Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) 2024 Calculator and Table

The IRS enforces annual required minimum distributions from many retirement accounts beginning at age 73 in 2023.
Arielle O'Shea
By Arielle O'Shea 
Updated
Edited by Tina Orem

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What is a required minimum distribution (RMD)?

A required minimum distribution (RMD) is money the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires you to withdraw each year from your tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or 401(k)s, once you reach age 72 (73 if you turn 72 in or after 2023).

Required minimum distributions exist to prevent taxpayers from indefinitely deferring taxes on the pre-tax income that funded the accounts; they allow the IRS to begin to collect those taxes. Unless the money you withdraw was already taxed, RMDs are thus taxable income in the year you take them.

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How RMDs are calculated

To calculate your required minimum distribution for the current year, you divide your account balance at the end of the last year by your life expectancy. The IRS provides tables that show you which life expectancy numbers to use based on your age and if you are sharing your RMD with a spouse. (Scroll down to see our calculator.)

RMD = Account balance at end of last year/Age-based distribution period from IRS table

You can find those distribution periods in three tables:

RMD table 2024

Age

Distribution period

72

27.4

73

26.5

74

25.5

75

24.6

76

23.7

77

22.9

78

22.0

79

21.1

80

20.2

81

19.4

82

18.5

83

17.7

84

16.8

85

16.0

86

15.2

87

14.4

88

13.7

89

12.9

90

12.2

91

11.5

92

10.8

93

10.1

94

9.5

95

8.9

96

8.4

97

7.8

98

7.3

99

6.8

100

6.4

101

6.0

102

5.6

103

5.2

104

4.9

105

4.6

106

4.3

107

4.1

108

3.9

109

3.7

110

3.5

111

3.4

112

3.3

113

3.1

114

3.0

115

2.9

116

2.8

117

2.7

118

2.5

119

2.3

120 and older

2.0

For example, the balance on your traditional IRA was $200,000 at the end of last year. You are married and your spouse, who is the sole beneficiary of your IRA, is five years younger than you. You turn 74 in 2024. Using the correlating IRS table, your distribution period is 25.5 and your required minimum distribution for 2024 would be $7,843 ($200,000 ÷ 25.5).

You can always withdraw more than the minimum — the RMD is a floor, not a ceiling.

RMD penalties

The penalty for failing to take an RMD is 25% of the RMD amount.

» Retirement planning? Here’s a 5-step guide

Other notable required minimum distribution (RMD) rules

  • RMDs for non-IRA Roth accounts were eliminated in 2024 due to Sec. 325 of SECURE Act 2.0. This includes Roth 401(k) plans, Roth 403(b) plans and government Roth 457(b) plans.

  • RMDs apply to tax-deferred accounts related to workplace retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, as well as traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and self-employed retirement plans.

  • You can delay taking your first RMD until April 1 of the year after you turn the RMD age. For example, if you turn 73 in 2024, you’ll have to take the first required minimum distribution from your account by April 1, 2025.

  • Roth IRAs don't require RMDs while the account holder is alive. But if you’ve inherited a Roth IRA, you might be required to take distributions

    IRS.gov. Publication 590-B. Accessed May 11, 2023.
    .

  • The RMD age increased from 72 to 73 in 2023 and will increase to 75 starting in 2033 due to SECURE Act 2.0. 

  • If you turned 73 in 2023, you still have to follow the 2022 RMD rules, which means you had to take your first RMD by April 1, 2023, and your second by December 31, 2023.

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Calculating RMDs when you have multiple accounts

  • If you have more than one retirement account that's subject to RMDs, you’ll have to calculate the distribution for each account separately. 

  • If you have more than one IRA or 403(b) plan, the IRS allows you to take your total IRA RMD from just one of them.

  • If you have multiple 401(k)s or 457(b)s, you must pull an RMD from each account separately.

If you need help staying on top of accounts and maximizing your retirement plan, consult an advisor.

» Need help? Find a personal financial advisor

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