Mandatory withdrawal from an IRA is required by the IRS starting at age 73 — called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Each year you must withdraw a minimum amount calculated from your account balance and an IRS life expectancy factor. Missing it costs you 25% of the amount you failed to withdraw.
Calculate My IRA Withdrawal FreeWhich IRAs have mandatory withdrawals
The mandatory withdrawal rule applies to Traditional IRAs, SEP-IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs — any IRA funded with pre-tax dollars.
Roth IRAs are the exception. Because Roth contributions are made after-tax, the IRS does not require withdrawals during your lifetime. You can leave a Roth IRA untouched indefinitely.
If you inherited an IRA — Traditional or Roth — mandatory withdrawal rules apply regardless of your age or account type. See inherited IRA RMD rules.
If you have multiple Traditional IRAs, calculate a required amount for each account separately — but you can take the combined total from any one of them. Learn about the aggregation rule.
How your required amount is determined
Your mandatory IRA withdrawal changes every year based on two inputs:
- Your December 31 account balance from the prior year
- Your IRS life expectancy factor, which decreases as you age
Divide the balance by the factor and you have your required withdrawal for the year. The older you get, the smaller the factor — and the larger the required percentage.
Most people use the Uniform Lifetime Table. A different table applies if your sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger. See the IRS tables explained.
Calculate once. Save it for next year.
Gathering your balances, looking up your factor, and verifying the number every December adds up fast — especially across multiple accounts. SimpleRMD does the calculation instantly and saves your inputs so next year takes seconds.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. IRS rules and tax laws are subject to change. Consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation. SimpleRMD is a calculation and tracking tool — not a financial advisory service.