RMD Calculator (Required Minimum Distribution)
Free RMD calculator for 2026. Enter your age and prior December 31 IRA balance to estimate your Required Minimum Distribution and five-year withdrawal schedule.
What Is an RMD?
A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount that many owners of traditional IRAs and workplace retirement plans must withdraw each year after reaching the applicable starting age. This calculator divides the prior December 31 balance by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table divisor.
The tool shows the current-year estimate and a five-year outlook. It is a planning estimate, not tax advice: account type, beneficiary status, and plan rules can change the required calculation.
How to Use This RMD Calculator
- Enter your age Use the age you will be on December 31 of the distribution year.
- Enter last year-end balance Use the account value as of the preceding December 31.
- Review the estimate and deadline The first RMD has a special April 1 following-year option; later RMDs are normally due December 31.
Tips for getting more out of it
- Calculate each IRA separately even when you take the total from one or more eligible IRA accounts.
- A first RMD delayed to April 1 can mean two taxable distributions in the same calendar year.
- A Roth IRA owned by the original owner generally has no lifetime RMD, but beneficiary rules differ.
RMD Glossary
- RMD
- Required Minimum Distribution: the annual minimum withdrawal required from many tax-deferred retirement accounts.
- Uniform Lifetime Table
- The IRS table most original account owners use to find the divisor for an RMD.
- Prior year-end balance
- The value of the retirement account on December 31 of the preceding calendar year.
RMD Calculator FAQ
Why the December 31 Balance Matters
The RMD formula looks simple, but its timing matters. The amount for a distribution year is based on the account value at the end of the previous year, not on the value on the day you withdraw. That gives account owners a consistent figure to use even when markets move during the year.
RMDs set a minimum rather than a recommended spending target. You may withdraw more, but taking extra in one year does not normally reduce a future year's RMD. Coordinating withdrawals with tax brackets, charitable gifts, and other income is a useful discussion to have with a qualified tax professional.