Key Points
You can delay your first required minimum distributions (RMDs) until April 1 of the year after you turn 73.
Failing to take your RMDs will result in an initial penalty of 25% of the amount not withdrawn.
If you delayed last year’s RMD until this year, you’ll still need to take this year’s RMD by Dec. 31.
After turning age 73, the IRS requires you to begin taking withdrawals from certain tax-deferred retirement accounts, like a 401(k), 403(b), or traditional IRA. They’re called required minimum distributions (RMDs) because failing to take these withdrawals will result in a penalty.
The deadline to take RMDs is Dec. 31 for most people, except in the year someone turns 73. In that case, you can delay your RMDs until April 1 of the following year. For example, someone who turned 73 last year would have until April 1 of this year to take their RMDs.
If you’re someone who delayed their RMDs from last year until this year, here’s how to calculate your RMD to ensure you can avoid an unnecessary penalty before the upcoming deadline.
Image source: Getty Images.
Determining how much you’re required to withdraw
To calculate your RMD, you need to know the value of your accounts at the end of the previous year and your life expectancy factor (LEF), which the IRS provides for every age.
An important note regarding LEFs: Most people will use the Uniform Lifetime Table to determine their LEF. The one exception is if your spouse is your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger than you, in which case you would use the Joint Life Expectancy Table.
Once you know your account values and LEF, you find your RMD by dividing the account balance(s) by your LEF.
To see it in action, let’s assume you’re using the Uniform Lifetime Table and age 73 (the only age eligible to delay RMDs). Below is how much your RMDs would be based on the 26.5 LEF that corresponds with that age.
Account Value(s) at the End of 2025
RMD for Uniform Lifetime Table
$250,000
$9,434
$500,000
$18,868
$750,000
$28,302
$1 million
$37,736
$2 million
$75,472
$3 million
$113,208
Source: IRS. Table by author; RMDs rounded up to the nearest dollar.
The penalty for not taking your RMD
If you don’t take your full RMD, the penalty is 25% of the amount you didn’t withdraw. For instance, if you had $1 million in your 401(k) and were supposed to withdraw $37,736 but only withdrew $7,736, the penalty would be 25% of the $30,000 you didn’t withdraw ($7,500).
If you take the appropriate RMD within two years of missing the deadline, the penalty could be reduced to 10%. In the above example, that would mean “only” owing $3,000 instead of $7,500, but ideally, you would be able to avoid this altogether by staying on top of your RMDs.
It’s also important to note that even if you delayed last year’s RMDs until this year, you’ll still owe this year’s RMDs by Dec. 31.
The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income.
One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these strategies.
View the “Social Security secrets” ยป
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
