$500,000 RMD at Age 95
Based on the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table and a 5% projected annual return. Adjust any input below.
Required Minimum Distribution This Year
$56,180
Example
With $500,000 in your account at age 95, your IRS distribution period is 8.9, so your required minimum distribution this year is approximately $56,180 — the balance divided by the distribution period from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
Account Balance
$500,000
Distribution Period
8.9
Projected RMD amount, by age
What is a Required Minimum Distribution?
A Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the minimum amount the IRS mandates you withdraw each year from certain tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, once you reach age 73. Since the money in these accounts has grown tax-deferred for decades, the IRS requires it to eventually be taxed as it's withdrawn.
Missing an RMD, or withdrawing less than required, triggers a steep IRS penalty — 25% of the shortfall, reduced to 10% if corrected within two years. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the original owner's lifetime.
Projected account balance after each year's RMD
Year-by-Year RMD Schedule
| Age | Distribution Period | RMD | End-of-Year Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 8.9 | $56,180 | $466,011 |
| 96 | 8.4 | $55,478 | $431,060 |
| 97 | 7.8 | $55,264 | $394,586 |
| 98 | 7.3 | $54,053 | $357,560 |
| 99 | 6.8 | $52,582 | $320,226 |
| 100 | 6.4 | $50,035 | $283,701 |
| 101 | 6.0 | $47,283 | $248,238 |
| 102 | 5.6 | $44,328 | $214,105 |
| 103 | 5.2 | $41,174 | $181,578 |
| 104 | 4.9 | $37,057 | $151,747 |
How Is an RMD Calculated?
Your RMD is your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year, divided by a "distribution period" from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table that corresponds to your age this year. The distribution period shrinks every year as you age, which pushes the required percentage of your balance withdrawn higher over time.
The Uniform Lifetime Table
Most account owners use IRS Publication 590-B's Uniform Lifetime Table, which assigns a distribution period to every age from 72 to 120 and beyond. At age 73, the distribution period is 26.5 years; by age 90, it has fallen to 12.2, meaning a larger share of the account must be withdrawn each year as you get older.
RMDs Apply Per Account, Mostly
Each Traditional IRA and 401(k) generally has its own RMD, though multiple IRAs can be aggregated and the total RMD withdrawn from just one of them. Employer plans like 401(k)s usually can't be aggregated with IRAs or with each other, so check each account's rules separately.
The Penalty for Missing an RMD Is Steep
Failing to withdraw the full RMD by the deadline triggers a 25% excise tax on the shortfall, which the IRS will reduce to 10% if you correct the mistake within two years — still a significant cost compared to simply withdrawing the required amount on time.
Example — Your Current Inputs
With $500,000 in your account at age 95, your IRS distribution period is 8.9, so your required minimum distribution this year is approximately $56,180 — the balance divided by the distribution period from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
Additional Example — Age 80
A retiree with a $300,000 IRA balance at age 80 has a distribution period of 20.2, so their RMD for the year is $300,000 ÷ 20.2, or approximately $14,851 — about 4.95% of the account, compared to roughly 3.77% at age 73.
About These Parameters
- Your Age This Year
- The single biggest driver of your distribution period. RMDs generally begin the year you turn 73, with the first one due by April 1 of the following year.
- Account Balance
- Must reflect the balance as of December 31 of the prior year — not today's balance — per IRS rules for calculating the current year's RMD.
- Expected Annual Return & Years to Project
- These only affect the multi-year projection table, estimating how the remaining balance (after each year's RMD is withdrawn) might grow or shrink going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Roth IRAs have RMDs?
No — Roth IRAs are not subject to required minimum distributions during the original owner's lifetime, since the IRS has already collected tax on Roth contributions and never taxes qualified withdrawals.
What if my spouse is more than 10 years younger?
If your spouse is your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger than you, the IRS lets you use the Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy Table instead, which produces a longer distribution period and a smaller RMD than this calculator's Uniform Lifetime Table.
Can I withdraw more than my RMD?
Yes — the RMD is only a minimum. You can withdraw more at any time, though additional withdrawals are still fully taxable and don't reduce next year's RMD requirement.