finally gets taxed.

When RMDs Start

Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, RMDs start at age 73. Your first RMD is due by April 1 of the year after you turn 73. Every RMD after that is due by December 31 of each year. Use the Days Until Calculator to see how much time is left before your deadline.

How the RMD Is Figured

The math is simple. You take your account balance from December 31 of last year and divide it by a number from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. That number is called your distribution period or life expectancy factor.

RMD = Prior year-end balance ÷ IRS distribution period

For example, at age 73 the factor is 26.5. A $500,000 balance divided by 26.5 gives an RMD of about $18,867. As you get older, the factor gets smaller, so your RMD becomes a bigger share of your account each year. To see that share as a percentage yourself, the Percentage Calculator can help.

The Two-RMD Year Trap

If you wait until April 1 to take your first RMD, you still owe your second RMD by December 31 of that same year. That means two withdrawals in one calendar year. Both count as income, which can push you into a higher tax bracket, raise your Medicare premiums, or make more of your Social Security taxable. Check the impact with the Tax Bracket Calculator and the Taxable Social Security Benefits Calculator. Taking your first RMD by December 31 of the first year often spreads the tax hit more evenly.

Which Accounts Have RMDs

Traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs
401(k), 403(b), and most other workplace plans
Roth IRAs have no RMDs while the owner is alive
Roth 401(k)s no longer have RMDs for the owner

If you own more than one IRA, you add up the RMD for each one, then you may take the total from just one IRA. Workplace plans like 401(k)s do not work that way. Each plan needs its own withdrawal. For federal employees, the TSP Calculator covers a similar plan type.

Taxes and Penalties

Money you pull out of a traditional IRA is taxed as ordinary income. Estimate the bill with the Income Tax Calculator or the Effective Tax Rate Calculator. If you miss an RMD or take too little, the penalty is 25% of the amount you should have taken. That drops to 10% if you fix the mistake quickly and file the right form.

Special Rule for a Much Younger Spouse

If your only beneficiary is your spouse and they are more than 10 years younger than you, the IRS lets you use the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table instead. That table gives a bigger factor, so your RMD is smaller. The Age Difference Calculator confirms whether the 10-year gap applies.

Ways to Lower the Tax Bite

Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs): from age 70½ you can send IRA money straight to a charity and keep it off your taxable income.
Roth conversions before 73: moving money to a Roth early means smaller future RMDs. Model it with the Roth Conversion Calculator.
Still working: if you work past 73 and do not own much of the company, you may delay RMDs from that employer's plan, but not from your IRAs. The Retirement Age Calculator can help you map out timing.

You can always take out more than your RMD. You just cannot take less. If you plan to withdraw extra, see how long your savings hold up with the How Long Will My Money Last Calculator or the 4% Rule Calculator. Tax rules change, so check with a tax advisor about your own situation.

Formulas used

Required Minimum Distribution

\text{RMD} = \frac{\text{Prior Year-End Balance}}{\text{IRS Distribution Period Factor}}

RMD as a Percentage of Balance

\text{RMD \%} = \frac{\text{RMD}}{\text{Beginning Balance}} \times 100

Ending Balance After Withdrawal and Growth

B_{end} = \left(B_{begin} - \text{RMD}\right) \times (1 + r)

Second RMD in a Two-RMD Calendar Year (first RMD delayed to April 1)

\text{RMD}_2 = \frac{B_0 \times (1 + r)}{F_{age+1}}

Combined Distributions in a Two-RMD Year

\text{Total} = \text{RMD}_1 + \text{RMD}_2

Inflation-Adjusted (Real) Value

\text{Real} = \frac{\text{Nominal}}{(1 + i)^{n}}

Total Projected RMDs

\text{Total RMDs} = \sum_{t=1}^{N} \text{RMD}_t

Frequently asked questions

Which account balance should I enter in the calculator?

Enter the value of your traditional IRA on December 31 of last year. That is the only balance the IRS uses. Do not use today's balance, even if the market has moved a lot since then.

What if I have more than one IRA?

Add the December 31 balances of all your traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs together and enter one total. The calculator gives you one RMD number. You may take that whole amount from just one IRA if you want.

Should I include my Roth IRA balance?

No. Roth IRAs have no RMDs while you are alive, so leave them out. Only add up accounts that require withdrawals, like traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs.

Can I use this calculator for a 401(k) or 403(b)?

The math is the same, so the RMD number will match. But you cannot combine plan balances the way you can with IRAs. Each 401(k) or 403(b) needs its own withdrawal, so run the tool once for each plan.

Can I use this for an IRA I inherited?

No. Inherited accounts use different IRS tables and rules. Use the Inherited IRA RMD Calculator instead.

Why does my RMD keep going up even when my balance goes down?

The IRS factor gets smaller every year you age. A smaller divider means a bigger slice of your account. At 73 you take about 3.8% of the balance. By 90 it is over 8%.

Can I take my RMD in monthly payments?

Yes. You can take it once a year, monthly, or any way you like. The only rule is that the full amount is out of the account by the deadline.

What if I take out more than my RMD?

That is allowed. But the extra does not count toward next year's RMD. Each year stands on its own.

Does the calculator show my RMD before or after taxes?

Before taxes. The amount shown is the gross withdrawal. You still owe ordinary income tax on it, so check the Income Tax Calculator to guess your bill.

Can I move my RMD into a Roth IRA?

No. An RMD cannot be rolled over or converted. You must take it as cash first. Any Roth conversion has to come from money above the RMD amount.

What rate of return should I use?

Pick something that matches how your money is invested. Many retirees use 4% to 6% for a mix of stocks and bonds. Try a low number and a high number to see the range of results.

What is the difference between the nominal and real columns?

Nominal is the plain dollar amount in that future year. Real is that same amount in today's buying power after inflation. The real columns only appear if you set an inflation rate above 0%.

Why does the projection table stop at age 120?

The IRS Uniform Lifetime Table ends at age 120 and older, so the factor stops changing there. The table also caps at 60 years to keep results easy to read.

Is my first RMD based on the age I am now or the age I turn this year?

Use the age you will be by the end of the calendar year. If you turn 73 in December, you still use the age 73 factor of 26.5 for the whole year.

Does the calculator handle the two-RMD year?

Yes. Answer "Yes" to the first-year question, then pick "Yes" to delay to April 1. The tool shows both withdrawals, the combined total, and the balance used for the second one.

Do I have to take an RMD if I am still working?

You must still take IRA RMDs at 73, even if you work. The still-working exception only covers your current employer's plan, and only if you own less than 5% of the company.

Can I still add money to my IRA while taking RMDs?

Yes, if you have earned income from a job or self-employment. Contributions do not cancel your RMD, though. You still must take the full withdrawal.

How exact does my RMD amount need to be?

Take at least the amount shown. Rounding up a few dollars is fine and safe. Taking even a little too little can trigger the missed-RMD penalty.

Will my real RMD match this calculator exactly?

The current-year number should match, since it uses the official IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. Future years are estimates because your real returns will not be a steady rate. Your IRA provider also posts your official RMD each year.

Why is my RMD lower than the calculator shows?

The most common reason is a much younger spouse. If your spouse is your only beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger, the IRS uses the Joint Life Table, which gives a smaller RMD. This calculator uses the standard table.