1st RMD before actual 73rd birthday
If I turn 73 next month and I take a distribution today (6/10/25) does that count towards my first RMD or do I have to wait until after my actual 73rd birthday? The wording I have found on the IRS website is not clear. Thank you in advance for any guidance!
Permalink Submitted by Alan - IRA critic on Tue, 2025-06-10 18:10
Any distribution you take any time in 2025 is applied to your 2025 RMD. That means that if you want to convert, you must complete your RMD and then convert an additional amount if you want to. There is also a timing issue if you want to do any QCDs, as your QCDs could toward your RMD and should be completed before your total RMD is completed.
Another one time option you have is to defer all or part of your 2025 RMD to as late as 4/1/2026. While that would result in two distributions in 2026, if your 2025 income will otherwise be much higher, you could defer all or part to more or less make your total taxable income for each year about the same. This option only exists for your first RMD, that is the 2025 RMD.