RMD Calculator
A required minimum distribution is the prior December 31 balance of a tax-deferred retirement account divided by a life expectancy factor published by the IRS. This free calculator applies the Uniform Lifetime Table, shows the illustrative annual and monthly amount, and projects the next ten years at a flat assumed growth rate. It is educational only and is not tax advice.
- Monthly equivalent
- $943
- Distribution period
- 26.5
- Share of balance
- 3.77%
Illustrative estimate only — not tax advice, a quote, or a guarantee. The Uniform Lifetime Table does not apply to every owner, and inherited accounts, annuitized contracts, and a spouse more than ten years younger follow different rules. Confirm your figure with a qualified tax professional.
Ten-year illustrative schedule
Each year the divisor shrinks, so the required percentage of the account rises even when the balance falls. Balances below assume the distribution is taken and the remainder grows at the flat rate you entered.
| Age | Start balance | Divisor | Illustrative RMD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | $300,000 | 26.5 | $11,321 |
| 74 | $300,226 | 25.5 | $11,774 |
| 75 | $299,991 | 24.6 | $12,195 |
| 76 | $299,308 | 23.7 | $12,629 |
| 77 | $298,146 | 22.9 | $13,019 |
| 78 | $296,532 | 22.0 | $13,479 |
| 79 | $294,375 | 21.1 | $13,951 |
| 80 | $291,641 | 20.2 | $14,438 |
| 81 | $288,291 | 19.4 | $14,860 |
| 82 | $284,368 | 18.5 | $15,371 |
Related reading: annuity withdrawal rules, how annuities are taxed, and IRA rollovers into an annuity.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a required minimum distribution?
- A required minimum distribution, or RMD, is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from most tax-deferred retirement accounts once you reach the applicable starting age. The amount is generally the prior December 31 account balance divided by a life expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
- At what age do RMDs start?
- Under the SECURE 2.0 Act the starting age is 73 for people who reach age 72 after December 31, 2022, and rises to 75 for those born in 1960 or later. Your first distribution may be delayed to April 1 of the year after you reach the starting age, though taking two distributions in one year can raise taxable income. Confirm your own start year with a tax professional.
- Does an annuity inside an IRA have an RMD?
- Yes. A deferred annuity held inside an IRA or other qualified account is subject to the same RMD rules as any other asset in that account. Once the contract is annuitized into a lifetime income stream, the payments themselves are generally treated as satisfying the RMD for that contract. Rules differ for qualified longevity annuity contracts.
- Do Roth accounts require distributions?
- Roth IRAs do not require distributions during the original owner's lifetime. Designated Roth accounts inside employer plans are no longer subject to lifetime RMDs beginning in 2024. Inherited Roth accounts have their own distribution rules.
- Can a surrender charge apply when I take an RMD from an annuity?
- Many carriers waive surrender charges on withdrawals taken to satisfy the RMD attributable to that contract, but the waiver is a contract provision rather than a legal requirement, and it varies. Check the contract before assuming the withdrawal is charge-free.
- Is this calculator tax advice?
- No. This tool is educational only and uses the Uniform Lifetime Table, which does not apply to every situation — a much younger spouse beneficiary, inherited accounts, and certain annuitized contracts follow different rules. AnnuityScore does not provide tax advice. Confirm your figure with a qualified tax professional.
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