Calculate your annual Required Minimum Distribution from your retirement account.
This Year's RMD
$18,868$
You must withdraw at least $18,868 from your retirement account this year. Failure to take your RMD triggers a 25% excise tax on the shortfall (reduced to 10% if corrected within 2 years).
Distribution Period Factor26.5
Monthly Equivalent$1,572
Account Balance$500,000
RMD = Account Balance ÷ IRS Uniform Lifetime Table Factor. This calculator uses the 2024 IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. The factor decreases with age, so your RMD increases each year. You must take your first RMD by 31 December of the year you turn 73.
Share
What is the RMD Calculator?
A Required Minimum Distribution is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw annually from tax-deferred retirement accounts—traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s—once you turn 73 (formerly 70½, changed under the SECURE Act 2.0 in 2023). The RMD is calculated by dividing your account balance at the end of the previous year by an IRS life-expectancy factor (the Uniform Lifetime Table). Failure to withdraw your full RMD triggers a 25% federal excise tax on the shortfall (reduced to 10% if corrected within 2 years).
How it works
You enter your retirement account balance as of 31 December of the prior year and your current age. The calculator looks up your distribution period factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table—a standardized life-expectancy multiplier that decreases each year as you age. Your RMD is your balance divided by the factor. For example, at age 73 the factor is 26.5, so a $500,000 balance yields a $18,868 RMD. At 74 the factor is 25.5, increasing your RMD to $19,608, and so on. The calculator also shows your monthly equivalent distribution.
The Uniform Lifetime Table is based on IRS actuarial data for life expectancy. The factor decreases by roughly 1 year each age bracket, meaning your RMD increases every year—a built-in mechanism to ensure you deplete your account over your estimated lifetime rather than passing it all to heirs tax-free.
Examples
Input
Result
Notes
Balance $500,000, Age 73
RMD: $18,868 annually ($1,572 monthly)
At 73, the factor is 26.5. Early retirement account withdrawals start here; missing this deadline costs a 25% penalty.
Balance $1,000,000, Age 80
RMD: $49,505 annually ($4,126 monthly)
By 80, the factor is 20.2. A seven-year increase in age nearly doubles your RMD on the same balance.
Balance $250,000, Age 90
RMD: $20,492 annually ($1,708 monthly)
At 90, the factor is 12.2. Even a smaller balance generates significant yearly distributions.
How to use the RMD Calculator
Find your retirement account balance as of 31 December of the prior year (the baseline for RMD calculations).
Enter your current age (ages 73–100 are eligible; ages below 73 have no RMD requirement unless inherited).
Select your preferred currency (USD, EUR, GBP, or INR) for display.
Click Calculate to see your annual RMD, monthly equivalent, and the distribution period factor.
Note the RMD amount and ensure you withdraw at least that much by 31 December of the current year.
If you have multiple retirement accounts, calculate each separately and add the RMDs together; you can withdraw the total from any single account.
Benefits
Avoid a 25% federal excise tax penalty by knowing your exact RMD and withdrawal deadline (31 December).
Plan your annual cash flow: see the monthly equivalent to schedule distributions across the year.
Understand why your RMD increases each year—the IRS factor decreases, forcing larger withdrawals at older ages.
Handle multiple accounts: calculate each one separately and verify your total withdrawals meet your combined RMD.
Stay informed of age-based milestones: the calculator works for ages 73–100 and shows how your RMD grows as you age.
Simplify tax and estate planning: knowing your RMD helps you decide whether to take extra withdrawals or let accounts grow.
Tips & common mistakes
Common mistakes
Using current-year balance instead of prior year-end balance—RMDs are always calculated on last year's 31 December balance.
Forgetting that RMD is mandatory—contributions are optional, but withdrawals are legally required; missing the deadline triggers a 25% penalty on the missed amount.
Not aggregating multiple accounts—if you have multiple IRAs or a 401(k), calculate RMD for each; you can withdraw the total from any one account, but the IRS requires the sum of all RMDs.
Ignoring the age 73 threshold change—under SECURE 2.0 (2023), RMD starts at 73, not 70½ for those born after 1950.
Tips
Withdraw monthly or quarterly instead of once a year: smaller, regular distributions ease cash flow and reduce the risk of missing the deadline.
Use your RMD as a baseline for systematic withdrawals: many retirees withdraw more than their RMD to cover living expenses; the calculator ensures you meet the minimum.
If you still work and your employer offers a 401(k), some plans allow you to defer RMD from that plan until after you retire (ask your plan administrator).
For Roth conversions: a traditional-to-Roth conversion counts as a withdrawal, so you can 'satisfy' part of your RMD via conversion if it suits your tax strategy.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss my RMD deadline?
You owe a 25% federal excise tax on the shortfall (the amount you failed to withdraw). For example, if your RMD is $20,000 and you withdraw $15,000, the 25% penalty applies to the $5,000 shortfall, costing you $1,250. This penalty was reduced from 50% under the SECURE Act 2.0. If you correct the shortfall within 2 years and file Form 5329, the penalty drops to 10%.
Can I withdraw my RMD from any account, or must it come from the specific account?
For traditional IRAs, you aggregate all your IRAs and calculate one combined RMD, then withdraw it from any combination you choose. For employer plans (401(k), 403(b), 457(b)), each plan calculates and requires its own RMD withdrawal—you must withdraw from each plan separately. If you have both IRAs and employer plans, calculate and satisfy them independently.
What if I take more than my RMD in one year—can I carry the excess forward?
No. The IRS requires a specific dollar amount each year; you cannot 'bank' excess withdrawals from one year to reduce the next year's RMD. If you withdraw $30,000 when your RMD is $20,000, you've satisfied that year's requirement, but next year you must recalculate and withdraw the full RMD based on that year's balance and age.
Do I owe income tax on my RMD?
Yes, unless the account is a Roth IRA. Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) withdrawals are fully taxable as ordinary income in the year withdrawn. Plan for this in your tax return; the custodian will issue a 1099-R form showing the withdrawal. Roth IRAs have no RMD during the original owner's lifetime.
Is there an RMD on inherited retirement accounts?
Yes, but the rules depend on whether you are a spouse or non-spouse beneficiary and when the account holder died. Generally, non-spouse beneficiaries must deplete the account within 10 years (SECURE Act 2.0, for deaths after 2022) and take annual RMDs from year 1. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation, as rules vary significantly.
What is the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, and does it change?
The Uniform Lifetime Table is an IRS life-expectancy table published in Publication 590-B. Factors decrease from 26.5 at age 73 to 6.4 at age 100. The IRS updates the table periodically (last major change was in 2022), and factors are fixed; they don't change year to year. Most financial institutions publish the current table annually for reference.