topic RMD Federal withholding tax percentage in Retirement tax questions

RMD Federal withholding tax percentage

BJ-CiCi — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:52:08 GMT

I'm 5 years retired and over 72. I found a formula to know what tax bracket I'm in. I found a formula to know what amount of RMD I need to take each year. I cannot find a formula that tells me what percentage needs to be withheld for federal taxes from the RMD that I take in a lump sum each October. The custodian (not past employer) of my RMD funds doesn't offer advice on this and says it is up to me to decide. I chose 10%, but won't know until taxes are filed if it is too much or too little. Is there a formula for this?

Re: RMD Federal withholding tax percentage

carmen_t — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:37:53 GMT

Great work in finding those formulas. To further answer your question and provide you with a useful tool. I would use a tax estimator to give you an estimate of your overall taxes and how your position will look. This will help you to get a closer percentage for RMD withholdings.

Refund Estimator

Re: RMD Federal withholding tax percentage

cocoanuts — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 19:49:02 GMT

Did the offered tax calculator help you at all??

Re: RMD Federal withholding tax percentage

fanfare — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:35:49 GMT

If you are in the 24% tax bracket you should withhold 24%,

If your distribution pushes you into the next bracket, then you have to inclrease the percentage to

cover the amount in the next bracket.

@BJ-CiCi