RMD Calculator

RMD Calculator: Estimate Required Minimum Distributions and Future Retirement Account Balances

A Required Minimum Distribution, usually shortened to RMD, is a minimum amount that an eligible retirement account owner may be required to take from a tax-deferred retirement account for a particular year. RMD planning becomes especially important as retirement approaches because the withdrawal requirement can affect taxable income, cash flow, investment decisions, Medicare-related planning, charitable giving strategies, and the amount that remains invested for later years. This RMD Calculator is designed to turn the core calculation into a simple, readable planning exercise. Enter the year of birth, the year being calculated, the prior December 31 account balance, beneficiary information, and an optional expected return, then select Calculate to update the result, graphs, and complete schedule.

The central calculation is straightforward: the account balance from the end of the previous calendar year is divided by an applicable IRS distribution period. The difficult part is identifying the correct period because the divisor depends on age and, in a special situation, on whether a spouse is the sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger. The calculator is therefore built around the same basic structure used in the IRS worksheets: determine the relevant age, identify the applicable life-expectancy divisor, and divide the prior-year balance by that divisor. The IRS explains that the Uniform Lifetime Table generally applies when the spouse is not the sole beneficiary or is not more than 10 years younger, while a special Joint and Last Survivor table applies when the spouse is the sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger. citeturn0search0turn0search2

How the RMD Calculator Works

The calculator starts with the account balance as of December 31 of the previous year. This is important because an RMD for a calendar year is not normally calculated from the account's current intrayear balance. For example, when calculating an RMD for 2026, the starting balance field represents the account value at the end of 2025. The tool then determines your age for the selected RMD year by subtracting the year of birth from the RMD year. The applicable distribution period is selected from the IRS table, and the RMD is calculated by dividing the starting balance by that period.

For example, if an account balance is $300,000 and the applicable distribution period is 24.6, the estimated RMD is $300,000 ÷ 24.6, or approximately $12,195.12. This is the same mathematical structure illustrated in the sample scenario used by the calculator. The tool then uses the optional return assumption to create a forward-looking schedule. It subtracts the modeled RMD from the beginning balance and applies the selected annual return to the remaining balance. This produces a planning projection rather than a promise about future investment performance.

The calculator also updates two graphs. The first graph shows how the estimated RMD amount changes as age increases and the applicable distribution period changes. The second graph shows how the projected retirement account balance changes after modeled distributions and investment growth. Both graphs are generated in the browser and refresh whenever you click Calculate, so changing the birth year, balance, spouse information, return assumption, or RMD year changes the visual output as well as the schedule.

What Does RMD Stand For?

RMD stands for Required Minimum Distribution. The phrase describes a minimum withdrawal amount associated with certain tax-deferred retirement accounts once the applicable distribution rules begin. An RMD is not necessarily the maximum amount you can withdraw. If you need more money for living expenses, taxes, healthcare, travel, housing, or another purpose, you may generally withdraw more than the minimum when the account rules permit it. The word “minimum” is therefore important: the calculation identifies the minimum required distribution under the modeled rules, not a recommended spending amount.

RMDs exist because many traditional retirement arrangements receive tax advantages during the accumulation period. Contributions may have received tax treatment that differed from an ordinary taxable investment account, and investment growth may have accumulated on a tax-deferred basis. RMD rules help ensure that distributions eventually occur from accounts that are subject to the applicable minimum-distribution requirements. The tax treatment of the actual distribution depends on the type of account, the owner's basis, other circumstances, and the tax rules applicable to the individual.

When Do RMDs Begin?

The applicable RMD beginning age has changed over time as federal retirement legislation has changed. Under current rules reflected by the IRS, individuals who reach age 73 after 2022 and before 2033 generally have an applicable age of 73, while the applicable age increases to 75 for individuals who reach the relevant age after 2032. The first distribution has a special deadline: the first RMD can generally be taken during the year the requirement begins, or the first one can be delayed until April 1 of the following year. Subsequent RMDs are generally due by December 31 of each calendar year. citeturn0search1turn0search3

Delaying the first RMD can create a two-distribution year. If the first year's RMD is postponed until the following April 1, the next year's RMD still generally has to be taken by December 31 of that same year. This means two RMDs may be included in one calendar year's taxable income. For that reason, the decision to delay a first RMD should be considered as part of a broader tax and cash-flow plan rather than treated as an automatic benefit.

