Retirement
RMD Calculator
Estimate your required minimum distribution from a retirement account at a given age using the IRS uniform lifetime table.
Once you reach your early seventies, retirement accounts generally require annual withdrawals. Estimate the amount using your balance and age.
Retirement
Try the calculator
Example
The distribution factor shrinks each year, so the percentage you must withdraw rises as you get older even if the balance stays flat.
Results
Estimated annual RMD
$20,325
Share of balance
4.1%
Projection
Distribution view
Result reading
The visual trend is moving up, with an approximate change of $57,800 across the period shown.
Planning cue
Use the output as a scenario test rather than a promise. Small input changes can materially change the result.
Uses the IRS uniform lifetime table. Your plan or custodian may calculate a slightly different amount; always follow the official figure for filing.
How it works
What the result is showing you
These sections explain what the calculator measures, which assumptions matter most, and where the number can be misleading.
When RMDs begin
For most people, required minimum distributions start at age 73 (the exact threshold has shifted in recent law changes). Missing a distribution can trigger a steep penalty, so planning the withdrawal matters.
The uniform lifetime table
The IRS publishes a life-expectancy factor by age. The RMD is your prior-year-end balance divided by that factor. The factor falls each year, so the required percentage grows.
Roth accounts are different
Roth IRAs were exempt from RMDs for the original owner, though inherited Roth accounts follow their own rules. Roth 401(k)s are now generally treated like other 401(k)s for RMD purposes.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask most about this calculator.
At what age do RMDs start?
For most people the starting age is 73 under current law, though the threshold has changed over time. Check the year you were born, because the exact age depends on it.
What happens if I skip a distribution?
Failing to take the full RMD can result in a substantial excise penalty on the amount not withdrawn. Planning the withdrawal early in the year helps avoid that.
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