Finance

RMD Calculator (Required Minimum Distribution)

Q: What is a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

An RMD is the **minimum amount you must withdraw each year** from tax-deferred retirement accounts (traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.) once you reach your starting age. It ensures the IRS eventually collects tax on money that grew tax-deferred. Roth IRAs have no RMD during the owner's lifetime.

Q: At what age do RMDs start in 2026?

Under **SECURE 2.0**, RMDs begin at **age 73 for people born between 1951 and 1959**, and **age 75 for those born in 1960 or later**. People born in 1950 or earlier already reached their starting age (72 or 70½) and should be taking RMDs.

Q: How is my RMD calculated?

Divide your **account balance on December 31 of the prior year** by the **life-expectancy factor** for your age from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. For example, at age 73 the factor is 26.5, so a $500,000 balance gives an RMD of **$18,868** (about 3.8%).

Q: What happens if I miss my RMD?

The penalty is a **25% excise tax** on the amount you failed to withdraw. If you correct the shortfall and file the proper form within the SECURE 2.0 correction window, the penalty drops to **10%**. Missing RMDs is one of the costliest retirement mistakes, so mark the December 31 deadline.

Q: Do Roth accounts have RMDs?

**Roth IRAs have no RMDs** during the original owner's lifetime. Thanks to SECURE 2.0, **Roth 401(k)s** also no longer require RMDs starting in 2024. Inherited Roth accounts, however, do have distribution requirements for beneficiaries.

Q: When is the RMD deadline?

Generally **December 31** each year. Your **very first** RMD can be delayed to **April 1 of the following year**, but doing so means taking two RMDs in that year — which can push you into a higher tax bracket. Most people take the first RMD in the year they turn the starting age to avoid doubling up.

Q: Can I take more than my RMD?

Yes. The RMD is a **minimum**, not a maximum — you can always withdraw more. Extra withdrawals are still taxable, but they do not reduce future RMDs (which are based on your year-end balance and age factor each year).

Q: Do I calculate RMDs separately for each account?

You calculate an RMD for **each** account. For **IRAs**, you can add them up and take the total from any one IRA. For **401(k)s and 403(b)s**, you must generally take each plan's RMD from that specific plan — you cannot combine them across employer plans.

Q: Can I give my RMD to charity?

Yes. After age 70½ you can make a **Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)** — sending money directly from your IRA to a qualified charity (up to an annual indexed limit). A QCD counts toward your RMD and is **excluded from your taxable income**, a tax-efficient option for charitable retirees.

Calculate your 2026 Required Minimum Distribution from an IRA or 401(k). Enter your balance and age to see your RMD using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table and the SECURE 2.0 age 73/75 rules.

Data verified · July 2026
Edited by Martín Rodríguez
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Data updated: Jan 1, 2026 · Source: IRS — Retirement topics: Required Minimum Distributions

Edited by: Martín Rodríguez (editorial policy )

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Once you reach a certain age, the IRS requires you to start withdrawing from your tax-deferred retirement accounts — traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and similar plans — whether you need the money or not. These mandatory withdrawals are called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), and this calculator tells you exactly how much you must take for 2026.

The rule changed under the SECURE 2.0 Act. The starting age rose to 73 for people born between 1951 and 1959, and will be 75 for those born in 1960 or later. Your RMD is calculated by dividing your prior year-end balance by a life-expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table — a factor that gets smaller every year, which means the required percentage of your account grows as you age.

Enter your account balance (as of December 31 of last year) and your age this year. The tool returns your RMD in dollars, the percentage of your balance it represents, and a monthly equivalent. Missing an RMD is costly — the penalty is a 25% excise tax on the shortfall (reduced to 10% if you correct it promptly) — so it pays to know the number.

When to use this calculator

Calculate your 2026 RMD from a traditional IRA or 401(k).
See what percentage of your balance you must withdraw at your age.
Check when your first RMD is required under SECURE 2.0 (age 73 vs 75).
Plan withdrawals across the year instead of one December scramble.
Estimate the RMD on a $500,000 or $1,000,000 retirement balance.
See how the required percentage rises as the divisor shrinks with age.
Budget the taxable income your RMD will add this year.
Confirm you are taking enough to avoid the 25% excise penalty.
Compare RMDs at 73, 80, and 90 to plan later-life withdrawals.
Estimate a monthly withdrawal that satisfies your annual RMD.

IRS Uniform Lifetime Table — RMD factor and required percentage by age

Age	Distribution period (factor)	Required % of balance
73	26.5	3.77%
74	25.5	3.92%
75	24.6	4.07%
76	23.7	4.22%
77	22.9	4.37%
78	22.0	4.55%
80	20.2	4.95%
82	18.5	5.41%
85	16.0	6.25%
90	12.2	8.20%
95	8.9	11.24%
100	6.4	15.63%

Source: IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Publication 590-B, Table III), effective 2022 and later. Used by most account owners; a different table applies if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger.

How it works

How an RMD is calculated

RMD = (account balance on Dec 31 of prior year) ÷ (Uniform Lifetime Table factor for your age)
Required % of balance = 1 ÷ factor

The factor is an IRS life-expectancy number. Because it decreases each year, the percentage you must withdraw increases as you get older — from about 3.8% at 73 to over 8% by 90.

