RMD Estimator (Required Minimum Distribution)

How this calculation works

Your RMD is your prior-year-end balance divided by the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factor for your attained age. The factor shrinks as you age, so the required percentage rises every year.

The sample factors shown are from IRS Pub. 590-B Table III (72: 27.4 through 100: 6.4). The 2026 edition continues this table.

How this RMD Estimator (Required Minimum Distribution) works — 2026 guide

The IRS requires you to start withdrawing from tax-deferred retirement accounts at age 73 (SECURE 2.0), and the amount — the Required Minimum Distribution — is a formula, not a choice: your December 31 balance divided by a life-expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. This estimator applies the official factors and tells you your RMD as a dollar amount and a percentage of your balance, plus a warning about the 25% excise tax for missing it.

How to use it in 3 steps

1. Enter your prior-year-end account balance and your age this year.
2. The estimator looks up your IRS Table III factor and divides.
3. Read your RMD, the percentage it represents, and the monthly equivalent.

Who this is for

Retirees turning 73, account owners planning conversions, and anyone consolidating retirement accounts. Pair with the [retirement savings projector](/tools/retirement-savings-projector/) for the accumulation side.

Data sources & authoritative references

This calculator is built on official U.S. rules and published statistics. Key sources:

• IRS Publication 590-B — Distributions from IRAs, Table III (Uniform Lifetime)
• IRS — RMD age raised to 73 (SECURE 2.0)
• IRS — RMD excise tax (25%, 10% if corrected promptly)