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Inherited IRA RMD Calculator

Find out which SECURE Act distribution rule applies to an inherited IRA or 401(k), whether you owe an annual required minimum distribution this year, and the 10-year deadline to fully empty the account.

Quick answer: If you inherited an IRA or 401(k) from someone who died in 2020 or later, the SECURE Act's 10-year rule usually applies unless you're an eligible designated beneficiary (spouse, minor child, disabled, chronically ill, or not more than 10 years younger than the owner). Non-eligible beneficiaries must empty the account within 10 years, and owe annual required minimum distributions in years 1 through 9 if the original owner died on or after their own required beginning date.

SWReviewed by SwitchWize Research Desk · Last reviewed September 7, 2026
Applicable Rule
1
Applicable Rule
1
Applicable Rule
1
Applicable Rule
Non-eligible designated beneficiary: annual RMDs required, owner died on/after their required beginning date

An annual required minimum distribution of $8K is due this year. Missing it can trigger a 25% excise tax on the shortfall (10% if corrected within the IRS correction window), under IRC section 4974.

This Year's Required Distribution
Required amount
$8K
Life expectancy factor used
29.6
10-Year Deadline
Account must be fully emptied byDecember 31, 2033
Years remaining until deadline7

The IRS looks up your life expectancy factor once, in the year after the owner's death, then subtracts 1 for every year after, rather than looking up a fresh factor each year.

Diagnostic

The full breakdown, including which SECURE Act rule applies, this year's required distribution if any, and your 10-year deadline, is shown in the panel above.

Read the inherited IRA 10-year rule guide
What to do next

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  1. 1

    Review the risk level and primary pressure point

    Find out which SECURE Act distribution rule applies to an inherited IRA or 401(k), whether you owe an annual required minimum distribution this year, and the 10-year deadline to fully empty the account.

  2. 2

    Check the assumptions before using the result for a high-stakes decision

    Assumptions change the answer, especially when rates, taxes, or timing matter.

  3. 3

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This is an educational estimate, not tax, legal, investment, or lending advice. Tax rules, rates, and eligibility change and depend on your full situation. Confirm with a qualified professional or the provider before acting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know.

What is an eligible designated beneficiary?
A surviving spouse, a minor child of the account owner, a disabled individual, a chronically ill individual, or any other individual not more than 10 years younger than the owner. Eligible designated beneficiaries can stretch distributions over their own life expectancy instead of being subject to the 10-year rule.
Do I have to take a distribution every year during the 10-year period?
It depends on when the original owner died. If they died on or after their required beginning date, yes, you generally owe annual required minimum distributions in years 1 through 9, plus a full distribution by year 10. If they died before their required beginning date, no annual distributions are required, only the year-10 full distribution.
What happens if I miss a required annual distribution?
A missed required minimum distribution can trigger a 25% excise tax on the shortfall under IRC section 4974, reduced to 10% if you correct it within the IRS correction window. File Form 5329 and talk to a tax advisor if you think you may have missed one.
Does this apply if I inherited the account before 2020?
No. Accounts inherited before 2020 follow the older, pre-SECURE-Act stretch rules, which generally let any designated beneficiary stretch distributions over their own life expectancy regardless of category. This calculator only models accounts inherited in 2020 or later.
Is the Inherited IRA RMD Calculator free to use?
Yes. SwitchWize calculators are free, and you do not need an account to run scenarios or view the result.
Does using the Inherited IRA RMD Calculator affect my credit score?
No. Using a calculator does not trigger a credit check. A credit impact can occur only if you apply directly with a lender, card issuer, or provider.
Are the results personalized financial advice?
No. Calculator outputs are educational estimates based on the inputs you enter. Review assumptions and confirm terms directly with providers before making a financial decision.
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Why This Matters

Inheriting an IRA or 401(k) from someone who died in 2020 or later puts you under the SECURE Act's rules, which are structurally different from the required minimum distribution rules that apply to the original owner's own account. Whether you owe an annual distribution this year, and when the account must be fully emptied, depends on your beneficiary category and when the original owner died, not a single universal rule. Getting the wrong branch can mean either an unnecessary early withdrawal or a missed distribution that triggers an IRS excise tax.

How to Use It

  1. 1Enter the year the original account owner died and the year you're calculating a distribution for
  2. 2Answer whether you qualify as an eligible designated beneficiary
  3. 3If not, confirm whether the owner died on or after their required beginning date
  4. 4Enter your age in the year after the owner's death and the account balance
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