If you turn 73 in 2026, you are required to take your first Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your traditional IRA or 401(k) by April 1, 2027 — but waiting that long could mean two taxable withdrawals in one year, which can spike your tax bill and even trigger higher Medicare premiums. Understanding the 2026 RMD rules right now gives you time to make smart moves before December 31.

What exactly is an RMD and who has to take one?

An RMD is the minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from tax-deferred retirement accounts — traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and similar plans. The government gave you a tax break when the money went in; the RMD rules are how they eventually collect. If you do not take your full RMD by the deadline, the penalty is steep: 25% of the amount you should have withdrawn (reduced to 10% if you correct the mistake within two years).

Roth IRAs are the notable exception — you never have to take RMDs from your own Roth IRA during your lifetime, which is one reason many retirees convert traditional IRA funds to Roth accounts in their 60s.

What are the RMD rules for 2025 and 2026?

The SECURE 2.0 Act, passed in late 2022, pushed the RMD starting age from 72 to 73 for anyone born between 1951 and 1959. If you were born in 1953, you turned 73 in 2026, making this your first RMD year. The rules that apply to you:

  • First RMD deadline: April 1 of the year after you turn 73. For 2026 turners, that is April 1, 2027.
  • All subsequent RMDs: December 31 of each year.
  • The calculation: Divide your account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by a life-expectancy factor from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. For a 73-year-old, that factor is 26.5, so a $500,000 IRA produces a first-year RMD of roughly $18,868.
  • Multiple accounts: If you have several traditional IRAs, you calculate the RMD for each separately but can take the total from any one (or a combination) of them. 401(k)s must each be withdrawn from individually.

One important 2026 note: the IRS has continued issuing guidance on how inherited IRAs are treated under the 10-year rule introduced by SECURE 1.0. If you inherited an IRA after 2019, annual withdrawals are generally required, not just a lump sum by year 10. Check with your tax advisor if this applies to you.

How does my RMD affect my taxes?

Every dollar of your RMD is added to your ordinary income for the year. That matters for three reasons:

  1. Federal income tax. A large RMD can push you into a higher bracket. For 2026, single filers move from the 22% bracket to 24% at $103,350 of taxable income (roughly — brackets adjust annually for inflation).
  2. Social Security taxation. Up to 85% of your Social Security benefit becomes taxable once your combined income (adjusted gross income plus half your Social Security) exceeds $34,000 for single filers or $44,000 for couples. A bigger RMD can push you over that line.
  3. Medicare IRMAA surcharges. IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. If your income two years ago — meaning 2024 income affects your 2026 Medicare premiums — exceeded $106,000 for a single filer, you pay more than the standard Medicare Part B premium of $185 per month in 2025. A surprise RMD can quietly trigger this surcharge a year or two down the road.

How do I reduce the tax hit from my RMD?

You have more control here than most people realize:

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). If you are 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $108,000 directly from your IRA to a qualifying charity. This counts toward your RMD but never appears in your taxable income — a clean, powerful strategy for charitably inclined retirees.

Roth conversions before 73. If you retired early or are still in your late 60s, converting portions of your traditional IRA to a Roth now — while income may be lower — reduces your future RMD balance and the taxes that come with it.

Strategic Social Security timing. If you have not claimed Social Security yet, delaying your claim reduces total income in the early years of RMDs. Every year you delay past 62 increases your benefit by roughly 6–8%. Claiming at 70 delivers the maximum — up to 32% more than claiming at 67 (full retirement age for most people born after 1960).

Withholding from your RMD. You can instruct your IRA custodian to withhold federal (and state) taxes directly from your RMD, spreading the tax payment smoothly across the year rather than scrambling at April.

How do I avoid Medicare IRMAA surcharges?

IRMAA is triggered by your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from two years prior. In 2026, that means your 2024 tax return determines whether you pay surcharges. If your income jumped in 2024 — say, from a large Roth conversion or a one-time sale — you can file a Life-Changing Event appeal (form SSA-44) with Social Security if the income was due to a non-recurring event like retirement or a spouse’s death. Otherwise, managing RMD size through QCDs and strategic withdrawals is your best long-term lever.

When should I claim Social Security to maximise my benefit?

This question is tightly linked to your RMD strategy. Claiming Social Security early (as young as 62) permanently reduces your monthly payment. Waiting until 70 locks in the highest possible benefit for life — and for your surviving spouse. If you can cover living expenses from retirement accounts in your 60s, delaying Social Security while taking smaller, planned Roth conversions is often the most tax-efficient path through retirement. Run the numbers with a fee-only financial planner or a free Social Security calculator before making a permanent decision.

Your 2026 RMD action checklist

  • Confirm your RMD amount with each IRA or 401(k) custodian — most calculate it for you automatically.
  • Decide your deadline: Take by December 31, 2026 to avoid a double withdrawal in 2027.
  • Review your income picture to spot any IRMAA risk for 2028 (based on 2026 income).
  • Consider a QCD if you plan to give to charity this year.
  • Talk to a tax professional before year-end if this is your first RMD or you have multiple accounts.

Retirement income planning is not a set-it-and-forget-it task — it rewards the people who stay informed and act early. The 2026 rules give you clear guideposts; now is the time to use them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the RMD rules for 2025 and 2026?

Under SECURE 2.0, the RMD starting age is 73 for anyone born between 1951 and 1959. Your first RMD must be taken by April 1 of the year after you turn 73, and all subsequent RMDs by December 31 each year. The amount is calculated by dividing your prior year-end account balance by an IRS life-expectancy factor — for a 73-year-old, that factor is 26.5.

When should I claim Social Security to maximise my benefit?

Claiming Social Security at age 70 delivers the highest possible monthly benefit — up to 32% more than claiming at full retirement age (67 for most people born after 1960). Every year you delay between 62 and 70 increases your benefit by roughly 6–8%, and a higher benefit also means more income for a surviving spouse.

How much of Social Security is taxable?

Up to 85% of your Social Security benefit can be taxable at the federal level if your combined income (adjusted gross income plus half your Social Security) exceeds $34,000 for single filers or $44,000 for married couples filing jointly. Below those thresholds, up to 50% may be taxable, and below $25,000 (single) or $32,000 (married), benefits are generally tax-free.

How do I avoid Medicare IRMAA surcharges?

IRMAA surcharges are triggered when your Modified Adjusted Gross Income two years prior exceeds set thresholds — $106,000 for single filers in 2026 (based on 2024 income). You can reduce exposure by using Qualified Charitable Distributions to lower taxable RMD income, spacing out Roth conversions across multiple years, and filing a Life-Changing Event appeal (SSA-44) if a one-time income spike was due to retirement or another qualifying event.

What is the Medicare Part B premium for 2025?

The standard Medicare Part B premium for 2025 is $185.00 per month, up from $174.70 in 2024. Higher-income retirees pay more through IRMAA surcharges, which add between $74.00 and $443.90 per month depending on income level. Keeping your income below the IRMAA thresholds is one of the most valuable tax-planning moves a retiree can make.