Is a RMD required on payments from a defined benefit retirement plan?

[VolvoGirl]

For a pension, it's whatever they send you. Say all of it is the RMD. If you have a RMD requirement it will ask you if it is the RMD. Say yes and enter the amount from box 1 as the RMD amount. The pension doesn't need to calculate any RMD. Anything your pension pays you is considered to be the RMD. Traditional pensions automatically fulfill the rules of an RMD. So just enter the same amount in box 1 for the RMD for each 1099R.

[TomK2023]

Yes, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are required for defined benefit (pension) plans.  

The IRS considers your periodic annuity payments (your monthly pension checks) to satisfy the RMD requirement automatically, provided they are paid out over your life or a joint life expectancy

Because a pension is a set formula that pays out over your lifetime, the plan is already distributing the "minimum" required by law each year.

If you reached age 72 after December 31, 2022, your RMD age is 73.  However, If you are still employed by the company sponsoring the pension plan (and you do not own more than 5% of the company), you can delay starting your pension (and thus your RMDs) until April 1 of the year after you retire.

When the program asks "Was this a Required Minimum Distribution?" for your pension 1099-R, you should answer "Yes" and state that the entire amount distributed was the RMD

By entering the full amount prevents the software from incorrectly flagging a "missed" RMD penalty.

Note: if you have not yet started your pension: You must contact your plan administrator before April 1 of the year after you turn 73 (or retire) to "commence" benefits, or you may face a 25% IRS excise tax on the amount that should have been paid.