RMD Calculator 2026

What is an RMD?

A required minimum distribution, or RMD, is the amount you must withdraw each year from certain retirement accounts after reaching the applicable starting age. The rules are meant to ensure that tax-deferred retirement savings are eventually distributed.

This RMD calculator estimates your annual withdrawal using your age at the end of the year, your prior year-end balance, and the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. It works as an IRA RMD calculator for situations that use that table. A required minimum distribution calculator is an estimate, so check that the table and account rules fit your situation before taking money out.

Why your RMD matters

An RMD affects how much money must leave your retirement account, even if you would rather keep it invested there. The withdrawal can affect your cash flow and, when taxable, your income tax bill. Planning ahead can help you decide which assets to sell, how much cash to keep available, and whether to adjust tax withholding.

Your RMD is a required withdrawal, not a spending requirement. Once you take it, you can use the proceeds for expenses or make a separate plan for the money outside the tax-deferred account. Missing a required distribution can lead to a tax penalty. Confirm your account rules and tax treatment with a qualified tax professional.

How to use this RMD calculator

1. Enter your age at the end of the year. Use the age you will be on December 31, not your age today.
2. Enter your birth year. The calculator uses it to identify the RMD starting age: 73, or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later.
3. Enter the account balance on December 31 of last year. Use the balance for the account or accounts you are calculating, following the rules that apply to your account type.
4. Review the estimated RMD and the Uniform Lifetime Table factor. The calculation divides the prior year-end balance by the factor for your age.
5. Check the deadline that applies to you before arranging a withdrawal. First-year timing can differ from the timing for later RMDs.

RMD calculator example

How to read your RMD result

The RMD for the year is the calculator’s estimate of the amount to withdraw. The prior December 31 balance is the starting account value. The age this year selects the table factor, and the factor is the divisor in the formula: prior year-end balance divided by the Uniform Lifetime Table factor.

The monthly equivalent simply spreads the annual estimate across the year for budgeting. It does not change the annual requirement or your withdrawal deadline. The calculator uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, also called Table III. A different table or distribution rule may apply to some spouses, inherited accounts, or account types, so do not rely on this estimate until you have checked which rules apply.

How to plan for your RMD

1. 01

   Set aside cash before the deadline

   Review your account and upcoming expenses early. If you need to sell investments to fund the withdrawal, consider which holdings fit your broader retirement plan rather than selling in a rush.

2. 02

   Coordinate withdrawals with taxes

   Ask your tax professional whether withholding from the distribution or adjusting other estimated tax payments makes sense for you. Consider the effect of the withdrawal on your full-year income before choosing an amount above the required minimum.

3. 03

   Check whether charitable giving fits

   If you give to charity, ask a tax professional whether a qualified charitable distribution is available for your circumstances and how it would affect your RMD. Follow the required process; a regular donation made after taking the distribution may be treated differently.

4. 04

   Review your accounts and beneficiaries

   Keep account statements and beneficiary information current. Ask your plan administrator or tax professional whether you can calculate or take distributions across accounts, since the rules depend on the account type.

Common RMD mistakes

• Using the wrong balance date

  The calculation uses the balance on December 31 of last year. A current balance or an estimate of this year’s ending balance can produce a different result.

• Using the wrong age

  Enter your age at the end of the year. Your age today may not be the age the table uses for the calculation.

• Assuming every account uses this table

  This calculator uses the Uniform Lifetime Table. Some spouse and inherited-account situations follow different rules. Confirm the applicable table before acting.

• Treating the monthly equivalent as the deadline

  The monthly amount is only a budgeting reference. It does not replace the annual RMD requirement or establish when a withdrawal is due.

The RMD formula

Key terms

Required minimum distribution (RMD)

The minimum amount you are required to withdraw from certain retirement accounts for a year.

Prior year-end balance

The account balance on December 31 of the year before the RMD year.

Uniform Lifetime Table factor

The IRS table value associated with your age that divides the prior year-end balance to estimate the RMD.

Monthly equivalent

The annual RMD estimate expressed as an even monthly planning amount. It is not a separate withdrawal requirement.