Quick answer
An RMD calculator divides your prior year-end retirement account balance by an IRS life-expectancy factor. At age 75 with a $480,000 traditional IRA balance, the factor is 24.6 and the required minimum distribution is $19,512 — money that must come out and be taxed that year whether you need it or not.
How the RMD Calculator works, step by step
Enter your age at the end of the distribution year, the account balance on the previous 31 December and an assumed return for the projection. The calculator looks up your factor in the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table and divides. That specific balance date — not today's balance — is what the IRS uses, and it surprises people every year.
RMDs apply to traditional IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and workplace plans like 401(k)s and 403(b)s. Roth IRAs have none for the owner, and Roth 401(k)s have been exempt since 2024. You can withdraw more than the RMD; you cannot withdraw less without a penalty, and extra taken one year does not reduce next year's requirement.
RMDs start at age 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1959, and at age 75 if you were born in 1960 or later, under the SECURE 2.0 Act. Your first RMD can be delayed until 1 April of the following year, but that forces two distributions into one tax year, which can push you into a higher bracket. The tool shows no RMD before age 73.
The 10-year projection shows why the balance often keeps growing despite withdrawals. Each year the RMD is calculated on the starting balance, then the balance grows at your assumed return minus the RMD. At a 5% return, a $500,000 balance at age 73 pays about $234,557 of RMDs over 10 years and still ends at about $524,760 — because the required share starts at just 3.77% and only reaches 4.95% by age 80.
If you have several traditional IRAs, the total RMD is calculated across all of them but can be taken from any one or combination. Workplace plans are stricter: each 401(k) generally requires its own distribution, unless you still work for that employer. From age 70½, a qualified charitable distribution — up to $111,000 for 2026 — counts toward the RMD and is excluded from taxable income entirely.
The formula
RMD = Account balance on 31 December of the prior year ÷ Uniform Lifetime Table factor for your age. Selected factors: age 73 → 26.5, age 75 → 24.6, age 80 → 20.2, age 85 → 16.0, age 90 → 12.2.
Worked example — try it on the calculator above
Worked example: age 75 with a $480,000 IRA
Your traditional IRA held $480,000 on 31 December last year and you turn 75 this year. The Uniform Lifetime Table factor for 75 is 24.6. RMD = $480,000 ÷ 24.6 = $19,512.20. That amount is added to your taxable income for the year. At age 80 the same $480,000 balance would require $480,000 ÷ 20.2 = $23,762, and at age 73 it would have required $480,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,113 — the required share rises every year even if the balance does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age do RMDs start?
Age 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1959, and age 75 if you were born in 1960 or later, under the SECURE 2.0 Act. Your first RMD can be delayed until 1 April of the following year, but that forces two distributions into one tax year, which can push you into a higher bracket.
What is the penalty for missing an RMD?
25% of the amount you failed to withdraw, reduced to 10% if the shortfall is corrected promptly and a return is filed. It was 50% before 2023. The IRS can also waive the penalty for reasonable error if you take the missed distribution and file Form 5329 with an explanation.
Can I satisfy my RMD with a charitable donation?
Yes, from age 70½, through a qualified charitable distribution (QCD): a direct transfer from an IRA to a charity counts toward your RMD and is excluded from taxable income entirely, up to $111,000 for 2026. For charitably inclined retirees it usually beats withdrawing, paying tax and then donating.
Do I owe an RMD on an inherited IRA?
Usually yes, under different rules. Most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty an inherited IRA within 10 years, and if the original owner had reached RMD age, annual distributions are generally required in years 1 to 9 as well. Spouses have more options, including treating the account as their own.
Estimates, not advice. This calculator provides educational estimates based on the inputs you enter and the assumptions shown on this page. It is not financial, tax or investment advice, and it cannot see your full situation. Verify important figures against official sources, and consider a qualified professional for decisions about your own money. See our Disclaimer and Methodology.