RMD Calculator

How much must you withdraw from your traditional IRA this year? Enter two numbers and find out.

How your RMD is calculated

A Required Minimum Distribution is the smallest amount the IRS makes you withdraw from a traditional IRA once you reach a certain age. Most of that money went in untaxed, and this is the point at which the government starts collecting.

The amount is your balance at the end of last year divided by a life expectancy factor published by the IRS. This calculator does that lookup for you.

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The IRS uses last year's closing balance, not today's. Include traditional IRA, SEP and SIMPLE IRA balances.
The age you reach by the end of this year, not your age today. If your birthday is still ahead of you, use the older number.

Worth knowing

  • The deadline is December 31. Your first RMD, and only that one, may be delayed to April 1 of the following year — but that puts two distributions into one tax year.
  • Roth IRAs have no required distribution during the owner's lifetime.
  • If your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than ten years younger than you, the IRS uses a different table and your real RMD is lower than the figure shown here.
  • With several IRAs, the amount is worked out for each account but the total may be taken from any one of them. Each 401(k) must be taken separately from that plan.
  • Inherited IRAs follow different rules entirely and are not covered here.
  • If you ever made nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA, part of each withdrawal is not taxed again. That does not change the amount you must take, only the tax on it.

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This calculator uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table and covers the common case only. It is not tax advice. If you have an inherited IRA, a sole-beneficiary spouse more than ten years younger, or several retirement plans, check the amount with a tax professional.