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RMD Calculator

Estimate your IRS Required Minimum Distribution from a retirement account.

Result

Required minimum distribution
$18,867.92
Distribution factor
26.5
RMD as % of balance
3.77%

Based on the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (2022 update). Ages over 100 use the age-100 factor.

Export:
This year's distribution vs. remaining balance
  • Required distribution$18,867.923.8%
  • Remaining balance$481,132.0896.2%

How the RMD is figured

A required minimum distribution is the smallest amount the IRS makes you withdraw each year from a tax-deferred account once you reach RMD age. The calculation is deliberately simple: take the account’s balance as of December 31 of the prior year and divide it by a distribution period (a life-expectancy factor) read from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.

The factor shrinks as you age, so the required amount becomes a larger share of the balance over time. This is the government’s way of gradually drawing down accounts whose growth has been sheltered from tax.

Reading the result

The headline figure is the dollar amount you must withdraw this year. The distribution factor is the divisor used, and the percentage shows that withdrawal as a fraction of your balance.

The chart contrasts this year’s required distribution with the balance that would remain afterward, giving a quick sense of how much the account is being drawn down in a single year.

Practical tips

A few points help you stay on the right side of the rules:

  • The deadline is generally December 31 each year; your first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of the following year, but doubling up two distributions in one year may raise your taxable income.
  • You can always withdraw more than the minimum — the RMD is a floor, not a cap.
  • If you own several similar accounts, special aggregation rules may let you take the total from one of them.
  • Missing an RMD triggers a steep excise tax on the shortfall, so mark the deadline.

Caveats and disclaimer

This estimate uses the standard Uniform Lifetime Table and assumes your spouse is not your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger, which would call for a different table. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the owner’s lifetime, and rules differ for inherited accounts. Tax law changes and individual circumstances vary, so treat this as an estimate and confirm your exact requirement with the IRS or a tax professional.

Formula

RMD = accountBalance / distributionFactor(age)

Frequently asked questions

Which table does this use?
The IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, used by most account owners. A different table applies if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger.