{"id":67152,"date":"2026-10-20T09:51:55","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T06:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/?p=67152"},"modified":"2026-10-20T09:51:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T06:51:55","slug":"rmd-calculator-required-minimum-distribution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/finance\/rmd-calculator-required-minimum-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"RMD Calculator \u2013 Required Minimum Distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"not-prose calculator-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculator-title\"><div class=\"flex items-baseline sm:items-center justify-between gap-2 sm:gap-3\"><div class=\"flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center gap-2\"><span class=\"icon icon-calculator text-primary-700! text-base! dark:text-primary-300!\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2 id=\"calculator-title\" class=\"text-lg font-display font-bold\">Estimate Your Required Minimum Distribution<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"calcdash-favorite group\">\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"favorite\" id=\"favorite\" data-favorite-id=\"67152\" data-favorite-title=\"RMD\" data-favorite-url=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/finance\/rmd-calculator-required-minimum-distribution\/\" data-favorite-excerpt=\"Estimate your required minimum distribution and view a 10-year projection. Enter the owner&#039;s birth year, distribution year, previous December 31 balance, and an assumed growth rate; add spouse details if applicable.\" aria-label=\"Add to Favorites\" data-favorite-icon=\"icon icon-finance\">\n    <span class=\"icon icon-shape-star-empty\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n  <\/button>\n  <div class=\"calcdash-favorite__tip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n   <span class=\"favorite-tooltip\" id=\"favorite-tooltip\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"favorite-status\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><form action=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/finance\/rmd-calculator-required-minimum-distribution\/\" method=\"POST\" class=\"calculator\" id=\"calculator-67152\" data-post=\"67152\"><fieldset class=\"fieldset-input is-2\"><legend class=\"sr-only\">Input Fields<\/legend><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-1\"><label for=\"field-1\">Owner&#039;s birth year<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"owners_birth_year\" id=\"field-1\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"1900\" max=\"2100\" value=\"1953\"\/><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-2\"><label for=\"field-2\">Distribution year<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"distribution_year\" id=\"field-2\" aria-describedby=\"calc-info-2\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"2023\" max=\"2100\" value=\"2026\"\/><small id=\"calc-info-2\">Uses the IRS lifetime tables in effect since 2022.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-3\"><label for=\"field-3\">Previous December 31 balance<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"previous_december_31_balance\" id=\"field-3\" aria-describedby=\"calc-unit-3 calc-info-3\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0\" value=\"500000\"\/><div class=\"unit\" id=\"calc-unit-3\">$<\/div><small id=\"calc-info-3\">Enter the account balance at the end of the year before the distribution year.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"field is-checkbox is-single\" id=\"input-4\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"field-4\" value=\"1\"\/><label for=\"field-4\">Sole beneficiary is my spouse, more than 10 years younger<\/label><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-5\" hidden><label for=\"field-5\">Spouse&#039;s birth year<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"spouses_birth_year\" id=\"field-5\" aria-describedby=\"calc-info-5\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"1900\" max=\"2100\" value=\"1970\"\/><small id=\"calc-info-5\">Birth years at least 11 years apart are treated as eligible for this estimate; actual eligibility depends on birthdays.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"field\" id=\"input-6\"><label for=\"field-6\">Assumed annual growth<\/label><input type=\"number\" name=\"assumed_annual_growth\" id=\"field-6\" aria-describedby=\"calc-unit-6 calc-info-6\" min=\"-100\" max=\"100\" step=\"0.1\" value=\"5\"\/><div class=\"unit\" id=\"calc-unit-6\">%<\/div><small id=\"calc-info-6\">For the projection only. Growth is applied after each year&#039;s projected distribution.<\/small><\/div><\/fieldset><div class=\"buttons\"><button type=\"submit\" data-text=\"Re-Calculate\" id=\"calculate-button\" data-post=\"67152\">Calculate<\/button><button type=\"reset\">Reset<\/button><\/div><div class=\"field is-checkbox hidden!\" id=\"field-auto-calc\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"auto-calc\"><label for=\"auto-calc\">Calculate automatically<\/label><small>If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"fieldset-result is-hidden\" aria-labelledby=\"result-title\" aria-live=\"polite\" role=\"region\"> <h3 class=\"result-title bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 dark:from-primary-900 dark:to-gray-800\" id=\"result-title\"><span class=\"icon icon-s-pulse\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span> Your RMD Estimate<\/h3><div class=\"result-box\"><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-1\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Age in distribution year<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-1\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-2\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Lifetime-table divisor<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-2\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-3\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Required minimum