Required Minimum Distribution Calculator
Estimate your required minimum distribution from a traditional retirement account.
Your Details
Breakdown
Visual split of the key components
- RMD This Year16260.162601626016
- Remaining Balance383739.837398374
Sensitivity
How the result changes across a range
How It Works
- Enter the values on the left.
- Press Calculate to see your results and charts.
- Use Reset to start over from the defaults.
Formula Used
Based on a simplified version of the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table — always confirm with current IRS tables.
Good to Know
- • The factor decreases as you age, so the required percentage withdrawn rises each year.
- • RMDs generally apply to Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, not Roth IRAs during the owner's lifetime.
Important Notes
- • Uses simplified factors — verify against the official IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
- • Missing an RMD can trigger a significant IRS penalty.
Why RMDs Exist
Traditional retirement accounts let contributions grow tax-deferred, but that deferral isn't indefinite — required minimum distributions force money out of the account (and into taxable income) starting at an age set by current IRS rules. The life expectancy factor decreases each year, meaning the required percentage of the balance withdrawn increases as you age.
Planning Around RMDs
Because RMDs count as taxable income, a large RMD can push someone into a higher tax bracket or affect other income-based calculations like Medicare premiums. Some people manage this with strategies like partial Roth conversions in earlier, lower-income years — reducing the Traditional balance (and therefore future RMDs) ahead of time. This is a complex area where professional tax guidance is often worthwhile.
Getting the Terms Straight
- Uniform Lifetime Table — the IRS table of life expectancy factors used to calculate most RMDs.
- RMD age — the age at which required withdrawals begin, set by current IRS rules.
Example in Practice: RMD on a $400,000 Account
At age 75, with a life expectancy factor of 24.6:
As the account owner ages, the factor decreases each year (fewer expected remaining years), which means the required percentage withdrawn rises even if the account balance stays flat — by age 85, the same $400,000 balance would require roughly $25,000 withdrawn under a factor of 16.
RMD by Age Table
On a $400,000 balance:
| Age | Factor | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 | $15,094 |
| 80 | 20.2 | $19,802 |
| 90 | 12.2 | $32,787 |
Avoiding the Usual Pitfalls With RMDs
- Missing the deadline — triggers a significant IRS penalty on the amount not withdrawn.
- Forgetting to recalculate each year — the RMD changes annually with balance and age.