RMD calculator (required minimum distributions by age)

Estimate required minimum distributions by age using balance and IRS-style factors. See year-by-year RMDs and charts (confirm with current IRS rules).

Your inputs

About this calculator

Estimate yearly required withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts.

Your information

Enter your best estimates below.

Your age this year — sets when required withdrawals must begin.
Account balance on December 31 of last year (per IRS rules).
Roth 401(k) owner withdrawals are not required in this simplified view.

How we run the estimate

Change expected return below. Age, balance, and account type stay in the panel above.

Growth applied after the required withdrawal each year.
5.0%
IRS life expectancy table
Uniform Lifetime Table (Table III)
How long the chart runs
Through age 92
When withdrawals must begin
Age 73 under current federal rules
Each year
Required withdrawal is taken first, then the remaining balance grows
Roth 401(k)
Required withdrawal applies once you reach the starting age
Balance we use
Prior year-end account balance carried forward

Your results

Required withdrawal schedule

This year's required withdrawal

$18,868

IRS life-expectancy divisor: 26.5. Withdrawal rate: 3.77%. Withdrawals must begin at age 73.

Total projected withdrawals

$571K

Required beginning age

73

Account balance over time

737475767778808182848688909192$0$150K$300K$450K$600K

Annual required withdrawals

73767982858891$0$10K$20K$30K$40K

Beyond this calculator

Required withdrawals shape taxes and cash flow

This schedule estimates IRS required amounts from one account balance. A complete Retirelens plan also maps:

  • Multiple IRAs and workplace plans in one coordinated picture
  • Federal and state tax on each year’s withdrawal
  • Charitable strategies that may offset part of the requirement
  • How distributions interact with Social Security timing and spouse age

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Interpretation

What this means

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

Based on a prior year-end balance of $500,000 and birth year 1953, required withdrawals must begin at age 73. Your first-year IRS divisor is 26.5, producing a required withdrawal of $18,868.

Required withdrawal amounts rise as a share of your balance each year because the IRS divisor shrinks with age. Total projected withdrawals over the planning horizon: $571,492.

This is an estimate using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. Consult a tax advisor for spousal beneficiary exceptions and inherited account rules.

Methodology

How this calculator works

The rules and math behind this estimate.

Each year, the starting balance is divided by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table divisor for that age to produce the required withdrawal. The remaining balance then grows at the selected annual return to produce next year's starting balance.

Required beginning age is determined by birth year under current SECURE 2.0 rules: age 72 (born ≤1950), age 73 (born 1951–1959), age 75 (born ≥1960).

Help

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to common questions about this calculator.

What is an RMD?

The minimum you must withdraw each year from most tax-deferred retirement accounts once you reach the required age. The IRS sets the amount based on your balance and age.

When do RMDs start?

The age depends on your birth year (often 73 or 75 under current law). Check irs.gov or your tax preparer for your situation.

What if I miss an RMD?

The IRS can charge a penalty on what you should have taken. Fix mistakes promptly with a tax professional.

Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?

Not for the original owner during life. Inherited Roth accounts have their own rules.

Your full retirement picture

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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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