RMD Calculator
Calculate your Required Minimum Distribution by dividing your prior year-end account balance by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor for your age.
Reviewed by the CalcCafe editorial team · Last updated 1 July 2026 · How we test our tools
Example
A 73-year-old with a $500,000 IRA balance at the prior year-end has a Uniform Lifetime Table factor of 26.5. RMD = $500,000 / 26.5 = $18,867.92 for the year (about $1,572.33 per month, a 3.77% withdrawal rate).
How it works
Enter your prior year-end retirement account balance and your age (72-100). The tool divides the balance by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor to show your RMD.
Good to know
This RMD Calculator estimates the Required Minimum Distribution you must withdraw from a tax-deferred retirement account such as a traditional IRA or 401(k). You enter your account balance as of the prior December 31 and your current age, and it divides that balance by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor for your age to show the dollar amount, the implied withdrawal rate, and an estimated monthly figure. It is built for retirement-age account owners (the table here covers ages 72 to 100) who want a quick yearly number without sharing financial details, since everything runs in your browser.
You would typically use it once a year, after your year-end statement arrives, to see roughly how much you are required to take before the December 31 deadline (or April 1 the year after you first become subject to RMDs). It is also handy for forward planning: by scanning the full age table the tool prints, you can see how the factor shrinks and the required withdrawal grows as you get older.
To read the result, focus on three numbers. The "Lifetime Table factor" is your life-expectancy divisor (a smaller factor means a larger required withdrawal), the dollar figure is the minimum you must take for the year, and the "Withdrawal rate" expresses that as a percentage of your balance so you can compare it against your portfolio's growth. The estimated monthly amount simply splits the annual figure into twelve equal parts to help with budgeting.
A few caveats matter here. This calculator assumes the standard Uniform Lifetime Table, which does not apply if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger (a separate Joint Life table gives a larger factor) or if you hold an inherited IRA, which follows different rules. It also estimates a single account; if you own several, the rules on whether you can aggregate withdrawals depend on the account type. The figure is the minimum you must take, not a cap, and missing it can trigger an IRS excise tax, so treat the output as an educational estimate and confirm specifics with a tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
Which IRS table does this calculator use?
It uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (effective 2022 and later), which applies to most account owners taking RMDs from their own IRA or 401(k) when their spouse is not the sole beneficiary or is not more than 10 years younger.
At what age do RMDs begin?
Under SECURE 2.0, RMDs generally begin at age 73 for those who reach 72 after 2022. The table covers ages 72-100; your first RMD must be taken by April 1 of the year after you reach your starting age, then by December 31 each year after.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this calculator runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Is this financial advice?
No. These are educational estimates — consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions.
People also ask
How is an RMD calculated?
An RMD is calculated by dividing your retirement account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by a life-expectancy factor from the applicable IRS table. For most owners that is the Uniform Lifetime Table, where each age maps to a specific divisor.
What balance do I use for my RMD calculation?
You use the fair market value of the account on December 31 of the year before the distribution year. For example, a 2026 RMD is based on the December 31, 2025 balance.
What happens if I don't take my RMD on time?
Under SECURE 2.0, the excise tax on a missed or shortfall RMD is generally 25% of the amount not taken, reduced to 10% if corrected within a set window. The IRS may waive the penalty for reasonable cause if you request relief.
Do Roth IRAs require minimum distributions?
Roth IRAs do not require distributions during the original owner's lifetime. Starting in 2024, Roth amounts in employer plans such as Roth 401(k)s are also no longer subject to lifetime RMDs.
Can I withdraw more than my required minimum distribution?
Yes. The RMD is a floor, not a ceiling, so you may withdraw any amount above it, though the extra does not reduce future years' required amounts and is generally still taxable as ordinary income.
If I have several IRAs, do I take an RMD from each one?
You calculate an RMD for each traditional IRA separately, but you may total them and take the combined amount from any one or more of your IRAs. Employer plans such as 401(k)s generally cannot be aggregated this way and require a separate withdrawal from each plan.
Are required minimum distributions taxed?
Distributions from traditional, pre-tax retirement accounts are generally taxed as ordinary income in the year you take them. The taxable portion depends on whether the account holds any after-tax contributions.
Why does my RMD increase as I get older?
The life-expectancy factor used as the divisor decreases each year as you age, so dividing your balance by a smaller number produces a larger required withdrawal, even if the balance stays the same.
What are the new RMD age tables?
Two things changed in recent years: the starting age and the life-expectancy tables. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, RMDs begin at age 73 for people who turn 72 after 2022, rising to 75 for those born in 1960 or later, and the IRS updated its Uniform Lifetime Table in 2022 with longer life expectancies, which slightly lowers each year's required withdrawal. This calculator uses the updated Uniform Lifetime Table, the one most account owners use; a different table applies if your spouse is more than 10 years younger and your sole beneficiary. Confirm the current rules at irs.gov, since this is general information, not tax advice.
How do I calculate my RMD for this year?
Divide your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor for your age at the end of this year. For example, a 73-year-old with $500,000 divides by 26.5 to get $18,867.92. Do this separately for each account, though IRA owners may take the combined IRA total from any one IRA. The first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the following year, but that means two withdrawals in one tax year.
What is the RMD on a $500,000 IRA?
For a 73-year-old, the RMD on a $500,000 prior year-end balance is 500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,867.92, about $1,572 a month. The divisor shrinks as you age, so the same balance requires larger withdrawals later: at 75 the factor is 24.6, giving $20,325.20, and at 80 it is 20.2, giving $24,752.48. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.
How much would RMD be on $1,000,000?
At age 73, the RMD on a $1,000,000 prior year-end balance is 1,000,000 ÷ 26.5 = $37,735.85 for the year, or about $3,145 a month. At 75 (factor 24.6) it would be $40,650.41, and at 80 (factor 20.2) about $49,504.95. The amount is taxable, and you can always withdraw more than the minimum.
What is the biggest RMD mistake?
The biggest mistake is missing or under-withdrawing an RMD, which triggers an IRS excise tax on the amount not taken (25%, reduced to 10% if corrected promptly under SECURE 2.0). Close behind are using the wrong balance or table, forgetting that each employer plan such as a 401(k) needs its own RMD even though IRAs can be combined, and delaying the first RMD to April 1 without realizing it doubles that year's taxable income. Set a reminder well before December 31; this is general information, not tax advice.
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Sources & references
These tools follow our methodology and provide educational estimates only — verify important figures with a qualified professional.