distribution<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-3\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-4\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>RMD as a share of starting balance<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-4\" data-unit=\"%\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-5\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>First RMD year<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-5\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"field-result is-column\" id=\"output-6\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>10-year projection<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-6\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"result-actions\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-link\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12.232 4.232a2.5 2.5 0 0 1 3.536 3.536l-1.225 1.224a.75.75 0 0 0 1.061 1.06l1.224-1.224a4 4 0 0 0-5.656-5.656l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 .225 5.865.75.75 0 0 0 .977-1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1-.142-3.667l3-3Z\"\/><path d=\"M11.603 7.963a.75.75 0 0 0-.977 1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1 .142 3.667l-3 3a2.5 2.5 0 0 1-3.536-3.536l1.225-1.224a.75.75 0 0 0-1.061-1.06l-1.224 1.224a4 4 0 1 0 5.656 5.656l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-.225-5.865Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"copy-link__text\">Copy link to this calculation<\/span><\/button><span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"copy-link-status\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><a href=\"#respond\" class=\"hidden transition-opacity duration-300 opacity-0 w-50 text-sm justify-center items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300\" id=\"leave-comment\"><span class=\"icon icon-comments\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>Leave a Comment<\/a><\/form><\/section><section id=\"calc-reactions\" class=\"not-prose hidden my-12 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 border border-indigo-100 rounded-xl px-6 py-4 shadow-sm\" data-post=\"67152\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\"><p id=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 text-center mb-2\">How did this result make you feel?<\/p><div role=\"group\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex sm:flex-row sm:justify-around gap-4 sm:items-center sm:flex-wrap\"><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"like\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"like\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude00 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Like <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"helpful\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"helpful\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\udca1 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Helpful <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"confused\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"confused\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude15 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Confused <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"disappointed\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"disappointed\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude1e <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Disappointed <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"inaccurate\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"inaccurate\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u274c <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Inaccurate <\/span><\/button><\/div><div id=\"reaction-message\" class=\"hidden mt-8 rounded-md border border-primary-100 bg-white\/50 backdrop-blur-sm px-4 py-2 text-sm text-center shadow-sm\"><\/div><\/section><div class=\"calcdash-ad not-prose calcdash-ad--calc_result calcdash-ad--in-article\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1721569815777345\" data-ad-slot=\"6317458308\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-1\">.formula-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section class=\"formula-box\" aria-labelledby=\"formula-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"formula-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display mb-4\"><span class=\"icon icon-formula\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>RMD Formula<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\t<figure class=\"not-prose formula\">\r\n\t\t<figcaption class=\"formula-title\">Formula<\/figcaption>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"text-base text-gray-800\" id=\"formula\">\n\\[\\begin{aligned}A_y &amp;= y-b \\\\ \\text{RMD}_y &amp;= \\frac{B_y}{D_y} \\\\ P_y &amp;= 100\\times\\frac{\\text{RMD}_y}{B_y} \\\\ B_{y+1} &amp;= (B_y-\\text{RMD}_y)\\left(1+\\frac{g}{100}\\right)\\end{aligned}\\]\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\\(y\\) \u2014 distribution year<\/li>\n<li>\\(b\\) \u2014 owner's birth year<\/li>\n<li>\\(A_y\\) \u2014 age reached during the distribution year<\/li>\n<li>\\(B_y\\) \u2014 account balance on the preceding December 31<\/li>\n<li>\\(D_y\\) \u2014 applicable lifetime-table divisor<\/li>\n<li>\\(P_y\\) \u2014 RMD as a percentage of the starting balance<\/li>\n<li>\\(g\\) \u2014 assumed annual growth rate, in percent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The annual RMD is the previous year-end balance divided by the applicable divisor. For the projection, the calculator subtracts each year's RMD before applying the assumed growth rate.<\/p>\n<p>\r\n<\/section>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-459\">.calculation-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section id=\"calculation\" class=\"calculation-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculation-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"calculation-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display\"><span class=\"icon icon-unordered-list\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>RMD \u2013 Calculation Example<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> An owner born in 1953 has a $500,000 balance on December 31, 2025, and is estimating a 2026 RMD. Their sole beneficiary is a spouse born in 1970, so the default younger-spouse option is selected. Assumed annual growth is 5%.