RMD Calculator
Once you reach RMD age, the IRS requires you to start drawing down traditional retirement accounts — and the penalty for missing one is steep. This calculator divides your prior year-end balance by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor for your age.
Uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. If your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger, the Joint Life table gives a smaller RMD. Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs for the owner.
Illustrative only, based on the assumptions you enter — not a quote, an offer, or financial advice. Rates and rules change; verify current figures with a licensed professional before acting.
How this calculator works
Your RMD is last December 31’s account balance divided by the distribution period for your age in the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Publication 590-B, Table III). The factor shrinks each year, so the required percentage rises as you age.
Under SECURE 2.0, RMDs generally begin at age 73 for those reaching 72 after 2022, rising to 75 for those born in 1960 or later. If your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than ten years younger, the Joint Life and Last Survivor table applies instead and produces a smaller RMD.
RMDs apply to traditional IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and workplace plans like 401(k)s. Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs for the original owner, and since 2024 designated Roth 401(k) balances are exempt too.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss an RMD?
The excise tax is 25% of the shortfall, reduced to 10% if corrected promptly under SECURE 2.0 rules — down from the old 50%, but still worth avoiding.
Do I take one RMD per account?
IRA RMDs can be aggregated and taken from any one IRA. Workplace-plan RMDs must generally be taken from each plan separately.
Can an RMD be rolled into a Roth?
No — an RMD is not eligible for rollover or conversion. You can convert amounts above the RMD after taking it, or send up to the annual limit directly to charity as a qualified charitable distribution.
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This tool is for general education only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Results are illustrations based on your inputs — not quotes or guarantees. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions about annuities, settlements, or retirement accounts.