Missed RMD Penalty Calculator
Estimate the Form 5329 tax on a required minimum distribution shortfall and see how a timely correction or reasonable-cause request changes the filing path.
Estimated tax to report
$1,200Before interest or later IRS adjustments.
25% general tax
$3,00010% corrected tax
$1,200Still uncorrected
$0The 10% rate generally requires receiving the full shortfall and submitting a return reflecting the additional tax during the correction window. A waiver is not automatic.
What this estimate covers
- Models both the 25% general rate and the 10% correction-window rate.
- Treats a reasonable-cause request as pending IRS review, not guaranteed relief.
- Keeps late corrective distributions separate from amounts received by the original deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty for missing an RMD?
The general federal excise-tax rate is 25% of the RMD shortfall. It may be reduced to 10% when the full shortfall is distributed and a return reflecting the tax is submitted during the correction window.
Can the IRS waive a missed RMD penalty?
The IRS can waive part or all of the tax for reasonable error when reasonable steps are being taken to fix the shortfall. Form 5329 instructions require an RC notation and an attached explanation; the IRS decides whether to grant the request.
What is the Form 5329 correction window?
It ends on the earliest of a deficiency-notice mailing date, the date the tax is assessed, or the last day of the second taxable year beginning after the year of the shortfall.
Does a late distribution count as timely for the original RMD?
No. Form 5329 separates distributions received by the RMD deadline from amounts later received to correct the shortfall.
Sources
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