Turning 73 in 2026? Here's exactly what changed (and what didn't) with RMD rules this year — explained by a fee-only fiduciary advisor.
Executive Summary: The new 2026 RMD rules are actually not very new at all. There was no major legislative change to required minimum distributions this year. What is new is that anyone born in 1953 turns 73 in 2026, which means they must begin taking RMDs from their traditional IRAs and 401(k)s for the first time. The bigger changes to RMDs happened over the past few years through the SECURE 2.0 Act, and those rules are still what's shaping retirement withdrawals today. Below, we break down what actually changed, who's affected, and what to watch for.
At Oak Road Wealth Management, a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm based in Lee's Summit, Missouri, and serving clients nationally, we get this question every year around this time: "Did the RMD rules change again?" It's a fair question. Between 2019 and 2023, they changed more than once. Here's where things actually stand in 2026.
No — not in any major way. There is no new legislation in 2026 that alters when RMDs begin, how they're calculated, or how they're taxed. If you were already taking RMDs before this year, the rules you've been following still apply.
What changes every year isn't the rulebook — it's who becomes subject to it. In 2026, that group is people born in 1953, who turn 73 this year and are now required to begin taking distributions from their tax-deferred retirement accounts.
If you were born in 1953, 2026 is your first year of required minimum distributions. Under current SECURE 2.0 rules, individuals born between 1951 and 1959 must begin RMDs at age 73. Your first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you turn 73, but if you wait, you'll need to take two RMDs in that following year — one by April 1 and one by December 31. For most people, taking the first RMD in the same calendar year they turn 73 is the simpler, cleaner approach from a tax-planning standpoint.
While 2026 itself is quiet, the past few years have brought real changes to required minimum distributions, all stemming from the SECURE 2.0 Act passed in December 2022. Here's a quick recap of what shifted:
Taken together, these are the changes that actually reshaped RMD and retirement account planning — not anything new in 2026 itself.
Your RMD is calculated by dividing your retirement account balance as of December 31 of the prior year by a life expectancy factor, generally from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. If you have multiple traditional IRAs, you can total the RMDs and withdraw the sum from any combination of those accounts. Workplace plans like 401(k)s generally require the RMD to come from that specific account. Because this calculation touches on account balances, life expectancy tables, and account types, it's worth double-checking your number each year — especially the first year you're subject to it.
Missing an RMD, or withdrawing less than required, triggers an excise tax on the shortfall. The penalty is 25% of the amount not withdrawn, but it drops to 10% if you correct the mistake within two years. If you do miss a deadline, correcting it quickly and documenting a reasonable explanation can also help if you request a penalty waiver from the IRS.
If this is your first year taking RMDs, or if you're managing multiple retirement accounts, inherited IRAs, or charitable giving alongside your distributions, it's worth a conversation before year-end. Small decisions — like which account to pull from, whether to use a QCD, or how your RMD affects your tax bracket and Medicare premiums — can have a meaningful impact over time.
As a fee-only fiduciary firm, Oak Road Wealth Management doesn't earn commissions on any product we recommend. We work with clients in Lee's Summit and across the country to build RMD strategies that fit into a broader retirement and tax plan, not just a once-a-year withdrawal calculation.
The RMD age in 2026 is 73 for anyone born between 1951 and 1959. This age is scheduled to increase to 75 for people born in 1960 or later, beginning in 2033.
No. There's no new RMD legislation for 2026. The requirement affecting people this year is simply that anyone turning 73 in 2026 — those born in 1953 — must begin taking distributions.
No. Roth IRAs have never required RMDs for the original account owner, and since 2024, Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b) plans no longer require them either.
The penalty is 25% of the amount you should have withdrawn, reduced to 10% if you correct the missed RMD within two years.
Yes. Oak Road Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm based in Lee's Summit, Missouri, serving clients nationally. We help clients calculate, time, and strategically plan RMDs as part of a comprehensive retirement and tax strategy.
Written by Andrew Matz, Financial Planner at Oak Road Wealth Management.
