Required minimum distributions, explained plainly
For years the government let your pre-tax savings grow without taxing them. Required minimum distributions are how it eventually collects.
Following Seas Retirement · Reviewed October 5, 2026 · General education, not personal advice
Starting at 73 or 75, depending on your birth year, you must take a minimum amount from most pre-tax retirement accounts every year and pay income tax on it. The amounts are predictable, so they can be planned for years ahead.
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What an RMD is
It's the smallest amount you're required to withdraw each year from pre-tax retirement accounts: traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and similar plans. The withdrawal is generally taxed as ordinary income.
Roth IRAs have no required distributions during the owner's lifetime. Roth accounts inside employer plans no longer have them either.
When they start
It depends on the year you were born:
- Born 1951 through 1959: RMDs begin at age 73.
- Born 1960 or later: RMDs begin at age 75.
How the amount is figured
Each year, you take your account balance from December 31 of the year before and divide it by a life-expectancy number from an IRS table. The custodian holding your account will usually calculate it for you.
The result starts at roughly 4% of the balance and rises as you get older. You can always take more than the minimum. You can't take less.
The deadlines
Each year's RMD is due by December 31.
There's one exception. Your very first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the following year. If you do that, you'll take two distributions in the same year, the delayed one and that year's own, and both count as income that year.
If one is missed
The IRS charges a penalty of 25% of the amount that should have come out and didn't. It drops to 10% if the mistake is corrected in time. It's an expensive thing to overlook, and an easy one to avoid with a calendar reminder.
Why it matters before you get there
RMDs add to your taxable income whether you need the money or not. That extra income can affect how much of your Social Security is taxed and what you pay for Medicare.
A few things can change the picture. If you're still working, you may be able to delay RMDs from your current employer's plan. Gifts made directly from an IRA to a charity can count toward the requirement. Because the rules have exceptions, this is one to go over with a tax professional.
Common questions
At what age do RMDs start?
Age 73 if you were born from 1951 through 1959, and age 75 if you were born in 1960 or later.
Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?
Not during the original owner's lifetime. Roth accounts in employer plans no longer have them either.
What is the penalty for missing an RMD?
A tax of 25% of the amount that wasn't withdrawn, reduced to 10% if the shortfall is corrected in time.
Can I take more than my RMD?
Yes. The RMD is a minimum. You can withdraw more, though the extra is also generally taxed as income.
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When should you claim Social Security? →What are you paying on your retirement accounts? →Why a bad first year matters more than a bad tenth year →This guide is general education. It isn't investment, tax or legal advice, or a recommendation of any product. Rules and figures can change, so confirm current details with the IRS, the Social Security Administration, or a qualified professional before acting.