RMD at Age 74 — IRS Distribution Factor & 2026 Calculator
What is the Required Minimum Distribution for a 74-year-old?
At age 74, the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table assigns a distribution period of 25.5 years. This means your Required Minimum Distribution equals your December 31 prior-year account balance divided by 25.5. On a $500,000 account, the RMD is approximately $19,608 — about 3.9% of the account value.
At age 74, you are in your second year of Required Minimum Distributions (assuming you started at 73 under SECURE 2.0). The distribution factor drops from 26.5 at age 73 to 25.5 at 74, increasing the required withdrawal percentage from 3.77% to 3.92% of your balance.
Calculate Your 2026 RMD
Age 74 · Balance $500,000 → ~$19,608 RMD
Enter your actual balance for a precise calculation
Formula
RMD = Balance ÷ 25.5 (IRS Uniform Lifetime Table, age 74)
IRS Distribution Period — Age 74
25.5
Distribution Period (years)
3.9%
% of Balance Required
$19,608
RMD on $500K Balance
$39,216
RMD on $1M Balance
Key RMD Rules
- 1IRS distribution factor at age 74: 25.5 years.
- 2RMD formula: December 31 prior-year balance ÷ 25.5.
- 3On a $500,000 account, this produces an RMD of approximately $19,608.
- 4Deadline: December 31 of the current year (or April 1 of the following year for your very first RMD only).
- 5The 25% penalty for missing an RMD (reduced to 10% if corrected within the correction window) applies regardless of age.
- 6Second RMD year for those who started at 73 — no first-year grace period applies.
Common RMD Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠Using the current year's balance instead of the December 31 prior-year balance — always use the prior December 31 value.
- ⚠Forgetting to take RMDs from each employer plan (401k, 403b) separately — you cannot aggregate multiple employer plans.
- ⚠Assuming the RMD percentage stays constant — it increases every year as the distribution factor decreases.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or financial advice. RMD rules are based on IRS Publication 590-B and SECURE 2.0 Act provisions. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation. IRS rules may change; verify current requirements at irs.gov.