The calculator focuses on estimating the distribution amount and future schedule. It does not determine whether a particular individual qualifies for a special delay based on continued employment, ownership of an employer, plan-specific rules, or another exception. Those circumstances can require account-specific analysis and should be checked against current IRS guidance and the governing plan documents.

How Is an RMD Calculated?

The basic RMD formula can be written as:

RMD = Prior-Year December 31 Account Balance ÷ Applicable Distribution Period

The first part of the formula is the account value at the close of business on December 31 of the previous year. The second part is the life-expectancy divisor from the appropriate IRS table. The result is the minimum distribution amount for the modeled year. The IRS worksheet uses this same structure: identify the age, identify the prior-year IRA value, find the applicable denominator from the appropriate life-expectancy table, and divide the account value by the denominator. citeturn0search3

As an example, assume a traditional IRA had a December 31 balance of $500,000 and the owner's applicable divisor for the year is 25.5. The RMD would be approximately $19,607.84. If the balance were $750,000 with the same divisor, the estimated RMD would be approximately $29,411.76. The divisor does not stay constant. As the owner's age increases, the Uniform Lifetime Table generally provides smaller distribution periods, which causes the percentage represented by the minimum distribution to increase.

Understanding the Distribution Period

The distribution period is sometimes described as a life-expectancy divisor. It is not simply the number of years the account owner is expected to live. Instead, it is a value supplied by the applicable IRS table for the owner's age and, in special cases, the spouse's age. The divisor is used as a standardized calculation factor for determining the minimum distribution.

For the Uniform Lifetime Table, the IRS currently lists 24.6 at age 75, 23.7 at age 76, 22.9 at age 77, 22.0 at age 78, and 21.1 at age 79. These values explain the pattern visible in the calculator's default projection: if the account balance remained unchanged, a lower divisor would produce a larger percentage withdrawal. In an actual account, however, the balance can rise or fall because of investment performance and other transactions. citeturn0search0turn0search22

At older ages, the distribution periods continue to decline. The calculator includes the available age range through the IRS table's 120-and-over category. When a user reaches an age outside the ordinary range, the tool uses the table's terminal category rather than inventing a new divisor. This makes the schedule useful for long-range planning while keeping the table structure transparent.

Uniform Lifetime Table and Spousal Beneficiary Rules

Most owners who are calculating an RMD during their lifetime use the Uniform Lifetime Table. The IRS describes Table III as the table for unmarried owners, married owners whose spouses are not more than 10 years younger, and married owners whose spouses are not the sole beneficiaries of their IRAs. The calculator uses those rules as its normal path. citeturn0search0

A special situation exists when the owner's spouse is the sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger. In that situation, the Joint and Last Survivor Life Expectancy Table can produce a larger distribution period than the Uniform Lifetime Table. A larger divisor generally means a smaller required distribution for the same account balance. This special treatment recognizes the longer expected joint life span reflected in the IRS table.

That is why this calculator asks whether your spouse is the primary beneficiary and also asks for the spouse's birth year. When “Yes” is selected and the spouse is more than 10 years younger based on the modeled ages, the calculator switches to the special joint-life table. If the spouse is not more than 10 years younger, the Uniform Lifetime Table is used. The actual legal and beneficiary designation requirements are more specific than a simple calculator field, so the result should be checked against the account's beneficiary records and current IRS instructions.

What Retirement Accounts Can Have RMD Requirements?

RMD rules can apply to a range of tax-advantaged retirement arrangements, including traditional IRAs and many employer-sponsored retirement plans. Common examples include traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, traditional 401(k) plans, many 403(b) arrangements, 457(b) plans, profit-sharing plans, and certain qualified annuity arrangements. The exact rule depends on the type of account and the applicable federal requirements.

Roth IRAs owned by the original owner are different because they generally do not have lifetime RMDs. This is one of the major planning differences between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA. If you are comparing traditional and Roth retirement savings, the Roth IRA Calculator on Dxcalculator.com can be used alongside this tool to examine the accumulation side of Roth planning.

