Your 2026 RMD = December 31, 2025 balance ÷ your IRS life expectancy factor. The RMD age is now 73 (born 1951–1959) or 75 (born 1960+). Missing a deadline costs you a 25% penalty. This 8-step guide covers every calculation, aggregation rule, and QCD strategy you need.
If you are looking for how to calculate your required minimum distribution (RMD) in 2026, the formula is straightforward: divide your December 31, 2025 account balance by your IRS life expectancy factor from the Uniform Lifetime Table. Missing an RMD triggers a 25% penalty on the amount you should have withdrawn — reduced from 50% under SECURE 2.0, but still a significant hit. This 8-step guide walks you through every decision, from confirming your RMD age to maximizing a charitable giving strategy that satisfies your RMD tax-free.
| Step | Purpose | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Steps 1–2 | Confirm eligibility and identify accounts | 15 minutes |
| Steps 3–5 | Calculate the RMD amount | 20 minutes |
| Steps 6–7 | Apply aggregation rules and tax strategies | 30 minutes |
| Step 8 | Execute withdrawal before deadline | Same-day |
Sources: IRS Publication 590-B, IRS Notice 2022-53, SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (effective 2022).
Key question: Do you need to take an RMD this year at all?
RMD age under SECURE 2.0: 73 if born 1951–1959 | 75 if born 1960 or later
The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 raised the RMD starting age in two phases. If you were born between 1951 and 1959, your RMDs begin at age 73. If you were born in 1960 or later, your RMDs do not begin until age 75. This is one of the most important updates in recent retirement law — many people are taking RMDs earlier than legally required based on the old age-72 rule.
If you have not yet reached your RMD age, no withdrawal is required. Roth IRAs also have no RMD requirement during the owner's lifetime. Roth 401(k) accounts no longer require RMDs starting in 2024 under SECURE 2.0.
Key question: Which of your accounts are subject to RMDs?
RMD-required accounts: Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), inherited IRAs
RMDs apply to all tax-deferred retirement accounts — not just traditional IRAs. If you have a 401(k) from a former employer, a SEP IRA from self-employment, or a 403(b) from a nonprofit career, each of those accounts factors into your RMD obligation. Make a complete list before calculating anything.
If you have a 401(k) from your current employer and are still working, you may be able to delay RMDs from that specific account — ask your plan administrator about the "still working" exception. For information on rolling retirement accounts into an IRA before or after RMD age, see our 401(k) rollover rules guide.
Key question: What balance do you use for the calculation?
Correct balance: The fair market value of each account as of December 31, 2025
Your 2026 RMD is calculated using last year's year-end balance — specifically, the fair market value of each account on December 31, 2025. You will find this on your year-end account statement from your IRA custodian or plan administrator, typically issued in January 2026.
Key question: What divisor do you use in the calculation?
Source: IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (Publication 590-B, Appendix B, Table III)
The IRS publishes a Uniform Lifetime Table that assigns a life expectancy factor to each age. Your 2026 RMD divisor is the factor corresponding to your age on your birthday in 2026. The IRS updated this table in 2022 to reflect longer life expectancies — factors are now larger than the previous table, which means lower required withdrawals.
| Age in 2026 | IRS Distribution Period Factor |
|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 |
| 74 | 25.5 |
| 75 | 24.6 |
| 76 | 23.7 |
| 77 | 22.9 |
| 78 | 22.0 |
| 80 | 20.2 |
| 85 | 16.0 |
| 90 | 12.2 |
Exception: If your spouse is your sole IRA beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger than you, use the Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy Table (Table II in Publication 590-B) instead — it produces a larger divisor and therefore a smaller required withdrawal.
The formula: RMD = December 31, 2025 account balance ÷ Life expectancy factor
This is the straightforward part. Divide your year-end balance by your age-based factor. The result is the minimum amount you must withdraw from that account during 2026.
A 75-year-old with a $450,000 traditional IRA balance as of December 31, 2025:
This person must withdraw at least $18,293 from their traditional IRA during 2026. They can withdraw more — but not less — without penalty.
The IRS website (IRS.gov), Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab all offer free RMD calculators. Enter your December 31 balance and your age, and the calculator performs this division automatically. You can also use a spreadsheet — it is simply division.
Key question: Can you take the total RMD from just one account, or must each account be withdrawn from separately?
The aggregation rules determine flexibility in how you satisfy your RMD obligation:
If you have multiple traditional IRAs, you calculate the RMD separately for each account, then add the totals together. You can then take the full combined RMD amount from any single IRA or any combination of IRAs. You do not need to withdraw proportionally from each account.
