RMD Calculator
This RMD calculator estimates your required minimum distribution from a traditional IRA or 401(k), using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table most account owners must use. Enter your account balance and age to see the minimum you're required to withdraw this year.
Your traditional IRA or 401(k) balance as of December 31 of the previous year — the figure the IRS actually uses.
RMDs generally start at 73 (SECURE 2.0), rising to 75 for those born 1960 or later.
Required minimum distribution
$20,325
The minimum you must withdraw this year to avoid an IRS penalty.
How to use this required minimum distribution (rmd) calculator
- 1Account balance: use your balance as of December 31 of the previous year — this is the exact figure the IRS calculation uses, not your current balance.
- 2Your age this year: RMDs generally begin at age 73 (for those who turned 72 after 2022), rising to 75 for those born in 1960 or later under SECURE 2.0 — check current IRS guidance for your specific starting age.
Understanding your results
Required minimum distribution is the minimum amount you must withdraw this year — you can always withdraw more, but withdrawing less triggers a significant IRS penalty (up to 25% of the shortfall, reduced to 10% if corrected promptly). The life expectancy factor is looked up from your age in the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table; it decreases as you age, meaning a larger fraction of your account must be withdrawn each year.
The formula
RMD = Prior year-end account balance ÷ IRS life expectancy factorThe IRS publishes a life expectancy factor for each age in the Uniform Lifetime Table (used by most account owners — a different table applies if your spouse is your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger). Dividing your account balance by that factor gives the required withdrawal — a smaller factor at older ages means a larger required percentage of the account each year.
A worked example
A $500,000 traditional IRA balance at age 75 uses a life expectancy factor of 24.6, giving an RMD of about $20,325 ($500,000 ÷ 24.6). At age 85, the same balance would use a factor of 16.0, requiring a larger $31,250 minimum withdrawal — illustrating how the required percentage rises with age even if the balance stays flat.
Notes for the UK, US and India
RMDs apply separately to each traditional IRA (though you can combine the total and withdraw it from just one), but each 401(k) generally requires its own separate RMD unless specific rules allow aggregation — check current IRS guidance for your exact account mix. Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the original owner's lifetime, one of their key advantages for those who don't need the income.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I don't take my full RMD?+
The IRS charges an excise tax on the shortfall — historically 50%, reduced under SECURE 2.0 to 25% (or 10% if corrected within a defined window). This is one of the more punitive tax penalties in the retirement account system, so RMDs shouldn't be missed.
Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?+
No — Roth IRAs have no required minimum distributions during the original account owner's lifetime, which is why some retirees convert traditional balances to Roth over time, partly to reduce future RMD obligations.
Can I take more than my RMD?+
Yes, always — the RMD is a floor, not a ceiling. Many retirees choose to withdraw more than the minimum based on their actual spending needs.