RMD Impact Calculator

Estimate how Required Minimum Distributions interact with your portfolio, taxes, and retirement income over time

Understanding RMDs

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) force you to withdraw a percentage of your tax-deferred retirement accounts starting at age 73. Many retirees also take planned withdrawals from their IRA or 401(k) long before RMDs begin to fund living expenses — this calculator lets you model those withdrawals and see how they affect your future RMDs and tax brackets. Once RMDs start, any traditional withdrawal you already take counts toward satisfying the RMD for that year.

How each projection year is calculated

Start-of-year balance — Traditional IRA balance at the beginning of the age year.
Planned withdrawal — Your annual amount (optionally inflation-adjusted), split by source.
Required RMD — At age 73+, the IRS minimum on the start-of-year traditional balance.
Traditional IRA withdrawal — The greater of your planned traditional amount and the RMD (capped at the account balance). Planned traditional withdrawals count toward the RMD; only a shortfall is added on top.
Subtract withdrawals — Withdrawals reduce each account before growth is applied.
Apply growth — Remaining balances grow at your entered rate for the rest of the year. Withdrawals come first, then growth on what is left.
Tax estimate — Progressive 2026 federal brackets on income after the standard deduction. Marginal bracket is the rate on your last dollar of taxable income; effective rate is total estimated federal tax ÷ total income (a better measure of your overall tax burden).

Your Current Situation

Your Current Age Enter your age today

Tax-Deferred Account Balance (as of 12/31 last year) ($) Traditional IRA, 401(k), etc. - exclude Roth accounts

Expected Annual Growth Rate (%) Typical range: 5-8% for diversified portfolios

Is your spouse the sole beneficiary? Used to determine which IRS life expectancy table applies

Spouse's Current Age Only needed if spouse is more than 10 years younger

Planned Portfolio Withdrawals (optional)

If you are already withdrawing from retirement accounts to cover living expenses, enter those withdrawals here. Withdrawals from a traditional IRA/401(k) reduce your tax-deferred balance and lower future RMDs. After age 73, traditional withdrawals count toward your RMD — only the shortfall (if any) is added on top.

Include planned withdrawals?

Planned Annual Withdrawal ($) Total from all sources combined

Withdrawals continue until age Leave at 100 to model ongoing withdrawals

When do withdrawals begin?

Begin in month

Begin in year e.g. January 2027 if starting next year

Withdrawal source Only traditional withdrawals reduce future RMDs

Increase withdrawals for inflation?

Other Retirement Income

Annual Social Security Benefits ($) Expected annual amount (0 if not yet claiming)

Annual Pension Income ($) Include any pension or annuity income

Other Taxable Income ($) Rental income, part-time work, etc.

Tax Information

Tax Filing Status

Use Standard Deduction?

✨ Premium Features Available

RMD Impact Calculator

Understanding RMDs

Your Current Situation

Planned Portfolio Withdrawals (optional)

Other Retirement Income

Tax Information

Your RMD Projection

Traditional Balance, RMDs, and Withdrawals Over Time

Year-by-Year Breakdown

🔒 See Your Complete Retirement Timeline