Designated Roth accounts inside employer plans have also received important rule changes. The exact treatment depends on the type of plan and the applicable law for the year being analyzed. Because retirement rules change over time, the safest approach is to verify the specific account type before relying on a calculator result.

Do I Have to Calculate RMDs for Every Retirement Account?

The answer depends on the type of retirement account. The IRS notes that an IRA owner calculates the RMD separately for each IRA, although the total RMD for multiple IRAs may generally be taken from one or more of those IRAs. Different employer plans can have different aggregation rules. For example, 401(k) RMDs generally have to be satisfied separately for each plan, while certain 403(b) arrangements have aggregation flexibility. citeturn0search2

This distinction matters because entering the combined balance of several unrelated accounts into a single calculation can produce an incorrect result. If you have multiple traditional IRAs, you should calculate each required amount according to the applicable account rules before deciding where to take the total distribution. Employer-sponsored accounts should be reviewed separately according to the plan's requirements.

The calculator is therefore best used as an account-level planning tool. Enter the balance of one account and review its estimated RMD. If you have several accounts, repeat the calculation for each account when appropriate and keep a record of the individual results. This also makes it easier to reconcile your calculations with year-end statements and custodian notices.

What Happens If You Take More Than the RMD?

An RMD is a minimum, not a maximum. Taking more than the required minimum may be appropriate if you need additional retirement income or have another planning reason to withdraw funds. However, taking extra money from a tax-deferred account can increase taxable income and may affect other tax-sensitive items. The calculator does not assume extra withdrawals because its purpose is to model the minimum required amount and show how that minimum interacts with an optional return assumption.

An important point is that an extra withdrawal generally does not automatically eliminate the next year's RMD requirement. Each year's RMD is calculated from the applicable prior-year account balance and distribution period. A large withdrawal in one year can reduce the future account balance, but it should not be treated as a prepaid RMD for all future years.

What Happens If You Miss an RMD?

Because RMDs are required distributions, failing to withdraw the required amount can create an excise-tax issue. Current federal law provides a reduced penalty structure compared with the older rules, and the IRS describes a correction mechanism that can reduce the applicable excise tax when an excess accumulation is corrected within the permitted period. The exact penalty depends on the circumstances, the amount that should have been distributed, and whether the shortfall is corrected in a timely manner.

If you discover that you missed an RMD, do not assume that simply withdrawing the missed amount resolves every tax issue. Keep records of the original requirement, the date and amount of the corrective distribution, and any communication with the custodian. Current IRS guidance should be consulted, and a qualified tax professional may be appropriate for a significant or complicated shortfall.

The calculator does not calculate penalties because penalties are not part of the basic RMD formula. Its purpose is to estimate the required distribution itself. This keeps the result focused and avoids suggesting that a simple penalty estimate can replace the actual correction process.

RMDs and Income Taxes

For many traditional tax-deferred retirement accounts, RMDs are generally included in taxable income to the extent the distribution is taxable. This can make RMD planning more important than simply determining the withdrawal amount. A larger RMD can increase adjusted gross income and may interact with other tax calculations, deductions, credits, or income-related thresholds.

The tax impact depends on the account and the taxpayer. The calculator intentionally does not estimate a final federal or state tax bill because a person's tax result depends on filing status, other income, deductions, credits, basis, capital gains, Social Security, and many other variables. Instead, it provides the distribution amount so that the user can take that number into a broader tax-planning analysis.

If you are planning retirement income rather than only calculating an RMD, the Retirement Calculator can help you examine retirement savings and income needs from a broader perspective. Combining the two tools can be useful because the RMD calculation answers a specific regulatory question while retirement planning asks how much money may actually be needed for future expenses.

Qualified Charitable Distributions and RMD Planning

A Qualified Charitable Distribution, commonly called a QCD, can be an important consideration for eligible IRA owners who make charitable gifts. A qualifying distribution made directly from an eligible IRA to a qualified charity can satisfy an RMD requirement, subject to the rules and limits that apply to QCDs. Because the tax treatment can differ from taking a taxable distribution personally and then donating cash, QCDs are often discussed as part of year-end tax planning for older IRA owners.

The calculator does not determine whether a distribution qualifies as a QCD, because that requires account type, age, charity, transaction method, annual limits, and other details. If charitable giving is part of your retirement plan, use the RMD amount produced here as a starting figure and then verify the QCD rules with current IRS guidance and your custodian.