SECURE 2.0 starting age

Year of birth	RMDs begin at age
1950 or earlier	already began (70½ or 72)
1951 – 1959	73
1960 or later	75

Your first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you reach your starting age — but then you take two RMDs that year, which can spike your taxable income.

IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (selected ages)

Age	Factor	Required %	Age	Factor	Required %
73	26.5	3.77%	82	18.5	5.41%
74	25.5	3.92%	84	16.8	5.95%
75	24.6	4.07%	86	15.2	6.58%
76	23.7	4.22%	88	13.7	7.30%
78	22.0	4.55%	90	12.2	8.20%
80	20.2	4.95%	95	8.9	11.24%

Worked example — RMD growing with age

A $500,000 balance (assuming it stayed level):

Age 73: $500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,868 (3.77%).

Age 80: $500,000 ÷ 20.2 = $24,752 (4.95%).

Age 90: $500,000 ÷ 12.2 = $40,984 (8.20%).

Even with the same balance, the dollar RMD more than doubles from 73 to 90 because the factor shrinks.

Key rules and exceptions

Which accounts: Traditional IRA, SEP/SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b). Roth IRAs have no RMD during the owner's lifetime; under SECURE 2.0, Roth 401(k)s no longer require RMDs either.

Multiple accounts: You calculate an RMD for each account. IRAs can be aggregated — you may take the total from any one IRA — but 401(k)s must each be satisfied separately.

Still working: If you are still employed and don't own 5%+ of the company, you may be able to delay RMDs from that employer's 401(k) until you retire (does not apply to IRAs).

The penalty: Missing an RMD triggers a 25% excise tax on the amount not taken, dropped to 10% if you withdraw the shortfall and file within the correction window.

QCDs: After 70½ you can send up to an indexed limit directly to charity as a Qualified Charitable Distribution, which counts toward your RMD and is excluded from income.

Disclaimer

Educational estimate using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (the table for most account owners). A different table applies if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger. RMD rules for inherited accounts differ entirely. Consult the IRS (Publication 590-B) or a financial advisor for your situation.

Example: $500,000 IRA, age 73

Uniform Lifetime Table factor at age 73: 26.5.

RMD = $500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,867.92.

That is about 3.77% of the balance.

You must withdraw at least this much by December 31, 2026.

About $18,868 for 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

An RMD is the minimum amount you must withdraw each year from tax-deferred retirement accounts (traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.) once you reach your starting age. It ensures the IRS eventually collects tax on money that grew tax-deferred. Roth IRAs have no RMD during the owner's lifetime.

At what age do RMDs start in 2026?

Under SECURE 2.0, RMDs begin at age 73 for people born between 1951 and 1959, and age 75 for those born in 1960 or later. People born in 1950 or earlier already reached their starting age (72 or 70½) and should be taking RMDs.

How is my RMD calculated?

Divide your account balance on December 31 of the prior year by the life-expectancy factor for your age from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. For example, at age 73 the factor is 26.5, so a $500,000 balance gives an RMD of $18,868 (about 3.8%).

What happens if I miss my RMD?

The penalty is a 25% excise tax on the amount you failed to withdraw. If you correct the shortfall and file the proper form within the SECURE 2.0 correction window, the penalty drops to 10%. Missing RMDs is one of the costliest retirement mistakes, so mark the December 31 deadline.

Do Roth accounts have RMDs?

Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the original owner's lifetime. Thanks to SECURE 2.0, Roth 401(k)s also no longer require RMDs starting in 2024. Inherited Roth accounts, however, do have distribution requirements for beneficiaries.

When is the RMD deadline?

Generally December 31 each year. Your very first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of the following year, but doing so means taking two RMDs in that year — which can push you into a higher tax bracket. Most people take the first RMD in the year they turn the starting age to avoid doubling up.

Can I take more than my RMD?

Yes. The RMD is a minimum, not a maximum — you can always withdraw more. Extra withdrawals are still taxable, but they do not reduce future RMDs (which are based on your year-end balance and age factor each year).

Do I calculate RMDs separately for each account?

You calculate an RMD for each account. For IRAs, you can add them up and take the total from any one IRA. For 401(k)s and 403(b)s, you must generally take each plan's RMD from that specific plan — you cannot combine them across employer plans.

Can I give my RMD to charity?

Yes. After age 70½ you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) — sending money directly from your IRA to a qualified charity (up to an annual indexed limit). A QCD counts toward your RMD and is excluded from your taxable income, a tax-efficient option for charitable retirees.

Sources & references

Methodology & trust

Editorial

Finance calculator with its formula verified automatically against IRS — Retirement topics: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), per our editorial policy and methodology.

Updates

Updated: July 2026. Parameters are verified periodically against the cited sources.

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📌 How to cite this calculator

Rodríguez, M. (2026). RMD Calculator (Required Minimum Distribution). Hacé Cuentas. https://hacecuentas.com/en/rmd-required-minimum-distribution-calculator

Content licensed under CC-BY 4.0 — reuse it citing the source with a link to Hacé Cuentas.

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