📅Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Calculator

Calculate how much the IRS requires you to withdraw from your Traditional IRA or 401(k) each year, and project how those amounts grow over the next 15 years.

Your Numbers

Your current age

RMDs are required starting at age 73 under SECURE Act 2.0 (for those born 1951 or later).Account balance

Use the prior December 31 balance for IRS purposes.Expected annual return

Used to project future balances and RMD amounts.

Your Results

This Year's RMD

$30,189

Age	Balance (Start)	RMD
73	$800,000	$30,189
74	$816,000	$32,000
75	$831,040	$33,782
76	$845,093	$35,658
77	$858,001	$37,467
78	$869,766	$39,535
79	$880,045	$41,708
80	$888,637	$43,992
81	$895,324	$46,151
82	$900,123	$48,655
83	$902,556	$50,992
84	$902,658	$53,730
85	$899,864	$56,242
86	$894,239	$58,832
87	$885,531	$61,495

What Is Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are the IRS's mechanism for collecting deferred taxes from Traditional IRA and 401(k) accounts. Because contributions to these accounts were pre-tax, the IRS requires you to begin withdrawing, and paying taxes on, a minimum amount each year starting at age 73 (under the SECURE Act 2.0 rules for those born in 1951 or later).

For early retirees, RMDs are often not an immediate concern, but they can become a significant planning issue later: a large Traditional account balance left untouched through your 60s can trigger substantial forced withdrawals in your 70s and 80s, pushing you into higher tax brackets and increasing Medicare premium surcharges (IRMAA). Understanding your projected RMD trajectory is a key input to deciding whether to do Roth conversions during your early retirement gap years.

How This Calculator Works

The IRS calculates your RMD each year by dividing your prior December 31 account balance by your life expectancy factor from the Uniform Lifetime Table (IRS Publication 590-B, updated in 2022). This calculator applies that formula to your current balance and projects 15 years of RMDs, accounting for account growth at your expected return between distributions.

Account balance

For IRS purposes, use your prior December 31 balance. For planning purposes, your current balance is a reasonable estimate.

Life expectancy factor

Pulled from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table by your age. The factor decreases each year, which means RMD amounts grow both because the divisor shrinks and because the account may continue to grow between withdrawals.

Expected return

Used to project account growth between RMDs. A higher return means the account grows faster than you withdraw, increasing future RMD amounts.

Annual RMD = Prior December 31 Balance ÷ IRS Uniform Lifetime Factor for Your Age

Personal Considerations

RMDs have an unusual personal dynamic for early retirees: many people who retired specifically to control their financial life find themselves forced to withdraw on the government's schedule, not theirs. For people who planned a Roth conversion ladder specifically to avoid this, seeing the projected RMD amounts makes the conversion math feel less abstract and more urgent.

There's also an anchoring issue: because RMDs start relatively small in the early 70s, people sometimes underestimate how quickly they grow. A $1 million account at 73 produces a roughly $38,000 RMD; the same account at 80 produces $50,000 or more. Seeing the 15-year projection in a table, not just the current year, makes the trajectory visible in a way that changes planning decisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't take my RMD?

The IRS imposes a 25% excise tax on the amount you failed to withdraw (reduced to 10% if corrected within two years). It is one of the harsher tax penalties in the code, and a fairly common mistake for people who are financially comfortable and don't need the money.

Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?

No. Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the account owner's lifetime, which is one of their main advantages for estate planning and for controlling taxable income in retirement. Roth 401(k)s previously had RMDs, but the SECURE Act 2.0 eliminated those starting in 2024.

What if I have multiple IRAs?

Your RMD is calculated separately for each Traditional IRA, but you can aggregate the total and take it from any one (or combination) of your IRAs. 401(k)s must be handled separately, account by account.

Can I convert money to Roth before RMDs start to reduce future RMDs?

Yes, and this is one of the primary Roth conversion strategies. Converting Traditional IRA money in your early retirement years (especially if your income is temporarily low) reduces the balance subject to future RMDs. This calculator's projection can help you estimate how much conversion would be needed to bring projected RMDs to a manageable level.