An RMD calculator turns two simple inputs, your year-end balance and your age, into the exact amount you must withdraw from your retirement accounts this year.
What inputs does an RMD calculator need?
An RMD calculator needs just two numbers: your retirement account balance as of December 31 of the prior year, and your age at the end of the current year. The calculator pulls the matching life expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table and divides your balance by it. If your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger than you, the calculator uses the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table instead, which produces a smaller RMD. Always use the year-end statement balance, not your current balance.
Example: RMD calculation at age 73
Suppose you turn 73 in 2026 and your traditional IRA was worth $500,000 on December 31, 2025. The Uniform Lifetime Table factor for age 73 is 26.5. Dividing $500,000 by 26.5 gives a required minimum distribution of about $18,868 for 2026. If you have multiple IRAs, calculate each one's RMD, add them together, and you may withdraw the total from any single IRA. For 401(k) plans, you generally must take each plan's RMD from that plan directly.
Plan withdrawals around your Medicare costs
Your RMD is taxable income that can raise your Medicare premiums through IRMAA two years later. Before you take a large distribution, it helps to know how it affects your coverage costs. Call 1-800-MEDIGAP (dial 1-800-633-4427) to speak with a licensed agent who can explain the connection between your retirement income and your Medicare premiums, so you can time withdrawals wisely.