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The short version
RMD Estimator (Ages 73–75)
RMD basics in 5 points

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RMD Basics (Age 73–75) — First-Year Choices in Dollars

Updated on

Your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) is the prior year’s 12/31 balance divided by a table divisor for your age. If it’s your first RMD year, you can delay until April 1 next year—but that may stack two RMDs into the same tax year.

The short version

  • Your RMD = last 12/31 balance ÷ your age’s Uniform Lifetime Table divisor.
  • First RMD year: take by Dec 31 or delay to Apr 1 next year. Delaying means you’ll also owe next year’s RMD by Dec 31—often two in one year.
  • QCDs (after age 70½) can satisfy part/all of an IRA RMD while keeping AGI lower.

Educational only. This page uses common divisors for ages 73–76; confirm your situation before acting.

RMD Estimator (Ages 73–75)

Divisor used: 26.5

RMD due this year (before QCD): $37,736

RMD satisfied by QCD: $0 → RMD still to withdraw: $37,736

Notes: IRAs can be aggregated for RMD purposes; 401(k)s generally cannot. This is a simplified estimator; confirm plan rules and beneficiary factors if applicable.

RMD basics in 5 points

  1. Age & first year. Modern rules push the first RMD age to 73 (moving to 75 for younger cohorts). First year can be taken by Dec 31 or delayed until Apr 1 of the next year.
  2. How it’s calculated. Prior 12/31 balance ÷ table divisor for your age (Uniform Lifetime Table).
  3. IRAs vs plans. You can aggregate IRA RMDs across your IRAs, but each 401(k)/403(b) generally must take its own RMD.
  4. QCDs. After 70½, a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA can count toward RMD and reduce AGI.
  5. Common gotchas. Delaying first RMD may stack two in one year (brackets, IRMAA, SS taxability). Current-employer plan may qualify for a “still-working” exception.

Should you delay the first RMD?

  • Delay can fit if next year will still be a low-income year and “two in one year” won’t push you over caps.
  • Take now if stacking two will trigger higher brackets, IRMAA surcharges, or more taxable Social Security.
  • Giving to charity anyway? A QCD can satisfy part/all of the IRA RMD while keeping MAGI lower.

If you’ll give from the IRA, read QCDs After 70½.

Related tools

Methodology

How this page calculates and what to expect
  • Dollar-first outputs. We convert percentages and rules into dollars so you can compare choices quickly.
  • Fee tools (AUM · Fixed · Retainer · Hourly).
    • AUM fees use an annual average balance ((start+end)/2). Tiered schedules are treated as marginal (like tax brackets).
    • Contributions are applied at year-end; returns compound annually; “Deduct fees from portfolio” subtracts fees from assets (toggle changes this).
    • We ignore taxes and platform/trading costs unless stated. Results are planning estimates, not exact billing replicas.
  • Retirement & tax windows (IRMAA · SS taxability · RMD · QCD).
    • Calculators use current-year values you enter (caps, surcharges, thresholds) and simplify agency rules for planning.
    • Outputs are estimates to help you stay under a line (bracket, cap, or threshold). Confirm details before acting.
  • Data freshness. This page’s content was last reviewed on . Some thresholds change annually—update inputs as needed.
  • Educational only. Not tax, legal, or investment advice. For specifics, talk to a fiduciary advisor.

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What to do next

The first one is the only one you may postpone: taking it by December 31 against delaying to April 1 — delaying stacks two distributions into one tax year and makes the second one larger, because the balance was never reduced before it was computed.

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