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Do You Need to Take an RMD?

Finance Quiz

Answer 8 questions about your age, pre-tax retirement balances, and inherited accounts to see how close required minimum distributions are and what to line up first.

2 min · 8 questions

Written by · Reviewed by the thecalcu.com team · Last updated August 28, 2026

Question 1 of 8

How old are you?

Required minimum distributions are the IRS finally collecting tax on money that grew untaxed for decades in traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. Once you hit the starting age, you have to pull a set amount out each year whether you need the income or not, and the penalty for skipping it is steep. This 8-question check looks at your age, how much sits in pre-tax accounts, whether you've inherited a retirement account, and how much you're already withdrawing, then tells you how urgent RMD planning is for you.

If required withdrawals are close, run your balance through the RMD Calculator to see this year's amount, then look at how it lands alongside your other income using the Social Security Calculator and how your pre-tax balance keeps compounding with the 401(k) Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is my result calculated?

Each of the 8 questions adds 1 to 4 points based on how much RMD exposure that answer signals: your age, the size of your pre-tax balances, inherited accounts, and how actively you're already drawing income. The total (8 to 32) places you in one of three groups.

Does a high score mean I'm in trouble?

No. It means required withdrawals are close or already here and worth acting on. Someone with large traditional balances at 74 lands high simply because the rules apply to them now, not because they've done anything wrong.

At what age do RMDs start?

Under current law the starting age is 73, and it's scheduled to rise to 75 later this decade. Your first withdrawal can be delayed to April 1 of the year after you turn 73, but then you take two that year, which can push you into a higher bracket.

What's the penalty for missing an RMD?

The excise tax is 25% of the amount you failed to withdraw, and it drops to 10% if you correct the shortfall within a short window. You can also request a waiver for a reasonable-cause miss, but it's far easier to just take the distribution on time.

Do Roth accounts have RMDs?

A Roth IRA has no required distributions during the original owner's lifetime. Roth 401(k)s used to require them but no longer do. Inherited Roth accounts are a different story and can carry withdrawal requirements for the beneficiary.

How do I find the exact amount I need to withdraw?

The [RMD Calculator](/us/rmd-calculator/) takes your account balance as of December 31 last year and your age, applies the IRS life expectancy factor, and returns the required amount for the year.

How does an RMD affect the rest of my retirement income?

A required withdrawal is taxable income that stacks on top of Social Security and any pension. Model the combined picture with the [Social Security Calculator](/us/social-security-calculator/) and project your pre-tax balance over time with the [401(k) Calculator](/us/401k-calculator/) to see how the withdrawals grow.

Can I take more than the minimum?

Yes. The RMD is a floor, not a cap. Drawing down pre-tax accounts earlier, or converting some to Roth in lower-income years, is a common way to shrink the balance that future RMDs are based on.

Is my quiz result stored?

No. The quiz runs in your browser only, nothing is transmitted or saved, and refreshing the page clears everything.