Required Minimum Distributions 2026
The money you saved in a traditional IRA or 401(k) cannot stay there forever. Starting at 73, the IRS requires annual withdrawals — and a missed RMD costs a punishing 25% penalty. Here is the 2026 rulebook.
Start age
73
Most accounts
Missed-RMD penalty
25%
Drops to 10% if corrected fast
First deadline
Apr 1
Of the year after you turn 73
Exception
Roth IRA
No RMD during owner's life
What an RMD Is
A required minimum distribution is the minimum amount you must withdraw each year from certain retirement accounts once you reach the required age. It applies to traditional IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and 401(k)/403(b) accounts — anything funded with pre-tax dollars. It does not apply to Roth IRAs during the owner's lifetime.
See your tax bracket
RMDs are taxable income — see where your withdrawal would land.
When RMDs Start
Under current law, RMDs begin at age 73. You must take your first RMD by April 1 of the year after you turn 73, and every subsequent RMD by December 31 of each year. A common pitfall: delaying the first RMD to April means taking two RMDs in that second year, which can spike your taxable income — many people instead take the first RMD in the year they turn 73.
How the Amount Is Calculated
Your RMD is your account balance divided by a life-expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. At 73, the divisor is 26.5:
| Account balance | Divisor (age 73) | RMD |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | 26.5 | $3,774 |
| $500,000 | 26.5 | $18,868 |
| $1,000,000 | 26.5 | $37,736 |
Each withdrawal is ordinary income, taxed at your bracket in the year you take it. The divisor decreases as you age, so the required percentage grows every year.
The 25% Penalty
If you fail to take your full RMD on time, the shortfall is hit with a 25% excise tax — down from 50% under the old rules. If you correct the mistake within the two-year correction window and file Form 5329, the penalty can be reduced to 10%. Either way, it is among the harshest penalties in the tax code, which is why custodians often offer automatic RMD calculations and reminders.
How to Manage RMDs
- Plan for the income spike. RMDs raise your taxable income, which can make more of your Social Security taxable and push you into a higher bracket.
- Convert to Roth before 73. Roth conversions in earlier years shrink future RMDs, because Roth accounts have no RMD during your life.
- Use a QCD. A qualified charitable distribution lets you donate up to $100,000 of your RMD directly to charity, satisfying the RMD without adding it to taxable income.
- Coordinate with Social Security timing. Delaying Social Security while taking RMDs (or vice versa) can smooth your taxable income across years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?
Not during the original owner's lifetime. Inherited Roth IRAs have their own distribution rules for beneficiaries, but you are never forced to withdraw from your own Roth IRA.
Does a Roth 401(k) have an RMD?
Yes, while the money is still in the Roth 401(k). Designated Roth 401(k) accounts are subject to RMDs like traditional accounts — but you can roll a Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA, which has no lifetime RMD, before the deadline.
Can I reinvest my RMD?
You can reinvest the after-tax proceeds into a taxable brokerage account, but you cannot roll an RMD back into a retirement account. The RMD must come out and be taxed first.
What if I am still working at 73?
For a 401(k), you may be able to delay RMDs from your current employer's plan while still working (if the plan allows and you do not own 5%+ of the company). IRAs have no such exception — RMDs from IRAs start at 73 regardless.
Sources
- IRS — Retirement topics: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).
- IRS Publication 590-B — Distributions from IRAs (Uniform Lifetime Table).
- SECURE 2.0 Act — RMD starting age 73 and the reduced 25%/10% penalty.
This is informational, not tax advice. Your exact RMD depends on your balance, age, and account type — verify with the IRS tables.