RMD Projection Calculator
See how an account balance and its required withdrawals could change over time. This RMD projection calculator combines published owner factors with your growth assumption and shows each year’s opening balance, withdrawal and closing balance.
$388,967.11
Annual projection
| Year | Age | Opening balance | Factor | Withdrawal | Growth | Closing balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 73 | $500,000.00 | 26.5 | $18,867.92 | $24,056.60 | $505,188.68 |
| 2027 | 74 | $505,188.68 | 25.5 | $19,811.32 | $24,268.87 | $509,646.23 |
| 2028 | 75 | $509,646.23 | 24.6 | $20,717.33 | $24,446.45 | $513,375.35 |
| 2029 | 76 | $513,375.35 | 23.7 | $21,661.41 | $24,585.70 | $516,299.64 |
| 2030 | 77 | $516,299.64 | 22.9 | $22,545.84 | $24,687.69 | $518,441.49 |
| 2031 | 78 | $518,441.49 | 22.0 | $23,565.52 | $24,743.80 | $519,619.77 |
| 2032 | 79 | $519,619.77 | 21.1 | $24,626.53 | $24,749.66 | $519,742.90 |
| 2033 | 80 | $519,742.90 | 20.2 | $25,729.85 | $24,700.65 | $518,713.70 |
| 2034 | 81 | $518,713.70 | 19.4 | $26,737.82 | $24,598.79 | $516,574.68 |
| 2035 | 82 | $516,574.68 | 18.5 | $27,922.96 | $24,432.59 | $513,084.31 |
| 2036 | 83 | $513,084.31 | 17.7 | $28,987.81 | $24,204.82 | $508,301.32 |
| 2037 | 84 | $508,301.32 | 16.8 | $30,256.03 | $23,902.26 | $501,947.55 |
| 2038 | 85 | $501,947.55 | 16.0 | $31,371.72 | $23,528.79 | $494,104.62 |
| 2039 | 86 | $494,104.62 | 15.2 | $32,506.88 | $23,079.89 | $484,677.63 |
| 2040 | 87 | $484,677.63 | 14.4 | $33,658.17 | $22,550.97 | $473,570.43 |
Illustrative original-owner IRA model using fixed growth, current tables and explicit withdrawal timing; not a forecast or inherited-account schedule.
How to use this tool
- Step 1
Enter a prior-year balance, birth date and first projection year.
- Step 2
Choose the modeled growth rate, number of years and withdrawal timing.
- Step 3
Review annual rows and totals; download a CSV if you want to compare scenarios.
At age 73, a $500,000 balance produces a first withdrawal of $18,867.92. With modeled 5% growth after a start-of-year withdrawal, the closing balance is $505,188.68. The next year uses that closing balance and the new age factor.
What the future estimate assumes
The projection holds your selected annual return constant. It excludes contributions, extra withdrawals, account fees, tax payments from the account and transfers. Before the starting year, the model grows the balance without a required withdrawal.
Later factors change as you age. If your spouse qualifies for Table II, both ages advance each year. The RMD projection calculator uses the currently published factors as an assumption for future years, not a promise that rules will remain unchanged.
Why withdrawal timing changes the balance
In the start-of-year model, the withdrawal is deducted before growth is applied. In the end-of-year model, the opening balance earns the modeled return before the withdrawal is subtracted. Both use the same prior-year balance to calculate that year’s minimum.
These conventions make the arithmetic clear but do not reproduce daily market movements. A negative return assumption is allowed for stress testing. The displayed closing balance never goes below zero.
Use projections to compare, not to predict
Run a cautious growth assumption and compare it with a more optimistic one. Look at total withdrawals, the changing withdrawal rate and the balance left at the end of the period.
The RMD projection calculator is for original-owner IRA illustrations. It does not project inherited-account deadlines or a workplace-plan retirement exception. Taxes should be considered separately using the withholding tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can I project RMDs before I reach the starting age?
Yes. Earlier modeled years show zero required withdrawals and apply the selected growth assumption until the starting year.
Does the projection include taxes?
No. It shows gross account withdrawals. Taxes and withholding can reduce what you receive; they do not change the standard factor.
Are negative growth rates allowed?
Yes, within the stated limits. Use them as a stress scenario, not a forecast.
Will future IRS tables always match these?
Not necessarily. The illustration uses published current factors. Recheck the rules and your actual account balance each year.
Need a standard IRA withdrawal estimate?
Use the main calculator for a simple account-owner calculation.
Go to the main calculator