Last updated: October 10, 2026. This article is for general information only and is not personal financial, tax, or legal advice. Retirement account rules are complex and depend on your birth year, account types and plan, so confirm the details with the IRS, your plan administrator, or a qualified tax professional.
Once you reach a certain age, the IRS requires you to start taking money out of most tax-deferred retirement accounts every year, whether you need it or not. These withdrawals are called required minimum distributions, or RMDs. Miss one, or take too little, and the IRS can charge an excise tax of 25% of the amount you should have withdrawn. With the year-end deadline about eleven weeks away, this guide explains who has to take RMDs, when, how much, and what to do if you make a mistake.
The Short Answer
- Starting age: RMDs begin with the year you reach age 73, according to the IRS. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, the starting age rises to 75 for people born on or after January 1, 1960, so those born in 1959 or earlier use 73 under current law.
- Annual deadline: after your first RMD year, you must take your RMD by December 31 each year.
- First-year option: you can delay your first RMD until April 1 of the following year, but then you will take two RMDs in that second year.
- Penalty: the IRS says the shortfall may be subject to an excise tax of 25%, or 10% if you correct it within two years.
- Roth IRAs: not subject to RMDs while the original owner is alive.
Which Accounts Have RMDs?
The IRS lists these accounts as subject to RMDs: traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, 457(b) plans, profit-sharing plans and other defined contribution plans. Roth IRAs and designated Roth accounts in a workplace plan, such as a Roth 401(k), do not require distributions during the owner’s lifetime, though beneficiaries of those accounts are subject to RMD rules.
| Account type | RMDs during your lifetime? |
|---|---|
| Traditional IRA | Yes |
| SEP IRA / SIMPLE IRA | Yes |
| 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) | Yes (see the still-working note below) |
| Roth IRA | No, not until after the owner’s death |
| Roth 401(k) / designated Roth account | No, not during the owner’s life |
When Do You Have to Start? Age 73 vs 75
The starting age has changed over the past few years. The IRS currently describes the rule as beginning with the year you reach age 73. The SECURE 2.0 Act, according to tax-industry coverage of the law, sets the starting age at 73 for people born from 1951 through 1959 and at 75 for people born on or after January 1, 1960, with the higher age taking effect in 2033. In 2026, that means anyone starting RMDs now was born in 1953 or earlier and falls under age 73. If you were born in 1960 or later, confirm your required beginning date with a tax professional or the IRS before you plan around it.
The April 1 Rule, and Why It Can Backfire
For IRAs, your required beginning date is April 1 of the year after you reach the starting age. The IRS gives this example: if you reach 73 in 2024, your first RMD is due by April 1, 2025, and your second by December 31, 2025. Delaying the first one pushes two taxable withdrawals into the same year, which can raise your taxable income and push you into a higher bracket. Many retirees take the first RMD in the year they reach the starting age to avoid bunching. To see how brackets work, see our guide to 2027 tax brackets, what is confirmed and what is projected.
If You Are Still Working
The IRS says a workplace plan may let you delay RMDs from that plan until you retire, depending on the plan document. The IRS page does not describe a similar still-working exception for IRAs, so IRA owners generally cannot use it.
How to Calculate Your RMD
The formula is simple: divide your account balance on December 31 of the previous year by a life expectancy factor from the IRS tables in Publication 590-B.
- Find your balance for each account as of December 31 of last year.
- Choose the right table. Most owners use the Uniform Lifetime Table. If your sole beneficiary is your spouse and is more than ten years younger, the Joint Life and Last Survivor table may apply. Beneficiaries of inherited IRAs generally use the Single Life table.
- Find your factor for your age this year.
- Divide the balance by the factor.
IRS Publication 590-B shows a factor of 26.5 for age 73 and 24.6 for age 75 in its examples. As an illustration only, a $500,000 balance would produce an RMD of about $18,868 at age 73 (500,000 ÷ 26.5) and about $20,325 at age 75 (500,000 ÷ 24.6). Your actual factor depends on your age and the table that applies, so check the current table in Publication 590-B or use your custodian’s calculator.
Multiple Accounts
If you own several traditional IRAs, the IRS says you can total the minimum amounts and take the combined total from any one or more of them. Workplace plans such as 401(k)s are handled under separate rules, so ask your plan administrator whether each plan needs its own calculation. A common mistake is assuming one withdrawal from an IRA can satisfy a 401(k) requirement, which is generally not the case.
Penalties and What to Do If You Missed One
The IRS says the amount you failed to withdraw may be subject to an excise tax of 25%, reduced to 10% if you take the missed distribution within two years. You report the penalty on Form 5329. The IRS also says the penalty may be waived for a reasonable error if you file Form 5329 with a letter of explanation. If you realize you missed an RMD:
- Take the missed distribution as soon as possible.
- File Form 5329 for the year you missed it, and attach a short explanation if you want to request a waiver.
- Talk to a tax professional before you file, since the details depend on your situation.
Ways to Reduce the Tax Bite
- Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs): IRS Publication 590-B notes that a qualified charitable distribution counts toward your required minimum distribution. QCDs have eligibility rules and an annual limit, so confirm the current amount with the IRS or your adviser before relying on one.
- Plan withholding: RMDs from traditional accounts are generally taxable income, so consider arranging tax withholding with your custodian rather than facing a bill in April.
- Coordinate with other income: RMDs can raise your adjusted gross income, which may affect other items such as the taxation of Social Security benefits and Medicare premiums. Our guides to the Social Security COLA and Medicare open enrollment explain two of the costs and benefits that sit alongside your withdrawals.
Inherited Accounts
Beneficiaries follow different rules. The IRS says that for owners who die after 2019, the account balance generally must be distributed within ten years, with exceptions that include a surviving spouse. Inherited accounts use the Single Life table for RMD calculations. Because the details vary by beneficiary type, get personal guidance before you take action.
Year-End Checklist
- List every traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) you own.
- Pull each account’s December 31, 2025 balance.
- Calculate each RMD, or ask each custodian to do it.
- Decide which account to withdraw from, and whether to take it in one payment or several.
- Set withholding, and schedule the withdrawal well before December 31, since year-end processing delays are common.
- Keep records for your tax return.
RMDs are one part of a longer plan. If you are still deciding how much to save, our 401(k) and IRA contribution limits guide covers 2026 and 2027 numbers, and our explainer on the Social Security earnings limit is useful if you plan to work while collecting benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age do RMDs start?
The IRS says RMDs generally begin with the year you reach age 73. Under SECURE 2.0, people born on or after January 1, 1960 use age 75.
What is the deadline to take my RMD?
December 31 each year. Your first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the following year, but then you will take two in that year.
What happens if I miss an RMD?
The shortfall may be subject to a 25% excise tax, or 10% if corrected within two years, and you may request a waiver for a reasonable error by filing Form 5329 with an explanation.
Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?
No. Roth IRAs and designated Roth accounts are not subject to RMDs while the owner is alive.
Can I take all my RMDs from one account?
For traditional IRAs, the IRS says you can total the amounts and take them from any one or more IRAs. Workplace plans generally have their own rules, so ask your plan administrator.
Sources: IRS, “Retirement topics – Required minimum distributions (RMDs)” (page updated April 8, 2026); IRS, “Retirement plan and IRA required minimum distributions FAQs” (updated January 29, 2026); IRS Publication 590-B (2025); ThinkAdvisor, “SECURE 2.0 Changes RMD Start Date Again” (February 2023). Figures in the example are illustrations, not personal advice.
