401(k) & IRAs · RMDs
At What Age Do RMDs Start, and What Happens If You Miss One?
The Short Answer
Required minimum distributions (RMDs) from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s now begin at age 73. Your first RMD is due by April 1 of the year after you turn 73; every year after, the deadline is December 31. Missing an RMD triggers a 25% penalty on the shortfall, reduced to 10% if you correct it within two years. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during your lifetime.
After decades of tax-deferred growth, the government eventually requires you to start withdrawing from traditional retirement accounts so it can collect the deferred taxes. The rules are precise, the penalties are steep, and the most common mistake, forgetting an old account, is entirely avoidable.
When does the first RMD have to be taken?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, the RMD starting age is 73 for anyone reaching that age in 2023 through 2032 (it rises to 75 in 2033).1 Your first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you turn 73, but every subsequent RMD must be taken by December 31.
There is a timing trap here: if you delay your first RMD to April 1, you will take two RMDs in that same calendar year, which can push you into a higher tax bracket. Many people take the first RMD in the year they turn 73 to avoid bunching two into one year.
Free Tool
Calculate your RMD with the IRS table
How is the RMD amount calculated?
Your RMD is your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year divided by a life-expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. The factor decreases as you age, so the percentage you must withdraw rises over time.1
Your plan administrator usually calculates the figure, but you are legally responsible for taking the correct amount from the correct accounts.
What is the penalty for missing an RMD?
Missing an RMD, or taking too little, triggers an excise tax of 25% of the amount you failed to withdraw. If you correct the shortfall within a two-year window, the penalty drops to 10%.2
The most common reason people miss an RMD is forgetting an old account, a 401(k) from a former employer or a rollover IRA opened decades ago. Each tax-deferred account has its own RMD requirement, and they do not consolidate automatically.
The Roth exception
Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the original owner's lifetime, and as of 2024, Roth 401(k)s are no longer subject to lifetime RMDs either. This is one reason the years before 73 are valuable for Roth conversions, which can shrink future RMDs.
Can I reduce my RMDs?
Yes, with planning done before 73. Converting traditional balances to Roth in lower-income years reduces the traditional balance that future RMDs are based on. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) let those 70 and a half or older donate directly from an IRA to charity, up to $108,000 per year, which counts toward the RMD without adding to taxable income.2
Frequently asked questions
What age do RMDs start in 2026?
Required minimum distributions begin at age 73 for anyone reaching that age between 2023 and 2032. The starting age rises to 75 in 2033 under the SECURE 2.0 Act.
What is the penalty for missing an RMD?
The penalty is 25% of the amount you failed to withdraw, reduced to 10% if you correct the shortfall within two years. The penalty is in addition to the ordinary income tax due on the distribution.
Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?
No. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during the original owner's lifetime. As of 2024, Roth 401(k)s are also exempt from lifetime RMDs.
Keep reading
Tool
RMD Calculator
Project your RMDs across a 20-year horizon using the real IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
Tool
Roth Conversion Tax Estimator
See whether converting before 73 reduces your future RMD tax exposure.
Article
How much can I earn before my Social Security is taxed?
Why RMDs can push your combined income across the taxation threshold.
Sources
- Retirement Plan and IRA Required Minimum Distributions FAQs Internal Revenue Service. RMD starting age of 73, calculation method, and deadlines.
- Retirement Topics: Required Minimum Distributions Internal Revenue Service. 25% excise tax for missed RMDs, reduced to 10% if corrected, and QCD rules.