Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Calculator - IRS Compliant RMD Tool for Retirement Accounts

RMD Calculator

*Your Birth Year

*RMD Calculation Year

*Account Balance at 12/31/2025

*Is Your Spouse Your Main Beneficiary?

Yes

*Spouse's Year of Birth

Expected annual return (Optional) (%)

RMD Calculation Results

Year-by-Year Distribution Timeline

Calendar Year	Your Age	Life Expectancy Factor	Starting Balance	Return	Required Withdrawal	Account Value After RMD

What are Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)?

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are mandatory withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts that must begin by age 73 (as of 2023). The IRS requires these distributions to ensure that retirement savings don't remain tax-sheltered indefinitely.

Who Must Take RMDs?

Traditional IRA account holders age 73 and older
401(k), 403(b), and other employer-sponsored plan participants
Inherited retirement account beneficiaries

What Is the Formula for Calculating Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)?

Basic RMD Formula:

RMD = Account Balance ÷ Life Expectancy Factor

Where:

Account Balance: Fair market value of the account as of December 31 of the prior year
Life Expectancy Factor: Based on IRS Uniform Lifetime Table or Joint Life Table (for spouse beneficiaries)

IRS Life Expectancy Tables Used:

Uniform Lifetime Table: Used for most RMD calculations
Joint and Last Survivor Table: Used when spouse is sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger
Single Life Expectancy Table: Used for inherited accounts

What Is the Formula for Calculating Required Minimum Distributions RMDs?

Key Deadlines:

First RMD: By April 1 following the year you turn 73
Subsequent RMDs: By December 31 each year
Penalty for Missing RMD: 50% excise tax on the amount not withdrawn

Recent Changes:

The SECURE Act 2.0 raised the RMD age from 72 to 73 starting in 2023, and will increase it to 75 in 2033.

How Much Would RMD Be on $500,000?

For your case, the Life Expectancy Factor is 26.5.

RMD = $500,000.00 ÷ 26.5 = $18,867.92

You must withdraw at least $18,867.92 from your retirement account at 73.

How Much Do I Have to Withdraw From My 401k at Age 73?

Suppose an investor holds a single IRA with a balance of $1,000,000 as of December 31 in the previous year. When they reach age 73, the Required Minimum Distribution is calculated using a life expectancy factor of 26.5. This means their RMD would be $1,000,000 divided by 26.5, resulting in a withdrawal amount of approximately $37,735.85.