Future RMD Calculator: $62,259 First RMD at 73 on $500,000 Saved at 55
Use this guide to understand the assumptions, inputs, results, and next steps behind the calculator.
Created by Luis Gonzalez · Last updated August 28, 2026
Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are annual withdrawals that the IRS generally requires from certain tax-deferred retirement accounts once you reach the applicable starting age. This calculator projects how your balance and estimated RMDs could change over time, helping you see the effect of investment growth, contributions, and Roth conversions.
With the defaults—age 55, a $500,000 balance, a 6% annual return, and $10,000 in annual contributions through age 64—the calculator projects a balance of $1,649,856 at age 73. Its estimated first RMD is $62,259. It projects $1,793,216 in cumulative RMDs through age 90. These are estimates based on a steady annual return and the calculator’s distribution divisors, not a prediction of future account values or tax bills.
For a broader look at your required distribution, use the RMD Calculator or review required minimum distributions explained. The RMD Tax Calculator can help estimate how a withdrawal may affect taxable income.
What the projection measures
The projection has two phases. Before RMDs begin, the calculator adds eligible annual contributions, subtracts any Roth conversion amount entered for that year, and applies the assumed investment return. At the starting age, it divides the projected balance by an age-based divisor to estimate the RMD. It then subtracts that distribution and applies another year of growth before calculating the next one.
The result is a simplified, year-by-year illustration. Actual RMDs are based on the prior December 31 balance in the account and an IRS life-expectancy factor. Investment returns vary, contributions may change, and a Roth conversion can have tax consequences that this projection does not calculate.
Default projection at a glance
| Age or period | Estimated RMD or balance |
|---|---|
| Age 73 | First RMD: $62,259; balance before distribution: $1,649,856 |
| Age 80 | RMD: $90,725 |
| Age 85 | RMD: $115,988 |
| Through age 90 | Cumulative RMDs: $1,793,216 |
| Age 100 | RMD: $149,021; balance before distribution: $953,735 |
The projection contains 28 annual RMD entries, from age 73 through age 100. A rising RMD does not necessarily mean the account balance rises: the annual withdrawal can increase because the divisor gets smaller, even as distributions reduce the balance.
Enter assumptions that match your account
Start with your current age, account balance, and planned RMD start age. Include the tax-deferred account balances relevant to the projection; do not combine accounts that follow different distribution rules without checking whether the rules allow aggregation. The RMD start date calculator and RMD age calculator can help you check timing.
Enter the annual return as a long-term assumption, not a guaranteed rate. Then enter annual contributions and the age at which they stop. The calculator adds contributions for years when the projection age is below the stop age. To model savings growth separately, see the 401(k) Future Value Calculator.
The Roth conversion fields model a fixed conversion amount for a specified number of pre-RMD years, provided the projected balance exceeds the conversion amount. The conversion is subtracted before that year’s return is applied. The calculator does not estimate income tax on conversions, check eligibility, or model conversions after RMDs begin. Explore tax effects with the RMD Tax Withholding Calculator and read about strategies to minimize the RMD tax hit.
RMD age, account rules, and tax treatment
Under current federal law, the general RMD starting age is 73 for people born from 1951 through 1959. It rises to 75 in 2033 for people born in 1960 or later under SECURE 2.0. Your personal required beginning date can depend on your birth year and, for some workplace plans, whether you are still working for the employer sponsoring the plan. Check the IRS’s current guidance at IRS.gov: required minimum distributions.
The calculator defaults to age 73. That is an input, not a determination of your legally required start age. Use the correct age for your situation, and confirm the deadline for each account. In general, the first RMD may be delayed until April 1 of the year after you reach your starting age, but doing so can mean taking two taxable RMDs in that calendar year. The IRS explains the rules and exceptions in its RMD guidance.
RMDs are generally taxable as ordinary income to the extent the account contains pre-tax money. A distribution can increase your taxable income and potentially affect other income-based calculations. This tool projects the distribution amount, not the tax due. For tax planning, compare a projected distribution with other income using the RMD tax calculator, the RMD withholding calculator, or the RMD strategies guide.
