RMD Age: When You Must Start Required Minimum Distributions
Updated September 2026 · Figures based on current IRS rules (SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0)
The RMD age is 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1959, and 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. People born before 1951 already had to start, at 70½ or 72.
RMD age chart by year of birth
| Year of birth | RMD age | First RMD year | Deadline for first RMD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before July 1, 1949 | 70½ | Year you turned 70½ | Already passed |
| July 1, 1949 – 1950 | 72 | 2021 – 2022 | Already passed |
| 1951 | 73 | 2024 | April 1, 2025 |
| 1952 | 73 | 2025 | April 1, 2026 |
| 1953 | 73 | 2026 | April 1, 2027 |
| 1954 | 73 | 2027 | April 1, 2028 |
| 1955 | 73 | 2028 | April 1, 2029 |
| 1956 | 73 | 2029 | April 1, 2030 |
| 1957 | 73 | 2030 | April 1, 2031 |
| 1958 | 73 | 2031 | April 1, 2032 |
| 1959 | 73 | 2032 | April 1, 2033 |
| 1960 or later | 75 | Year you turn 75 (2035 at the earliest) | April 1 of the following year |
The first RMD year is the calendar year in which you reach your RMD age. You can postpone that first withdrawal until April 1 of the next year; every later RMD is due by December 31. Details in when do RMDs start.
Why the RMD age keeps changing
For decades the RMD age was 70½. Congress has raised it twice since:
- SECURE Act (2019): raised it to 72 for anyone who turned 70½ after 2019 (born July 1, 1949 or later).
- SECURE 2.0 Act (2022): raised it to 73 starting in 2023, and to 75 starting in 2033.
The way SECURE 2.0 was written left people born in 1959 in both groups. IRS proposed regulations resolved it: if you were born in 1959, your RMD age is 73.
RMD age for different accounts
- Traditional, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs: the RMD age above, no exceptions.
- 401(k), 403(b), 457(b): same age, but if you are still working for the plan sponsor and own 5% or less of the business, you can usually wait until April 1 after the year you retire.
- Roth IRAs and designated Roth 401(k)/403(b) accounts: no RMDs for the owner at any age.
- Inherited accounts: your own age doesn't decide it; see the inherited IRA RMD calculator.
What to do before you reach RMD age
- Consider Roth conversions in the years between retirement and RMD age, when your taxable income may be lower.
- From age 70½ you can make qualified charitable distributions directly from an IRA to charity; once RMDs start, they count toward your RMD and aren't taxable.
- Decide whether to take your first RMD in its own year or delay it to April 1 and take two in one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RMD age in 2026?
73 for anyone born 1951–1959. People born in 1953 reach it in 2026 and must take their first RMD by April 1, 2027.
Is the RMD age 73 or 75?
73 if you were born 1951–1959, 75 if you were born in 1960 or later.
What is the RMD age if I was born in 1959?
73. The IRS clarified the drafting overlap in SECURE 2.0 in favor of age 73 for people born in 1959.
What is the RMD age if I was born in 1960?
75, so your first RMD year is 2035.
Do I have to take an RMD the year I turn 73?
The RMD is for that year, but you can delay the first one until April 1 of the following year.