2026 RMD Calculator - Required Minimum Distribution for Age 73+

Annual RMD Withdrawal Schedule

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 Are the RMD Rules and Deadlines I Need to Know?

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• Penalty for Missing RMD: 50% excise tax on the amount not withdrawn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.

References

Retirement plan and IRA required minimum distributions FAQs:
https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plan-and-ira-required-minimum-distributions-faqs