Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are the withdrawals the IRS makes you take each year from traditional IRAs and most workplace retirement plans once you reach a certain age. That age is 73 if you were born from 1951 to 1959 and 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. Each year's amount is your December 31 balance from the prior year divided by an IRS life expectancy factor, and missing it can cost you a 25% penalty on the shortfall.
Key takeaways
- RMDs start at 73 for people born 1951–1959 and at 75 for people born in 1960 or later.
- Your first RMD can wait until April 1 of the following year, but then you take two RMDs in that same year.
- The amount is last year's December 31 balance divided by the factor for your age in the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
- A missed RMD triggers a 25% penalty on the amount not taken, reduced to 10% if you correct it promptly.
- Roth IRAs have no RMDs for the original owner, and Roth 401(k)s no longer require them starting in 2024.
What an RMD is and why it exists
Traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and similar plans let you save money before tax and let it grow without yearly tax bills. The trade-off is that the government eventually wants to collect tax on that money. RMDs are the rule that makes sure it does.
Once you reach your RMD age, you must withdraw at least a minimum amount every year. You can always take more than the minimum. The amount you withdraw is generally taxed as ordinary income in the year you take it, just like a paycheck or a pension.
RMDs apply to traditional IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and most employer plans. They do not apply to Roth IRAs while the original owner is alive, and since 2024 they no longer apply to Roth accounts inside 401(k) and similar plans either.
When RMDs start: your RMD age
The SECURE 2.0 law raised the starting age, and it now depends on the year you were born.
| Year you were born | RMD starting age | Example: first RMD year |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 – 1959 | 73 | Born 1953: turns 73 in 2026, so the first RMD is for 2026 |
| 1960 or later | 75 | Born 1960: turns 75 in 2035, so the first RMD is for 2035 |
If you were born in 1953, for example, your first RMD is for the year 2026. You can take it any time during 2026, or you can wait until April 1, 2027. Every RMD after that is due by December 31 of each year.
Enter your birth year and account balance to estimate this year's required withdrawal in seconds.
Use the RMD CalculatorHow the RMD amount is calculated
The basic formula is simple:
RMD = account balance on December 31 of last year ÷ the IRS life expectancy factor for your age this year
Most people use the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. As you get older, the factor gets smaller, so the share of your account you must withdraw gets larger. Here are some of the factors from that table:
| Age in the distribution year | Uniform Lifetime Table factor | Approximate share of balance withdrawn |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 | About 3.8% |
| 74 | 25.5 | About 3.9% |
| 75 | 24.6 | About 4.1% |
| 80 | 20.2 | About 5.0% |
| 85 | 16.0 | About 6.3% |
| 90 | 12.2 | About 8.2% |
A different IRS table can apply in some cases, such as when your spouse is your only beneficiary and is much younger than you. IRS Publication 590-B lists all of the tables.
Several accounts
If you have more than one traditional IRA, you figure the RMD for each one, then you can add them together and take the total from any one IRA or a mix of them. Workplace plans such as 401(k)s generally work differently: each plan's RMD is usually taken from that plan.
Worked examples
First RMD at 73
James was born in 1953 and turns 73 in 2026. His traditional IRA was worth $500,000 on December 31, 2025. His factor at 73 is 26.5.
$500,000 ÷ 26.5 = $18,867.92. That is his 2026 RMD, due by April 1, 2027 at the latest.
Starting at 75
Carol was born in 1960. Her first RMD is for the year she turns 75. If her IRA held $400,000 at the end of the prior year, her RMD would be $400,000 ÷ 24.6 = $16,260.16.
Later in retirement
At age 80, an account worth $300,000 at the end of the prior year requires $300,000 ÷ 20.2 = $14,851.49. At 85, a $200,000 balance requires $200,000 ÷ 16.0 = $12,500. At 90, a $100,000 balance requires $100,000 ÷ 12.2 = $8,196.72.
The first-year April 1 option: helpful or costly?
Delaying your very first RMD to April 1 of the following year sounds like a free extra few months. The catch is that your second RMD is still due by December 31 of that same year. That means two RMDs land in one tax year.
Take James again. If he waits until early 2027 to take his 2026 RMD of $18,867.92, he must also take his 2027 RMD by December 31, 2027. Two withdrawals of roughly $19,000 each would add close to $38,000 of taxable income to his 2027 return.
That extra income can push you into a higher tax bracket, make more of your Social Security taxable, and even raise your Medicare premiums two years later through IRMAA. Our guide to Medicare Part B premiums and IRMAA explains how that lookback works, and the IRMAA calculator shows where the brackets fall. For many people, taking the first RMD in the year they reach RMD age is the simpler choice, but it depends on your income in each year.
Penalties for missing an RMD
If you take less than your required amount, the IRS charges an excise tax of 25% on the shortfall. If you correct the mistake in a timely way, generally within two years, the penalty drops to 10%.
For example, suppose your RMD was $12,000 but you only withdrew $2,000. The shortfall is $10,000.
- At the 25% rate, the penalty would be $2,500.
- If you take the missing $10,000 and fix it promptly, the penalty would be $1,000.
Either way, it is a cost worth avoiding. Many custodians offer automatic RMD withdrawals that you can set up once and leave running each year.
RMDs, taxes and your other benefits
RMDs are usually taxable income, and they do not stand alone. They interact with several other parts of a retiree's finances.
Social Security taxation
Federal tax on Social Security depends on your provisional income, which includes your RMDs. A large RMD can move you from having none of your benefits taxed to having up to 85% taxed. See whether Social Security is taxable for the thresholds, or try the Social Security tax calculator.
Deductions for people 65 and older
RMDs also raise your modified adjusted gross income, which matters for the temporary $6,000 senior deduction because it phases out at higher incomes. Our guide to senior tax deductions for 2026 and 2027 covers how that works.
Qualified charitable distributions
If you give to charity, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) can help. Starting at age 70½, you can send money directly from your IRA to a qualifying charity. The gift counts toward your RMD but is left out of your taxable income. The annual QCD limit is adjusted for inflation. The money must go straight from the IRA custodian to the charity; if you withdraw it first and then donate, it does not count as a QCD.
Withholding
You can ask your IRA custodian to withhold federal income tax from your RMD. Some people use this as a convenient way to cover the tax on all of their retirement income instead of making quarterly estimated payments.
Frequently asked questions
What age do I have to start RMDs?
Age 73 if you were born from 1951 through 1959, and age 75 if you were born in 1960 or later.
Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?
Not for the original owner. Roth 401(k) accounts also no longer require RMDs starting in 2024. Beneficiaries who inherit a Roth account may have their own withdrawal rules.
Which balance do I use to calculate my RMD?
Use the account value on December 31 of the previous year, then divide it by the IRS factor for the age you reach in the current year.
What happens if I miss my RMD?
The IRS can charge 25% of the amount you failed to take. If you correct it in a timely manner, generally within two years, the penalty falls to 10%.
Can I take more than my RMD?
Yes. The RMD is only the minimum. Extra withdrawals do not count toward future years' RMDs, and they add to your taxable income for the year you take them.
Sources
This guide is for general education and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules and amounts can change; confirm details with the Social Security Administration, the IRS or Medicare. Spotted an error? Let us know.