How much tax on an inherited IRA?

Estimate federal tax on an inherited IRA under the 10-year payout rule, with a year-by-year withdrawal schedule.

Your inputs

About this calculator

Estimate federal tax on inherited Traditional IRA distributions over 10 years. Rules vary by beneficiary, year of death, and account documents.

Your information

Enter your best estimates below.

Value when you inherited the account.
Roth inherited accounts are treated differently for tax.
Spouse, child, or other rules change timing — simplified here.
Year the original owner died — affects which federal rules apply.
Your age — can affect distribution choices.
How quickly the account must be emptied under the 10-year rule.

How we run the estimate

Change tax rate and expected return below. Balance, beneficiary type, and distribution path stay in the panel above.

Federal tax rate you expect on each withdrawal.
24%
Growth on the balance before withdrawals each year.
5.0%
Tax year for rules
2026
Each year
Account grows once, then withdrawals follow inherited IRA rules
Federal rules applied
SECURE Act paths based on beneficiary type and year of death
Tax on withdrawals
Traditional withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income

Your results

SECURE Act 10-year rule

What it means

This estimate follows the rule that many non-spouse heirs must empty the account within 10 years after death.

How we chose it

Your beneficiary type triggers the 10-year distribution path in the model, with taxes applied at your entered rate when the account is taxable.

Estimated total tax

$126,785

Total distributions $528,271 · After-tax proceeds $401,486 · Empty account by 2035.

Avg. annual withdrawal

$53K

Account type

traditional ira

Distribution schedule

Most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty the account by December 31 of the 10th year after the year of death. Annual RMDs are not required in years 1–9, but the full balance must be distributed by the deadline.

  • Distribution
  • Est. tax
2026202720282029203020312032203320342035$0$20K$40K$60K$80K
YearWithdrawalTaxAfter taxEnd balance
2026$42,000$10,080$31,920$378,000
2027$44,100$10,584$33,516$352,800
2028$46,305$11,113$35,192$324,135
2029$48,620$11,669$36,951$291,722
2030$51,051$12,252$38,799$255,256
2031$53,604$12,865$40,739$214,415
2032$56,284$13,508$42,776$168,852
2033$59,098$14,184$44,915$118,196
2034$62,053$14,893$47,160$62,053
2035$65,156$15,637$49,518$0

Beyond this calculator

Inherited retirement accounts touch taxes and the whole estate

This illustration estimates federal tax on a simplified withdrawal path. A complete Retirelens plan also accounts for:

  • State income tax and beneficiary-specific distribution deadlines
  • How each withdrawal affects other income and Medicare premiums
  • Coordination with spouse, trust, and non-retirement assets
  • Tradeoffs between faster distributions and long-term account growth

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Interpretation

What these numbers mean

Planning context for the estimates above. Not tax, legal, or investment advice.

  • Projected total distributions: $528,271, with estimated federal income tax of $126,785 at a 24% marginal rate.
  • Effective tax rate on distributions in this illustration: about 24.0% — actual taxes depend on other income and deductions.
  • Account must be fully distributed by calendar year 2035 under the secure act 10-year rule path modeled here.
  • Equal annual withdrawals reduce year-10 tax spikes compared with waiting until the final year — adjust strategy with a CPA.
  • State income tax, NIIT, and bracket stacking are not modeled in detail.

Methodology

How this calculator works

The rules and math behind this estimate.

We apply SECURE Act and IRS rules for your beneficiary category, account type, and year of death to estimate annual required distributions, taxes, and when the inherited account may be depleted.

This is educational planning support — not tax or legal advice. Rules vary; confirm with a CPA or attorney.

Help

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to common questions about this calculator.

What is the 10-year rule?

Most non-spouse heirs must empty an inherited retirement account within 10 years after the owner dies. There may be no required amount each year until the end.

Do I pay tax on an inherited Traditional IRA?

Usually yes — withdrawals are typically taxed as ordinary income. Inherited Roth accounts may be tax-free if rules are met.

Should I spread withdrawals out?

Spreading withdrawals can spread out tax. Taking everything in year 10 can cause a big tax bill that year.

What about a surviving spouse?

Spouses have special options, including rolling the account into their own IRA. This tool uses general inherited-account rules — not spousal rollover.

Your full retirement picture

Retirement is more than money

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A good retirement plan covers money, health, how you spend your time, people you care about, and what you pass on. That is how Retirelens looks at the full picture.

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68% of adults ages 50–64 said they were concerned that federal policy changes could affect their health insurance coverage. (University of Michigan)

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