Question 1

What age do RMDs start?

Accepted Answer

Under SECURE 2.0, the RMD start age generally depends on birth date: 72 for the July 1949–1950 cohort, 73 for the 1951–1958 cohort, and 75 for those born in 1960 or later. The 1959 projection assumes age 73 under proposed IRS guidance; confirm final rules before that future RMD year. Older cohorts started at 70½. Your first IRA RMD can generally be delayed until April 1 of the year following your applicable starting-age year, but every RMD after that must be taken by December 31 of that year — delaying the first one means taking two RMDs in the same calendar year, which can push you into a higher tax bracket. For example, someone who turns 73 in 2026 and delays their first RMD to April 1, 2027 would then also need to take their second RMD by December 31, 2027 — stacking both distributions into the same year's taxable income and potentially pushing that year's marginal rate higher than if the two had been spread across separate calendar years.

Question 2

What happens if I miss an RMD?

Accepted Answer

The IRS penalty for a missed or shortfall RMD is 25% of the amount not withdrawn (reduced to 10% if the shortfall is distributed and the required tax return filed within the correction window (which may close sooner upon notice or assessment)), down from 50% before SECURE 2.0. It's still a substantial penalty, so RMDs should be treated as a hard annual deadline. For example, a $10,000 RMD that's missed entirely triggers a $2,500 penalty at the full 25% rate — but correcting the shortfall within the applicable correction window by taking the distribution and filing the required IRS form drops that penalty to $1,000 (10%), which is why catching a missed RMD quickly matters even after the deadline has already passed.

Question 3

Do Roth 401(k)s or Roth IRAs have RMDs?

Accepted Answer

Roth IRAs have never required RMDs during the original owner's lifetime. As of 2024 (per SECURE 2.0), Roth 401(k) accounts are also exempt from RMDs during the original owner's lifetime — previously they weren't, so if you have an older account this is a relatively recent, favorable change. For example, someone who reaches age 73 in 2026 with both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k) only has to calculate and withdraw an RMD from the traditional account — the Roth 401(k) balance can keep growing tax-free with no forced withdrawal, a meaningful advantage for anyone who doesn't need the income and wants to preserve tax-free growth as long as possible.

Question 4

Can a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) reduce my RMD tax hit?

Accepted Answer

Yes — if you're 70½ or older, you can direct up to a set annual limit (indexed each year) from your IRA directly to a qualified charity. The QCD counts toward satisfying your RMD but is excluded from your taxable income, which can be more valuable than taking the RMD and separately deducting a charitable gift, especially if you take the standard deduction. For example, someone with a $20,000 RMD who directs $8,000 of it as a QCD to a qualified charity would only report $12,000 as taxable IRA income, while the full $20,000 still counts toward satisfying that year's RMD requirement — effectively making the charitable gift tax-free rather than merely tax-deductible.

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