FINANCIAL · REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION (RMD)

Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Calculator

Calculate your annual RMD from a traditional IRA or 401(k) using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. Enter your account balance and age to find out how much you must withdraw.

Account Details

Balance as of December 31 of the prior year

Your age at the end of the distribution year (min. 73 under SECURE 2.0)

RMD Required Distribution
Annual RMD
$20,325.20
4.07% withdrawal rate
Account balance$500,000.00
Your age75 years
IRS distribution period24.6 years
Remaining balance after RMD$479,674.80

Uses IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Table III, IRS Pub. 590-B, effective 2022). Distribution period formula: Balance ÷ Distribution Period.

About This Calculator

Enter your retirement account balance (as of December 31 of the prior year) and your current age to find out exactly how much the IRS requires you to withdraw this year. The calculator uses the official IRS Uniform Lifetime Table from IRS Publication 590-B.

How It Works

The IRS requires owners of traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and most other tax-deferred retirement accounts to take minimum distributions each year starting at age 73 (under the SECURE 2.0 Act). The RMD is calculated by dividing your account balance (as of December 31 of the prior year) by a life-expectancy distribution period from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table — a table that decreases as you age, increasing the required withdrawal percentage over time.

The Formula

RMD = Account Balance ÷ Distribution Period

Account Balance
Your retirement account balance as of December 31 of the prior year
Distribution Period
Life-expectancy factor from IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, based on your age

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Required Minimum Distribution?
An RMD is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from your traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), and most other tax-deferred retirement accounts. You owe income tax on these withdrawals. The goal is to ensure that pre-tax retirement savings are eventually taxed, since contributions were tax-deferred.
What age do I have to start taking RMDs?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act (2022), the Required Beginning Date for RMDs is April 1 of the year following the year you turn 73, if you were born after December 31, 1950. Your first RMD is for the year you turn 73. You can delay the first RMD to April 1 of the following year, but you must then take two RMDs in that year (one for the age-73 year and one for the current year).
Which IRS table does this calculator use?
This calculator uses IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Table III), found in IRS Publication 590-B, Appendix B. This table applies to most account owners. A different table (Joint and Last Survivor Table) applies only when the sole beneficiary of your IRA is your spouse who is more than 10 years younger than you — consult IRS Publication 590-B for that scenario.
What happens if I don't take my RMD?
The IRS imposes a 25% excise tax on the amount you should have withdrawn but didn't (reduced to 10% if corrected within the correction window under SECURE 2.0). This is one of the largest penalty rates in the tax code — make sure to take your RMD each year.
Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?
No. Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the owner's lifetime. However, inherited Roth IRAs and traditional 401(k) Roth accounts generally do have RMD requirements. Consult a tax advisor for inherited-account RMD rules.
How do I calculate my RMD if I have multiple IRAs?
If you own multiple traditional IRAs, you calculate the RMD for each account separately using each account's December 31 balance and your age, then add the amounts. You can then take the total RMD from one IRA, several IRAs, or a combination — the choice is yours, as long as the total is distributed. For 401(k)s, you must take the RMD from each plan separately.