RMDs, Social Security, and Other Retirement Income

RMDs rarely exist in isolation. Retirees may also receive Social Security, pension payments, annuity income, wages, rental income, interest, dividends, and capital gains. The addition of an RMD can change the total income picture. For this reason, a retirement withdrawal plan should consider the timing of different income sources rather than treating the RMD as a number that can simply be ignored until December.

For example, someone who has a pension covering most regular expenses may decide to use part of an RMD for taxes, charitable giving, or reinvestment. Another person may depend on the RMD for monthly living costs. The correct use of the distribution depends on the household's cash-flow needs. The calculator intentionally avoids prescribing a withdrawal strategy and instead provides a transparent estimate that can be incorporated into a personal plan.

How the Future RMD Projection in This Tool Works

The first-year RMD is based on the balance you enter. For later years, the calculator applies a simple projection: subtract the modeled RMD from the beginning-of-year balance, then apply the optional estimated annual return to the remaining amount. The following year's RMD is then calculated from that projected prior-year ending balance and the new age-based divisor.

This method is useful for understanding direction and sensitivity. If the expected return is higher, the projected balance can remain larger despite required withdrawals. If the return is lower or negative, the balance can decline more quickly. The schedule therefore helps illustrate how RMDs and investment performance interact over time.

The projection is not a market forecast. Actual investment returns occur unevenly rather than at a constant rate, and an account may have fees, taxes, additional withdrawals, deposits, required distributions from other accounts, or changes in asset allocation. The model is deliberately simple so that the relationship between the main variables remains easy to understand.

Why the RMD Amount Can Change Even When the Return Is Zero

If you enter a 0% estimated return, the projected account balance will generally decline as modeled RMDs are withdrawn. The RMD amount can still change from one year to the next because the distribution period changes with age. Even if the starting balance did not change, a smaller divisor would produce a larger percentage distribution. In a real account, the balance and divisor both change, so the RMD can move up or down depending on which effect is stronger.

This is one reason it can be misleading to think of an RMD as a fixed percentage that remains unchanged for life. The actual calculation is based on a year-specific divisor and a year-specific prior-year account balance. Running the schedule in this calculator makes that changing relationship easier to see.

RMD Planning for Different Investment Returns

The optional estimated return field is designed for scenario testing. Try 0% to see a conservative no-growth illustration. Then try 3%, 5%, or another assumption that you believe is appropriate for the portfolio being modeled. Comparing multiple scenarios can show how sensitive the projected balance is to investment performance.

A higher return assumption should not automatically be interpreted as a better retirement plan. Higher expected returns can come with higher volatility and risk. A retiree who needs the account to fund near-term expenses may have a different risk tolerance from a younger investor. The calculator therefore presents the return as an input rather than recommending a particular investment allocation.

RMD Calculator Example

Suppose a person was born in 1951 and is calculating an RMD for 2026. The account balance at the end of 2025 is $300,000. The person is 75 in the modeled year and is not using the special spouse table. The Uniform Lifetime divisor at age 75 is 24.6. The estimated RMD is therefore $12,195.12.

If the user chooses a 5% annual return and assumes the RMD is taken at the end of the year, the simplified projected ending balance is calculated by subtracting the RMD and then applying the 5% return to the remaining amount. The resulting number is an illustration of the model, not a guarantee. The next year's calculation uses the new projected balance and the divisor for the next age.

Changing the account balance to $600,000 approximately doubles the first-year RMD because the divisor remains the same. Changing the age changes the divisor. Selecting a qualifying spouse who is more than 10 years younger can also change the divisor. These examples show why the calculator asks for several inputs rather than providing a single universal RMD percentage.

RMDs and Retirement Income Strategy

Retirement income planning is about more than satisfying a minimum distribution rule. A strong plan may consider which accounts to draw from, how much taxable income is desirable in each year, whether charitable giving is planned, how investment risk changes after retirement, and how much cash should remain available for emergencies. RMDs can be one part of that larger strategy.

Some retirees use RMDs for living expenses. Others reinvest money they do not need, use it for gifts, pay taxes, or fund major expenses. The important point is to recognize that the RMD is a required amount, while the use of the distribution is a separate planning decision. The calculator helps separate those two questions by showing the minimum distribution first and the projected account balance second.

