5 things to know about required minimum distributions in 2026

The good news is that the RMD starting age is going up, reaching 75 in 2033.

A Social Security card is displayed Oct. 12, 2021, in Tigard, Ore. [Photo: Jenny Kane, File/AP Photo]

Required minimum distributions are unwelcome for many high-income retirees because of the implications for their tax bills. RMDs are taxed as ordinary income and can have knock-on tax effects, leading to more tax on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare costs.The good news is that the RMD starting age has been sliding upward. It was stuck at 70.5 through 2019, but the original Secure Act moved it to 72 in 2020. Secure 2.0 extended the starting RMD age to 73 in 2023, and the RMD age will move up to 75 starting in 2033.Here’s what RMD-subject investors should have on their radars now.

RMDs will be high again this yearIf you need to take an RMD for the 2026 tax year, your RMD amount was effectively “cooked” at the end of 2025. That’s because you look back to your Dec. 31 balance from the previous year to determine the RMD amount for the current year. 2025 was an excellent year for nearly every major investment type. Moreover, RMD percentages adjust upward as we age, also contributing to higher withdrawal amounts. The only time your RMD amount won’t be higher than the previous year’s will be if your........

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