How it works
After age 73 the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum each year from tax-deferred accounts. The amount is your prior year-end balance divided by a life-expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
Who this is for
Anyone who has reached (or is approaching) RMD age with a traditional IRA or 401(k), and needs to know this year's required withdrawal before the December 31 deadline.
Worked example
A $500,000 balance at age 75 uses an IRS factor of 24.6, producing a required withdrawal of about $20,325 for the year. As you age the factor shrinks each year, so the required percentage of the account rises even if the balance stays flat.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss my RMD? The IRS penalty is steep — 25% of the amount you should have withdrawn, reduced to 10% if corrected promptly. See how to calculate your RMD for the full walkthrough.
Do Roth IRAs have RMDs? No — Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs for the original owner.
What if I inherited the account? Inherited accounts follow different rules, often a 10-year full withdrawal window — see the inherited IRA RMD calculator.