RMD Calculator

Calculate your 2026 Required Minimum Distribution from a Traditional IRA or 401(k), using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table and current SECURE 2.0 age rules.

James Anderson Reviewed by James Anderson, Licensed Insurance Agent · Last updated August 2026

Once you reach your RMD age — 73 if born 1951-1959, 75 if born 1960 or later — you must withdraw a minimum amount from Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s each year, calculated by dividing your account balance by an IRS life expectancy factor. Missing it triggers a 25% excise tax on the shortfall.

RMDs are one of the few genuinely mandatory deadlines in retirement planning — unlike most of the choices on this site, this isn't optional. Enter your date of birth and your account balance as of December 31 of last year to see whether you owe an RMD this year, and roughly how much.

IRS Uniform Lifetime Table & SECURE 2.0 Act

Calculate Your RMD

Use the combined balance of all Traditional IRAs if calculating for IRAs, or the specific 401(k) balance for that plan — the two are calculated separately and can't be combined.

RMDs exist because Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are tax-deferred, not tax-free — the IRS eventually wants its share, and RMDs are how it forces that to happen on a schedule. The rule only applies to accounts you own that haven't already been taxed: Traditional IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and most employer plans like 401(k)s and 403(b)s. Roth IRAs are exempt entirely during your lifetime, and Roth 401(k)s were exempted starting in 2024 under SECURE 2.0 — if all your retirement savings are in Roth accounts, none of this applies to you.

The calculation itself is simple once you have the two numbers: your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year, divided by a "distribution period" from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table that shortens as you age. This calculator uses that table, which covers the large majority of account owners — a different, more generous table applies only if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger than you, which isn't reflected here.

Your very first RMD has a special rule: you can delay it until April 1 of the year after you reach your RMD age, instead of taking it by December 31 like every year after. The catch is that delaying means you'd take two RMDs in that second calendar year, both taxable as ordinary income, which can push you into a higher bracket or trigger a bigger IRMAA surcharge two years later. Most people are better off taking the first one on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age do RMDs start?

Age 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1959, and age 75 if you were born in 1960 or later, under the SECURE 2.0 Act. If you were born in 1950 or earlier, you were already required to take RMDs under the prior rule.

How is my RMD calculated?

Your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year, divided by a life expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table based on your age this year. Most account owners use this table; a different table applies only if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger.

What happens if I miss my RMD?

A 25% excise tax on the amount you should have withdrawn but didn't, reduced to 10% if you correct the shortfall within two years. This was lowered from 50% by the SECURE 2.0 Act.

Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?

No. Roth IRAs have never had RMDs during the original owner's lifetime. Roth 401(k)s used to require them but were exempted starting in 2024 under SECURE 2.0.

Can I delay my very first RMD?

Yes. Your first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you reach your RMD age. Every RMD after that is due by December 31. Delaying means you'd take two RMDs in that second year, which can push you into a higher tax bracket — many people take the first one on time to avoid that.

This calculator uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Treas. Reg. §1.401(a)(9)-9), which applies to most account owners. It does not apply if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger — a different, more generous table applies in that case. This is a general estimate, not tax advice. Verify your exact RMD with your account custodian or a tax professional before relying on it, especially for your very first RMD year.