How to Calculate RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions) for IRAs

Calculate your RMDs using our guide and simple calculator and avoid stiff penalties from your tax-deferred traditional IRA.

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Don't skip calculating your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) as retirement nears or once you're already retired. You'll avoid hefty tax penalties and keep more of your hard-earned savings intact.

Beyond avoiding fines, calculating RMDs can help you strategize gifting or spending to reduce estate taxes (especially valuable if you're approaching the $15 million federal estate tax exemption in 2026), and can also guide your investment strategy.

Bottom line: Run the numbers early and often. It's a simple step that protects your wealth and opens doors to smarter tax and legacy planning.

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What are RMDs?

So, what are RMDs? RMDs are the minimum annual withdrawals you must make each year from most tax-deferred retirement plans (excluding Roth accounts). Because your retirement accounts grow tax-free over time, the government taxes withdrawals through Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), treated as regular income.

You may be required to take RMDs from your 401(k), 403(b), or other employer-sponsored retirement plans, but here we're focusing on how to calculate RMDs from a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

Not sure how to calculate your RMD? We’ll walk you through the steps and point you to other practical resources to use. For more detailed information, seek guidance from a qualified financial adviser or tax professional.

When do RMDs start?

Starting RMD withdrawals at the right age is critical. Note that the rules have changed recently.

  • In 2020, the SECURE Act increased the age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts from 70-½ to 72.
  • The SECURE 2.0 Act raised the RMD age to 73 for individuals who turn 72 on or after January 1, 2023.
  • You must take your first RMD by April 1 of the year following the year you turn 73.
  • Starting in 2033, the RMD age will increase to 75 for individuals who turn 74 after December 31, 2032.
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RMD calculation example

Year

Your age

Estimated account balance

Estimated RMD amount

2024

73

$254,316.04

$9,433.96

2025

74

$258,330.24

$9,973.18

2026

75

$262,037.17

$10,501.23

2027

76

$265,392.79

$11,056.42

Let's say you are a single man who turned 73 in 2024. The balance in your IRA was $254,316 on December 31, 2023, and you estimate it will grow by 5% annually. In 2024 (at age 73), your required minimum distribution was $9,433.96.

As the chart shows, your annual RMD will increase over the next three years, but your account balance will not dip below its original value, assuming it continues to earn the estimated 5% interest.

How to calculate your RMDs

Follow these steps to work out your RMDs for a traditional IRA:
DIY method: Start by determining how much you had in your IRA account as of December 31 of the previous year. Next, you can find your life expectancy factor, or the number of additional years you expect to live, according to actuarial calculations. Divide the account balance by the life expectancy factor to get your RMD.
Simple RMD calculator: Get a quick estimate using our calculator below. Input your retirement account balance, your age and the tool will calculate your RMD.

Note: You must calculate your RMDs for each traditional IRA separately, based on its year-end balance and your life expectancy.

RMD dates to remember

Once you turn 73, it's important to be proactive about following the rules for required minimum distributions for IRAs, or you may face penalties. Also, you can withdraw or use your traditional IRA assets at any time, but a 10% additional tax may apply if you withdraw or use IRA assets before you reach age 59½.

Officially, RMDs are due by December 31 each year, but the IRS gives you flexibility for your first one. You can delay your first RMD (required at age 73 in 2026) until April 1 of the following year. Your first RMD covers 2026 and can be postponed to April 1, 2027.

If you delay your first RMD withdrawal, you must take your second by December 31 of that same year. Taking two RMDs in one year creates two taxable events, which could increase your taxable income and potentially push you into a higher tax bracket.

RMD penalties

The IRS imposes penalties for taking RMDs that are too small. If you withdraw less than required, the IRS charges a 25% penalty (or 10% if corrected within two years) on the difference between what you withdrew and what you should have taken.

You can always take larger distributions, but the RMD sets the minimum withdrawal needed to meet IRS requirements. Withdrawals above the minimum in one year cannot be used to satisfy RMDs in future years.

Which accounts require RMDs?

These retirement accounts will require you to withdraw RMDs (as long as they are not Roth accounts).

You must calculate your RMDs for each traditional IRA separately, based on its year-end balance and your life expectancy. However, you can withdraw the total required minimum distribution amount from any combination of your IRA accounts (one or more). This simplifies bookkeeping and allows you to strategically draw down an IRA, such as one with poor performance or underperforming investments.

What are the RMD rules for an inherited IRA?

The IRS states that beneficiaries of inherited IRAs follow specific RMD rules, which vary based on when the original account owner passed away, the beneficiary’s relationship to the account holder, and whether the death occurred before or after January 1, 2020.

Generally, the rules are:
Spousal Options: If you inherit a Traditional, SIMPLE IRA, Rollover, or SEP-IRA from your spouse, you have multiple options, depending on whether your spouse died before or after their RMD start date (age 73 in 2026). A common choice is to transfer the funds to your own IRA, but you can also take a lump-sum distribution or maintain the inherited IRA with specific RMD rules.

Non-Spousal Options: If you inherit an IRA from someone other than your spouse, withdrawal rules depend on your status as a designated beneficiary, eligible designated beneficiary (minor child, disabled individual), or non-individual, such as a trust or estate. For deaths after December 31, 2019, most non-spousal beneficiaries must withdraw all funds within 10 years, with specific RMD requirements for eligible designated beneficiaries.

Read Retirement Topics — Beneficiary on the IRS website to fully understand the rules and how they apply to your personal situation.

Consider RMDs in the context of your broader retirement goals

To better save for retirement, consider all of your options, such as contributing to a 401(k) or IRA, or 403(b). Different accounts may have different fees that can eat into returns, in addition to different tax implications. And you should consider whether you will be required to take minimum distributions once you hit age 73.

Roth IRAs don’t require RMDs, but traditional IRAs and other retirement accounts do.

More resources

Other calculators: Fidelity's RMD tool is one we recommend, as it accounts for your spouse's age and projects your RMDs for future years.

The IRS: Or, go to the source: Visit the IRS website to find additional information on RMDs, such as what they are, the types of retirement plans that require RMDs, the timeline for taking minimum distributions and how the amount is calculated.

We strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a financial services professional with whom you have a fiduciary relationship before making any investment or significant financial decision.

Building a dream retirement shouldn’t feel like a second job. Subscribe to our free newsletter, Retirement Tips.

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Kathryn Pomroy
Kathryn Pomroy
Contributor

For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.

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