Retirement
RMD Calculator
Tax-deferred does not mean tax-free — eventually the IRS collects. From your required beginning age you must withdraw a share of the balance each year, set by a published divisor that shrinks as you get older, and pay ordinary income tax on it.
Use the balance on 31 December of last year — that is the figure the IRS uses.
This year's required withdrawal
$28,302
Balance ÷ 26.5, the Uniform Lifetime divisor for age 73.
- Tax on this withdrawal
- $6,226
- What you keep
- $22,075
- Share of the balance
- 3.77%
- Total withdrawn over the projection
- $628,526
- Total tax over the projection
- $138,276
Projected distributions
| Year | Age | Starting balance | Required withdrawal | Tax | Ending balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,026 | 73 | $750,000 | $28,302 | $6,226 | $765,000 |
| 2,027 | 74 | $765,000 | $30,000 | $6,600 | $779,100 |
| 2,028 | 75 | $779,100 | $31,671 | $6,968 | $792,275 |
| 2,029 | 76 | $792,275 | $33,429 | $7,354 | $804,376 |
| 2,030 | 77 | $804,376 | $35,126 | $7,728 | $815,406 |
| 2,031 | 78 | $815,406 | $37,064 | $8,154 | $825,043 |
| 2,032 | 79 | $825,043 | $39,102 | $8,602 | $833,097 |
| 2,033 | 80 | $833,097 | $41,242 | $9,073 | $839,366 |
| 2,034 | 81 | $839,366 | $43,266 | $9,519 | $843,866 |
| 2,035 | 82 | $843,866 | $45,614 | $10,035 | $846,147 |
| 2,036 | 83 | $846,147 | $47,805 | $10,517 | $846,242 |
| 2,037 | 84 | $846,242 | $50,372 | $11,082 | $843,623 |
| 2,038 | 85 | $843,623 | $52,726 | $11,600 | $838,350 |
| 2,039 | 86 | $838,350 | $55,155 | $12,134 | $830,187 |
| 2,040 | 87 | $830,187 | $57,652 | $12,683 | $818,888 |
How this calculator works
Each year's withdrawal is the starting balance divided by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table divisor for that age, taken from Publication 590-B, Appendix B, Table III. The remaining balance then grows at your assumed return, matching the rule that the divisor applies to the prior year-end balance.
Tax is a flat marginal rate applied to each distribution — real filing runs it through brackets alongside Social Security and other income. State tax, qualified charitable distributions, the Joint Life table, and inherited-account rules are not modelled. A steady return is assumed; actual sequence of returns will change every figure after year one.
Try an example
Frequently asked questions
At what age do RMDs start?
SECURE 2.0 set the required beginning age at 73 for anyone born between 1951 and 1959, and 75 for those born in 1960 or later. Your first distribution can be delayed to 1 April of the following year, but that stacks two withdrawals into one tax year.
How is the RMD calculated?
Take the account balance on 31 December of the previous year and divide it by the distribution period for your age in the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. At 73 the divisor is 26.5, so the withdrawal is about 3.8% of the balance. The divisor shrinks each year, so the percentage rises.
What is the penalty for missing an RMD?
SECURE 2.0 cut it from 50% to 25% of the amount you failed to withdraw, and to 10% if you correct it promptly and file Form 5329. It is still one of the harshest penalties in the tax code, and it is entirely avoidable with a standing instruction at your custodian.
Do Roth accounts have RMDs?
Roth IRAs never have them for the original owner. As of 2024, Roth 401(k)s no longer do either. Inherited accounts are a different matter — most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty the account within ten years.
Can I avoid the tax on an RMD?
You cannot skip the distribution, but a qualified charitable distribution lets those 70½ or older send up to $105,000 a year straight from an IRA to a charity. It satisfies the RMD and never appears in your income, which beats donating after withdrawing.
Which table applies to me?
This calculator uses the Uniform Lifetime Table, which covers most people. If your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than ten years younger, the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table gives a larger divisor and a smaller required withdrawal.
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Disclaimer: DayCents provides this calculator for educational purposes only. Results are estimates based on your inputs and the stated assumptions — they are not financial advice, a quote, or an offer of credit. Consult a qualified financial professional before making major money decisions.