<\/p>\n<p>\\[\\begin{aligned}\\text{Owner's age} &amp;= 2026-1953=73 \\\\ \\text{Spouse's age} &amp;= 2026-1970=56 \\\\ \\text{Estimated divisor} &amp;= \\max(26.5+0.18(73-56-10),\\;30.74+0.9)=31.64 \\\\ \\text{Estimated RMD} &amp;= \\frac{\\$500{,}000}{31.64}=\\$15{,}802.78 \\\\ \\text{Projected Dec. 31 balance} &amp;= (\\$500{,}000-\\$15{,}802.78)\\times1.05\\approx\\$508{,}407.08\\end{aligned}\\]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> The estimated 2026 RMD is $15,802.78, or 3.16% of the starting balance. The calculator displays the divisor rounded to 31.6 but uses its unrounded estimate for the calculation. Its projected December 31, 2026, balance is $508,407.08.<\/p>\n<p>\n\r\n<\/section>\n<h2>How to use the calculator<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Enter the <strong>Owner's birth year<\/strong> and the <strong>Distribution year<\/strong>. The calculator uses their difference as the owner's age for that year.<\/li>\n<li>Enter the <strong>Previous December 31 balance<\/strong> for the account. For a 2026 distribution, use its December 31, 2025, balance.<\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>Sole beneficiary is my spouse, more than 10 years younger<\/strong> only if that description applies. If selected, enter <strong>Spouse's birth year<\/strong>. Otherwise, leave the option unchecked to use the Uniform Lifetime Table.<\/li>\n<li>Set <strong>Assumed annual growth<\/strong> for the projection. It does not change the current year's RMD, which is based on the balance already entered.<\/li>\n<li>Read the <strong>Required minimum distribution<\/strong>, <strong>RMD as a share of starting balance<\/strong>, and <strong>First RMD year<\/strong>. Use the <strong>10-year projection<\/strong> to see how the chosen growth assumption affects later estimated balances and distributions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>What your RMD estimate means<\/h2>\n<p>A required minimum distribution is generally the minimum amount an eligible retirement-account owner must withdraw for a distribution year. The usual calculation divides the account's balance at the end of the previous calendar year by a life-expectancy divisor. A smaller divisor produces a larger required withdrawal from the same balance. The amount shown is a minimum under the calculator's assumptions, not a recommended withdrawal or a forecast of investment returns.<\/p>\n<p>For owners born from 1951 through 1959, this calculator sets the first RMD year at the year they turn 73; for those born in 1960 or later, it uses age 75. For a 1953 birth year, that makes 2026 the first RMD year. Earlier birth cohorts may have started under older rules; the calculator labels a first year before 2023 as dependent on those rules. If the selected year precedes the calculated first RMD year, it reports that no RMD is required yet.<\/p>\n<p>With the younger-spouse option unchecked, the divisor comes from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table in effect since 2022. The calculator's age is the age reached during the distribution year, even if that birthday has not occurred when you make the calculation. The 10-year table applies each year's estimated distribution, then the growth rate, to produce a projected year-end balance. Compare that assumption with a separate <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/finance\/compound-interest\/\">compound interest calculation<\/a> if you want to examine growth without annual RMD withdrawals.<\/p>\n<h2>Assumptions and important limits<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Younger-spouse results are approximations.<\/strong> When the spouse option is selected, the calculator estimates a joint-life divisor using both ages; it does not look up the official IRS Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy Table (Table II). It displays the divisor rounded to one decimal place but calculates with the unrounded estimate. Verify the actual Table II divisor before taking a distribution. Birth years at least 11 years apart pass the calculator's eligibility check, but birthdays\u2014not birth years alone\u2014determine whether a spouse is more than 10 years younger.<\/p>\n<p>The estimate is for an account owner, not an inherited account. It does not model inherited-account rules, exceptions for certain 401(k) participants who are still working, or first-year payment deadlines. Check the rules for your account and distribution year: delaying a first RMD can mean taking two distributions in the following calendar year. Withdrawals may also have tax consequences not shown here.<\/p>\n<p>The projection assumes no contributions or withdrawals beyond the calculated RMDs and applies the same growth rate after each withdrawal. Actual returns, balances, and future RMDs will differ. To explore a broader savings plan with additional deposits, use the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/finance\/savingsinvestment\/\">savings and investment calculator<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Estimate your required minimum distribution and view a 10-year projection. Enter the owner's birth year, distribution year, previous December 31 balance, and an assumed growth rate; add spouse details if applicable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3168,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[100],"class_list":["post-67152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-finance","tag-taxes-pay"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67152"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67221,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67152\/revisions\/67221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}