Are You Prepared for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) as a Married Couple?

Are You Prepared for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) as a Married Couple?

Retirement should be about enjoying your hard-earned savings, not worrying about surprise tax bills. But if you and your spouse have tax-deferred accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s, you may need to be prepared for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Getting this wrong could mean paying unnecessary taxes—or worse, facing steep IRS penalties.

When Do RMDs Start for Married Couples?

The IRS requires individuals to begin RMDs from most retirement accounts at age 73 (or 75 for those born in 1960 or later, under the SECURE 2.0 Act). But if you're married, does that rule apply to both of you at the same time?

The short answer: No. Each spouse's RMDs are calculated separately based on their own accounts and birthdates.

RMD Rules for Married Couples—What You Need to Know

• If both spouses have their own IRAs or 401(k)s and have reached RMD age, each must take RMDs based on their respective balances and IRS life expectancy factors.
• If only one spouse has reached RMD age while the other has not, only the older spouse is required to take withdrawals.
• If you are the sole beneficiary of your spouse’s IRA and they pass away, special spousal rollover options may allow you to delay or adjust distributions to minimize taxes.

Does a Younger Spouse Change Your RMDs?

When your spouse is more than 10 years younger, yes! If your spouse is over 10 years younger than you and is listed as your sole primary beneficiary. In that case, the IRS may allow you to use a different life expectancy table to calculate RMDs. This can lower your withdrawal amount, helping you potentially keep more money in retirement instead of losing it to taxes.

Avoiding Common RMD Mistakes

1. Missing Your RMD Deadline – Forgetting to take your RMD results in a 25% penalty on the amount you should have withdrawn.
2. Not Considering Tax Impact – RMDs count as taxable income, potentially pushing you into a higher tax bracket.
3. Taking the Wrong Amount – Each spouse must calculate and withdraw their own RMDs. You cannot combine withdrawals to meet requirements.

How RMDs Impact Your Taxable Income

RMDs are considered ordinary income, which means they are taxed at your regular income tax rate. This additional income may push you into a higher tax bracket, potentially increasing the amount you owe to the IRS. For example, if your other sources of income—such as Social Security, pensions, or investment earnings—already place you near the threshold of a higher tax bracket, adding RMDs could result in a significantly larger tax bill. Additionally, a higher taxable income can trigger extra costs, such as increased Medicare premiums (IRMAA surcharges) and higher taxes on your Social Security benefits. Strategic tax planning may be able to better help mitigate these effects and potentially keep more of your money working for you. Groups like Oxford Advisory Group focus on RMDs and retirement tax and may be a resource for further information on your situation.

How Much Will Your RMDs Cost You in Taxes?

Many retirees are shocked by the tax impact of RMDs. The good news? Smart planning may help you better understand how to potentially minimize taxes and keep more of your money.

Want to see how much you might owe? Use our free calculator to estimate your RMD tax bill in seconds.

Click here to calculate your RMD tax bill now and take control of your retirement income!

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