RMDs for Married Couples

Married couples should pay particular attention to beneficiary designations because the spouse's age can affect the applicable distribution table in the special situation recognized by the IRS. The special Joint and Last Survivor calculation is intended for cases where the spouse is the sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger. If those conditions are not met, the Uniform Lifetime Table generally applies.

Beneficiary information should be confirmed with the account custodian. A spouse being married to the owner is not by itself enough to guarantee that the special table applies; the spouse generally needs to be the sole designated beneficiary under the applicable rules. If beneficiary designations have changed, the calculation should be reviewed again.

RMDs for Inherited Retirement Accounts

Inherited retirement accounts can follow different distribution rules from accounts owned by the original account holder. The beneficiary's relationship to the deceased owner, the date of death, the type of retirement account, and whether the beneficiary qualifies for an exception can all matter. The SECURE Act and subsequent guidance also changed many inherited-account rules, so a simple owner-lifetime RMD calculator should not be used as the sole method for determining an inherited IRA distribution schedule.

This tool is primarily designed for lifetime RMD planning for the account owner. If you inherited an IRA or 401(k), use this page only as a general educational reference and verify the inherited-account rules that apply to your situation. The IRS provides separate guidance for inherited accounts and beneficiary distributions.

RMD and 401(k) Planning

Employer-sponsored plans can have different distribution and aggregation rules from IRAs. A person who has an old 401(k), a current employer plan, and one or more IRAs should not automatically combine every balance into one RMD calculation. The plan documents and current IRS rules determine the correct treatment.

If you are still working, the plan may also have special rules about when RMDs begin for the current employer plan, subject to applicable requirements and ownership conditions. The calculator does not determine whether a continued-employment exception applies. It simply estimates the distribution based on the information entered.

For broader workplace retirement planning, you can also use the 401K Calculator on this site. Looking at contribution growth before retirement and RMD withdrawals after retirement can provide a more complete view of how a retirement account may behave across different stages.

Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA and RMD Differences

One of the clearest differences between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA is the treatment of lifetime RMDs for the original owner. Traditional IRA owners generally need to plan for RMDs once the applicable beginning age is reached, while an original owner of a Roth IRA generally does not have lifetime RMDs. This distinction can influence retirement tax diversification and the order in which different accounts are used.

That does not mean a Roth IRA is automatically better for every person. Contributions, conversions, taxes, income limits, investment choices, and withdrawal rules all matter. Use the Roth IRA Calculator to explore Roth accumulation separately, then use this RMD Calculator to understand the required distribution side of a traditional retirement account.

Common RMD Planning Mistakes

• Using the current account balance instead of the previous December 31 balance.
• Using the wrong age or the wrong calendar year for the calculation.
• Ignoring the special spouse rule when the spouse is the sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger.
• Assuming an RMD is a fixed percentage that never changes.
• Combining balances from accounts that must be calculated separately.
• Forgetting that delaying the first RMD can create two distributions in the following calendar year.
• Assuming an extra withdrawal in one year satisfies future RMDs.
• Using a projected investment return as if it were a guaranteed rate.
• Ignoring the potential tax impact of a larger distribution.
• Relying on a calculator without checking the account type and current IRS rules.

How to Use This RMD Calculator More Effectively

1. Locate your retirement account statement and find the balance as of December 31 of the previous year.
2. Enter your birth year and the calendar year you want to calculate.
3. Confirm whether your spouse is the sole primary beneficiary and whether the spouse is more than 10 years younger.
4. Enter an optional investment return if you want to see a future balance projection.
5. Click Calculate and review the first-year RMD, divisor, projected balance, graphs, and schedule.
6. Run several scenarios instead of relying on a single return assumption.
7. Compare the result with the calculation provided by your IRA custodian or retirement-plan administrator.

Testing multiple scenarios is especially useful. For example, calculate the result with a 0% return, then 3%, then 5%. Next, change the account balance and compare the first-year RMD. Finally, check the spouse option if it applies. This approach can reveal which variables have the greatest effect on your projected retirement balance.

Why a Long-Term RMD Schedule Is Useful

A one-year RMD calculation answers an immediate question, but a schedule provides more context. Seeing the estimated distribution for each age helps you understand how the required amount may change. Seeing the projected ending balance helps you consider whether the account could remain substantial after years of required withdrawals and investment growth.

