How to use this calculator
- Enter the year you were born.
- Enter the account balance on December 31 of last year.
- Set an expected return to project future RMDs.
Factors from IRS Publication 590-B, Table III (Uniform Lifetime). If your spouse is your only beneficiary and more than 10 years younger, Table II gives a smaller RMD.
Frequently asked questions
How is the RMD calculated?
Divide the account balance on December 31 of last year by the IRS life-expectancy factor for your age this year. At 74, the factor is 25.5, so a $600,000 balance means an RMD of $23,529 for 2026.
At what age do RMDs start?
At 73 if you were born from 1951 to 1959, and at 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. Someone born in 1962, for example, takes a first RMD in 2037.
What if I miss an RMD?
The IRS charges an excise tax of 25% of the amount you should have taken, reduced to 10% if you correct it promptly. File Form 5329 to report it.
Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?
Not while the owner is alive. Since 2024, Roth 401(k) accounts no longer require RMDs for the owner either.
Can I take more than the minimum?
Yes — the RMD is only the minimum. You can also give it directly to charity as a qualified charitable distribution, which can count toward the RMD without being taxed.