RMD Calculator
From age 73 the government makes you take money out of most retirement accounts each year. This works out how much - and shows two things other calculators skip: the penalty if you take too little, and the tax trap in delaying your very first withdrawal.
You must take out this year
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- The number the IRS divides by
- -
- Share of your balance
- 0%
- From your workplace plan, separately
- $0
- Everything you must take, together
- $0
- Deadline
- -
Where the money goes
Each block is sized by its share, so you can see whether number the IRS divides by or everything you must take is the bigger part without reading a single number.
Move it and watch
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at {v} for value on 31 december last year
And what you can change
Why your own figure may differ
Year by year from here
Notice that the share you must take out rises every single year. That is the part people do not expect, and it matters for tax planning.
| Age | Balance at start | Must take | Share | Left at end |
|---|
Required minimum distributions: real examples
Three situations that catch people out. Click any card to load it.
- Just turned 73
$500,000 saved, first year
The first year withdrawals are required.
You must take about $18,868. Delaying it to April means two withdrawals land in the same tax year. often a costly choice.
Load this scenario in the calculator → - Took out too little
Short by $10,000
An account was missed entirely one year.
The penalty is $2,500. Spot it and fix it quickly and that drops to $1,000. worth knowing before you panic.
Load this scenario in the calculator → - Later in retirement
$1,000,000 at age 80
The required share rises every year.
About $49,505, which is nearly 5% of the pot - up from under 4% at 73. The percentage climbs as you age.
Load this scenario in the calculator →
Common questions about required minimum distributions
What is a required minimum withdrawal?
Once you reach 73, the government makes you start taking money out of most retirement accounts every year, whether you need it or not. The reason is simple: that money was never taxed going in, so they want it taxed coming out. The amount is worked out by dividing last year's closing balance by a number the IRS publishes for your age.
What happens if I take out too little?
The penalty is 25% of whatever you were short by. If you spot the mistake and put it right within 2 years, it drops to 10%. This calculator works out the penalty for you so you can see the size of the risk.
Can I delay my first one?
Yes - your first withdrawal can wait until April 1 of the year after you turn 73. But there is a trap. Delay it and you end up taking two withdrawals in the same tax year, which can push you into a higher tax band and cost you more than the delay was worth. This calculator shows both choices side by side so you can see the difference before you decide.
I have several accounts. Do I take one from each?
It depends what kind. If you have several traditional IRAs you can add them all together and take the whole amount from just one of them. Workplace plans like a 401(k) usually do not work that way - each one usually needs its own withdrawal. Getting this wrong is a common and expensive mistake, so this tool separates the two.
Does this apply to a Roth?
Not while you are alive. A Roth IRA has no required withdrawals for the original owner, and neither does a designated Roth account inside a 401(k) or 403(b). Inherited Roth IRAs are a different matter and do have rules.
Which accounts does it apply to?
Traditional IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans, profit sharing plans, and other similar workplace plans. Also inherited Roth IRAs after the original owner has died.
Where do these numbers come from?
Directly from IRS Publication 590-B, Appendix B, Table III. the official life expectancy table - read straight out of the IRS document rather than typed in by hand. The publication, page number and the date we checked it are shown at the bottom of the results.