The schedule is particularly useful for retirement-income planning because it can reveal periods when the required withdrawal is rising even though the account is shrinking. It can also show the opposite situation: strong investment growth may keep the balance elevated even after years of distributions. Neither scenario should be treated as a prediction, but both can be useful for stress testing a retirement plan.

Important Limitations of This RMD Calculator

This calculator is intentionally focused on the core lifetime RMD calculation. It does not prepare a tax return, determine eligibility for every RMD exception, calculate inherited-account distributions, determine the taxability of every dollar withdrawn, or provide individualized investment advice. It also does not account for every plan-specific rule that can apply to employer retirement plans.

The projected balance uses a constant annual return assumption. Real investment returns vary from year to year, and sequence of returns can materially change retirement outcomes. The model also assumes the RMD is withdrawn before the annual return is applied. Different withdrawal timing can produce a different projected balance.

For these reasons, use the calculator as a planning and education tool. Verify the final RMD amount with your account custodian and current IRS guidance, especially when your situation involves an inherited account, a very large balance, a younger spouse, multiple plans, a recent rollover or conversion, or a special distribution rule.

Frequently Asked Questions About RMDs

What is the RMD formula?

The basic formula is the prior December 31 retirement account balance divided by the applicable IRS distribution period. The appropriate distribution period depends on the owner's age and, in the special spousal situation, the spouse's age and beneficiary status.

What balance should I use for an RMD?

For a normal lifetime RMD calculation, use the account balance as of December 31 of the year immediately before the RMD year, subject to adjustments required by the applicable IRS rules. This calculator's balance field is designed for that prior-year value.

Does the RMD change every year?

Usually the amount can change every year because both the prior-year account balance and the applicable distribution period can change. Investment gains or losses and withdrawals affect the balance, while the IRS table divisor changes as age increases.

Does a Roth IRA have an RMD?

An original owner generally does not have lifetime RMDs from a Roth IRA. Inherited Roth IRAs are different and can have beneficiary distribution requirements.

Can I take my RMD monthly?

The annual requirement is what matters for the normal deadline, so distributions can often be structured in installments as long as the required amount is satisfied by the applicable deadline. Confirm the mechanics with the custodian.

Can I withdraw more than my RMD?

Generally, yes, if the account rules permit the withdrawal. However, extra taxable distributions can increase income and may affect other tax-sensitive calculations.

Can I use an RMD for charitable giving?

Eligible IRA owners may be able to use a Qualified Charitable Distribution to satisfy an RMD, subject to current eligibility, limits, and transaction requirements. Verify the rules before making the transfer.

What if my spouse is more than 10 years younger?

If your spouse is your sole designated beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger, the IRS provides a special Joint and Last Survivor table that may result in a different divisor. This calculator asks for spouse information so that the special table can be modeled when the conditions are met.

Can I use this calculator for an inherited IRA?

No, not as a complete inherited-IRA solution. Inherited-account rules are different and can depend on the beneficiary and date of death. This calculator is intended primarily for lifetime owner RMD planning.

Final Thoughts on Required Minimum Distribution Planning

RMD planning is ultimately about understanding the relationship between a retirement account balance, the IRS distribution factor, investment growth, and taxable retirement income. A calculator cannot replace the official rules or the advice of a qualified professional, but it can make the numerical side of the decision much easier to understand. The most useful approach is to enter accurate year-end balances, confirm beneficiary information, use the correct calendar year, and compare multiple reasonable return scenarios.

The RMD Calculator on Dxcalculator.com is designed to make that process straightforward. The first result shows the estimated minimum distribution, while the graphs and annual schedule show how the modeled withdrawal requirement can evolve over time. Use it together with the site's IRA Calculator, Roth IRA Calculator, Retirement Calculator, and 401K Calculator when you want to examine retirement planning from several angles.

Important: This RMD Calculator is provided for educational and general planning purposes. It is not tax, legal, retirement, investment, or financial advice. Federal retirement rules can change, and individual account documents can contain requirements that are not represented by a general calculator. Always verify the calculated amount with your retirement-account custodian and current IRS guidance before taking or skipping a required distribution.