Workplace plans are each treated as separate obligations. If you have an RMD due from a 401(k) and a 403(b), each must be satisfied from its own account. You cannot use an IRA withdrawal to satisfy a 401(k) RMD.
Inherited IRA aggregation depends on whether accounts were inherited from the same decedent and the same account type. The rules here are complex — if you have inherited IRAs, consult a financial advisor or CPA.
Key question: Can you satisfy your RMD while reducing your taxable income?
QCD limit in 2026: $105,000 per person (indexed to inflation)
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows individuals aged 70½ or older to transfer up to $105,000 directly from a traditional IRA to a qualified charity. The transfer counts toward your RMD but is excluded from your taxable income entirely — unlike a regular withdrawal, which is taxed as ordinary income.
This strategy is especially powerful for retirees who do not itemize deductions and cannot claim a charitable deduction on their regular taxes. Consider pairing this with our annuity comparison tool when evaluating how to manage distributions alongside other retirement income streams.
Key question: When exactly must the RMD be taken?
Annual deadline: December 31, 2026
First-year exception: If this is your first RMD year, you have until April 1, 2027
In your first RMD year (the year you turn 73 or 75), the IRS allows you to delay the first RMD until April 1 of the following year. So if you turn 73 in 2026, you could delay your 2026 RMD until April 1, 2027.
The catch: You would then owe both your 2026 and 2027 RMDs in the same tax year (2027). Two RMDs in one year could push you into a higher tax bracket. Most advisors recommend taking the first-year RMD by December 31 of the RMD year to avoid the double-income problem — unless delaying provides a specific tax benefit in your situation.
The penalty for a missed or insufficient RMD is 25% of the amount not taken. If you catch the error quickly (within the "correction window" of 2 years), the penalty drops to 10%. Penalties must be reported on IRS Form 5329.
| Step | Action | Done? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm your RMD age (73 or 75) | ☐ |
| 2 | List all RMD-required accounts | ☐ |
| 3 | Gather December 31, 2025 balances | ☐ |
| 4 | Find your IRS life expectancy factor | ☐ |
| 5 | Calculate RMD for each account | ☐ |
| 6 | Apply aggregation rules | ☐ |
| 7 | Evaluate QCD opportunity if charitable | ☐ |
| 8 | Withdraw by December 31, 2026 | ☐ |
This guide is based on IRS Publication 590-B (Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements), IRS Notice 2022-53, the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, and the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table effective for distributions beginning in 2022. Sample factors are taken directly from IRS Table III. Last updated: April 2026. IRS rules and contribution limits are subject to change — verify figures at IRS.gov before filing.
Under SECURE 2.0, the RMD age is 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1959, and 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. The old age-72 rule no longer applies.
Divide your December 31 prior-year account balance by your IRS life expectancy factor from the Uniform Lifetime Table. Example: $400,000 balance ÷ 24.6 factor (age 75) = $16,260 RMD.
You owe a 25% penalty on the amount not withdrawn. If corrected within 2 years, the penalty is reduced to 10%. File IRS Form 5329 to report and pay the penalty, or apply for a waiver if the failure was due to reasonable error.
Yes. You can always withdraw more than your RMD. The RMD is a minimum, not a maximum. Additional withdrawals are simply taxed as ordinary income.
No. Roth IRAs have no RMD requirement during the owner's lifetime. Roth 401(k) plans also no longer require RMDs starting in 2024 under SECURE 2.0.
For traditional IRAs, yes — you can aggregate all IRA RMDs and take the total from any single IRA. For 401(k) and other workplace plans, each account must be satisfied separately.
A QCD is a direct transfer from your IRA to a charity that satisfies your RMD while excluding the amount from your taxable income. You must be 70½ or older, and the limit is $105,000 per person in 2026. The charity must receive the payment directly from your IRA custodian.
Yes. Traditional IRA and 401(k) RMDs are taxed as ordinary income in the year withdrawn. The exception is any after-tax (non-deductible) contributions in your IRA — those come out tax-free in proportion to your basis, tracked on IRS Form 8606.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. RMD rules are complex and individual situations vary — particularly for inherited IRAs, employer plan distributions, and accounts with basis. Consult a licensed CPA, financial planner, or tax attorney before making RMD decisions. IRS rules are subject to change; verify current thresholds and tables at IRS.gov.
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