RMD Calculator (Required Minimum Distribution)

Formula

RMD = account balance on December 31 of last year ÷ the IRS denominator for your age this year

The IRS publishes a denominator for every age from 72 to 120 in its Uniform Lifetime Table. Dividing last year-end's balance by this year's denominator gives the least you must withdraw. The denominator shrinks each year, so the required share of the account rises with age even if the balance does not.

Worked example

A $500,000 balance at age 73 is divided by 26.5, giving a required distribution of $18,867.92 — about 3.77% of the account. At 80 the denominator is 20.2, so the same balance would require $24,752.48.

Where this can give the wrong answer

• Required distributions begin for the year you reach 73, and the first must be taken by April 1 of the following year.
• This table is for unmarried owners, married owners whose spouse is not more than 10 years younger, and married owners whose spouse is not the sole beneficiary. If your spouse is the sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger, the IRS's Joint and Last Survivor table applies and gives a smaller RMD — it is not covered here.
• Inherited accounts follow different rules altogether. Do not use this page for a beneficiary IRA.
• Roth IRAs have no required distributions during the original owner's lifetime.
• With more than one traditional IRA, a separate RMD is worked out for each, but you can total them and take the total from any one or more of the IRAs.
• Taking less than the required amount can mean an IRS excise tax on the shortfall. A calculator is not a substitute for confirming the figure with your account custodian.

Related calculators

• 401(k) Calculator
• Roth IRA Calculator
• Retirement Calculator