The standard Uniform Lifetime Table is commonly used for an account owner and a beneficiary who is not a spouse more than 10 years younger. Different rules can apply when a spouse is the sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger, or for inherited accounts. The calculator’s divisor at age 73 is 26.5; actual calculations should use the correct IRS table and account-specific rules. Use the Inherited IRA RMD Calculator or Inherited Roth IRA RMD Calculator for beneficiary scenarios.
How the estimate is calculated
The calculator applies a constant annual return and uses an age-based divisor to estimate each year’s distribution. The following formulas describe its core steps.
Projected balance before RMDs =
(current balance + eligible contribution - Roth conversion)
× (1 + annual return)
The pre-RMD balance is updated once for each age before the RMD start age. With the defaults, contributions are added while age is below 65, and no Roth conversion is entered.
RMD for the year =
projected account balance ÷ age-based divisor
At age 73, the calculator uses a divisor of 26.5:
$1,649,856 ÷ 26.5 = $62,258.72
Rounded first RMD = $62,259
After calculating each RMD, it subtracts the distribution and applies the assumed return to the remaining balance:
Next projected balance =
(current balance - RMD) × (1 + annual return)
Cumulative distributions through age 90 are the sum of annual projected RMDs from the starting age through age 90, inclusive. This is a nominal-dollar total; the calculator does not discount those future payments for inflation.
Compare planning choices
These are planning scenarios, not additional calculator outputs. Changing assumptions can alter both the balance at the starting age and the size of later RMDs.
| Scenario | Contribution assumption | Conversion assumption | What to examine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save longer | $12,000 per year through age 67 | None | More contributions may raise the starting balance and RMDs |
| Convert earlier | $10,000 per year through age 64 | $15,000 for 5 years | Lower pre-tax assets may reduce later RMDs; conversion taxes are not modeled |
| Lower-return case | $10,000 per year through age 64 | None; 4% return | A lower assumed return may reduce the projected balance and distributions |
| Later start age | $10,000 per year through age 64 | None; start at 75 | Use only if that start age matches your legal rules |
A larger RMD is not automatically a worse outcome: it may reflect a larger account and more retirement resources. The relevant question is how distributions fit with your spending needs, tax bracket, and other income. You can compare drawdown approaches with the retirement withdrawal calculator and retirement spend-down calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does an RMD have to be spent?
No. You generally must withdraw the required amount, but you can save or invest the money after it leaves the retirement account. A distribution from a pre-tax account is usually taxable even if you reinvest it in a taxable account. A tax-efficient retirement withdrawal calculator can help compare withdrawal sources.
Can I avoid an RMD by converting to a Roth IRA?
A Roth conversion can reduce future RMDs from the converted pre-tax balance, but the conversion is generally taxable in the year it occurs. Roth IRAs owned by the original account holder do not have lifetime RMDs, while inherited Roth accounts have separate distribution rules. Compare conversion scenarios with a tax professional or a Roth conversion calculator.
What happens if I miss an RMD?
A missed or insufficient RMD can trigger an excise tax. The statutory rate is generally 25% of the shortfall, reduced to 10% if corrected within the correction window; the IRS may waive the tax in qualifying cases when reasonable steps are taken to correct the error. See the IRS instructions for Form 5329.
Why can the RMD increase when my balance falls?
The divisor generally declines with age. If the balance does not fall as quickly as the divisor, the calculated withdrawal can rise. Investment performance and the timing of withdrawals also affect the account balance.
Should I delay my first RMD until April 1?
Delaying can provide more time before the first withdrawal, but it usually means taking the first RMD and the following year’s RMD in the same calendar year. That could increase that year’s taxable income. Compare the two-year tax impact before deciding.
Does the calculator cover inherited accounts?
No. Inherited accounts can have different deadlines, life-expectancy rules, and 10-year distribution requirements. Use the inherited IRA calculator and confirm the rules for the beneficiary’s relationship to the original owner.
Next steps
Use the projection to identify years when RMDs may become a larger share of your taxable income. Then verify your start age, account balance, and applicable IRS divisor with your plan custodian or tax preparer. Try a lower-return case, a shorter contribution period, or a conversion scenario, and estimate conversion taxes separately. For the underlying calculation, see how to calculate your RMD step by step.