Calculate your IRS Required Minimum Distribution from a traditional IRA, 401(k), or 403(b), and project how your withdrawals and balance change over the next 10 years.
How It Works
How RMD Calculator Works
The IRS requires most retirement account owners to begin withdrawing a minimum amount each year starting at age 73 (raised from 72 under the SECURE 2.0 Act). Your RMD is calculated as RMD = Account Balance (as of December 31 of the prior year) ÷ Distribution Period, where the distribution period comes from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table and shrinks every year as you age — meaning a larger percentage of your balance must come out each year.
If your spouse is your sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger than you, the IRS allows a different, more favorable joint life expectancy table, which produces a smaller required withdrawal. This calculator uses the standard Uniform Lifetime Table for the primary estimate.
The 10-year projection assumes your account keeps growing at the expected annual return rate you enter, withdraws the RMD each year, then compounds the remaining balance — so you can see how your required withdrawal amount and remaining balance evolve as you age and the distribution period shortens.
Worked Example
See It In Action
A 73-year-old with a $500,000 account balance and a distribution period of 26.5 years (per the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table) has an RMD of $18,867.92 for the year — about $1,572.33 per month, or 3.77% of the account balance. Assuming a 5% expected annual return, next year's RMD would be recalculated against the new (lower) balance and a distribution period of 25.5 years.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss my RMD deadline?
The IRS charges an excise tax penalty of 25% of the amount not withdrawn on time (reduced to 10% if corrected within two years). Most account holders must take their RMD by December 31 each year, except the very first one, which can be delayed to April 1 of the following year.
Does this apply to Roth IRAs?
No. Roth IRAs are exempt from RMDs during the original owner's lifetime. This calculator is intended for traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s, which do require minimum distributions.
Why does my RMD increase every year even if my balance stays flat?
The IRS distribution period shortens as you age, so a larger fraction of your balance must be withdrawn each year even if the account earns no growth at all.
Can I withdraw more than my RMD?
Yes, the RMD is a minimum, not a maximum. You can withdraw more at any time, though doing so increases your taxable income for the year.
Does a younger spouse change my RMD?
If your spouse is your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger, the IRS Joint Life and Last Survivor table typically produces a smaller required distribution than the Uniform Lifetime Table used here.
