RMD Calculator (2026)
Calculate your required minimum distribution from an IRA or 401(k) with the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table and the SECURE 2.0 starting age for your birth year.
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With a $500,000 balance at age 73, your first Required Minimum Distribution is $18,868 (the balance divided by a life expectancy factor of 26.5 from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table).
Required Beginning Age
73
Life Expectancy Factor
26.5
IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, age 73
First-Year RMD
$18,868
Due by Dec 31 (or Apr 1 next year for your first one)
Your Numbers
Roth IRAs and (since 2024) Roth 401(k)/403(b) accounts have no RMDs. This calculator is for traditional (pre-tax) accounts.
Projected Balance & RMDs
Starting age 73, 5% assumed growth
| Year | Age | Start Balance | Divisor | RMD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 73 | $500,000 | 26.5 | $18,868 |
| 2027 | 74 | $505,189 | 25.5 | $19,811 |
| 2028 | 75 | $509,646 | 24.6 | $20,717 |
| 2029 | 76 | $513,375 | 23.7 | $21,661 |
| 2030 | 77 | $516,300 | 22.9 | $22,546 |
| 2031 | 78 | $518,441 | 22 | $23,566 |
| 2032 | 79 | $519,620 | 21.1 | $24,627 |
| 2033 | 80 | $519,743 | 20.2 | $25,730 |
| 2034 | 81 | $518,714 | 19.4 | $26,738 |
| 2035 | 82 | $516,575 | 18.5 | $27,923 |
How the RMD Formula Works
Each year, your Required Minimum Distribution equals your retirement account's balance as of December 31 of the previous year, divided by a life expectancy factor the IRS publishes in the Uniform Lifetime Table (IRS Publication 590-B, Appendix B, Table III). The factor gets smaller as you age, which pushes the required withdrawal percentage up over time.
The RMD Formula
RMD = prior year-end balance ÷ IRS life expectancy factor
Worked example. Someone born in 1953 reaches their required beginning age of 73 in 2026 under SECURE 2.0 (born 1951-1959 → age 73; born 1960 or later → age 75). With a $500,000 balance and a life expectancy factor of 26.5 at age 73, the first RMD is $500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,867.92 (matching the default values above).
The April 1 deadline rule. Your very first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you reach your required beginning age (a "required beginning date" delay). Every RMD after that, including the one for the year you turn your required beginning age if you didn't use the delay, must be taken by December 31. Delaying the first one means you could owe two RMDs in the same calendar year, which can push you into a higher tax bracket. Most people are better off taking the first one in the year they reach the required age rather than waiting.
What this doesn't cover. This tool doesn't handle inherited IRAs (which follow separate, more complex rules), doesn't account for multiple accounts or aggregation rules, and doesn't factor in the tax impact of the withdrawal. For your specific situation, talk to a fee-only financial planner or tax professional, and confirm the current-year Uniform Lifetime Table and rules at irs.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
?What is an RMD?
A Required Minimum Distribution is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from most tax-deferred retirement accounts (traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.) once you reach your required beginning age. It's calculated by dividing your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by a life expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
?When do RMDs start under SECURE 2.0?
If you were born in 1950 or earlier, RMDs already started at 72 (or 70½ under older rules). If you were born 1951-1959, your required beginning age is 73. If you were born 1960 or later, it's 75. This calculator applies that split automatically from the birth year you enter.
?What happens if I miss an RMD?
The IRS can assess a 25% excise tax on the amount you should have withdrawn but didn't (reduced to 10% if you correct the mistake within two years). Your very first RMD has a special deadline: you can delay it until April 1 of the year after you reach your required beginning age, but every RMD after that must be taken by December 31 of that year.
?Do Roth accounts have RMDs?
Roth IRAs never have RMDs for the original owner. Roth 401(k)s used to require RMDs, but starting in 2024 the SECURE 2.0 Act eliminated RMDs for Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b) accounts during the original owner's lifetime, aligning them with Roth IRA treatment. Traditional (pre-tax) 401(k), 403(b), and IRA accounts still require RMDs at your required beginning age.
?Does this account for multiple retirement accounts?
No. Enter one account's balance at a time. IRAs can be aggregated (you can total your RMDs across all your IRAs and take the sum from any one or combination of them), but 401(k)s and 403(b)s generally must have their RMD taken from that specific plan. Check with your plan administrator or a tax professional on how to aggregate correctly.
About this calculator. Results are estimates for education and planning, based on the inputs you enter and the published formula described above. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent to us or stored. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Read the disclaimer and our methodology.
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