Required Minimum Distribution Calculator
Estimate this year's required minimum distribution and see projected RMDs for the years ahead.
Prior December 31 balance of accounts subject to RMDs.
Your RMD outlook
Estimated first RMD at age 73
$31,698
Your RMDs begin at age 73. At 5% growth, your first required withdrawal is projected at $31,698 — about 3.8% of the balance, a share that rises every year after.
- Your RMD start age (SECURE 2.0)
- 73
- IRS divisor at 73
- 26.5
- Projected balance entering age 73
- $840,000
Projected RMDs by age
View data table
| Projected RMD | |
|---|---|
| 73 | $32K |
| 74 | $33K |
| 75 | $35K |
| 76 | $36K |
| 77 | $38K |
| 78 | $40K |
| 79 | $41K |
| 80 | $43K |
| 81 | $45K |
| 82 | $47K |
What this may mean for you
RMDs are ordinary income whether you need the cash or not — stacked on Social Security they can lift your bracket or cross a Medicare IRMAA threshold. If your projected RMDs look larger than your spending needs, the years before age 73 are when Roth conversions and qualified charitable distributions are worth a look.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and may not reflect your complete financial or tax situation.
Understanding this calculator
Once you reach your RMD age — 73 for those born 1951–1959, 75 for 1960 or later — the IRS requires annual withdrawals from traditional IRAs and most workplace plans. The formula is simple division: your prior December 31 balance divided by a life-expectancy factor from the IRS table. The factor shrinks each year, so the required percentage of your balance climbs as you age.
The planning angle: RMDs are ordinary income whether you need the money or not, and stacked on Social Security and other income they can push you into higher brackets or across Medicare IRMAA thresholds. That's exactly why many retirees look at Roth conversions in the years before RMDs begin.
Miss an RMD and the excise tax is steep (25%, reduced to 10% if corrected quickly). Your custodian will calculate the official number — this tool is for planning ahead.
Assumptions and methodology
- Uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (effective 2022) and SECURE 2.0 start ages: 73 (born 1951–1959) or 75 (born 1960+).
- RMD = prior year-end balance ÷ table factor for your age that year.
- The projection grows the balance at your chosen return, subtracts each year's RMD, and repeats.
- Assumes the Uniform table applies (spouse not more than 10 years younger); inherited-account rules are different and not covered.
Official sources
Last reviewed August 30, 2026. Year-specific figures show their tax or data year in the tool; data is reviewed when the IRS, SSA, and CMS publish annual updates.
Common questions
When is my first RMD due?
You can delay the first one until April 1 of the year after you reach your RMD age — but then you'd take two in the same year, which can spike your tax bill. Most people take the first by December 31 instead.
Do Roth accounts have RMDs?
Roth IRAs don't during the owner's lifetime, and since 2024 Roth 401(k)s don't either. That RMD-free status is one reason conversions appeal to some retirees.
Can I take more than the minimum?
Always. The RMD is a floor, not a ceiling — many retirees withdraw more as part of their income plan.
Keep going
- Roth ConversionSee which federal brackets a proposed Roth conversion would fill, the estimated extra tax, and how much room remains in your target bracket.Calculator
- How Long Will Savings Last?See how long your savings could last at a given monthly withdrawal, with inflation and returns included.Calculator
- Medicare IRMAASee whether your income triggers Medicare premium surcharges — and how close you are to the next cliff.Calculator
- The Roth Conversion Planning GuideFilling brackets, dodging cliffs, and deciding whether conversions fit your plan.Guide
- The Retirement Income ChecklistTurn a pile of accounts into a monthly paycheck — one step at a time.Guide
- RMDs in Plain English: When They Start, How They're Figured, and Why They Sneak Up6 min readArticle
Want a second set of eyes on this?
If you'd like to talk through what these numbers mean for your situation, you can schedule a free, no-pressure conversation. No products, no pitch — just questions answered.