Does Fidelity automatically calculate my RMD?

Yes. Fidelity offers an RMD service that calculates your annual RMD based on your prior year-end balance and your age. You can set up automatic distributions so Fidelity withdraws the required amount on a schedule you choose — monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Can I take my Fidelity RMD from any account?

For IRAs: yes. If you have multiple traditional IRAs at Fidelity, you can calculate the RMD for each account separately and withdraw the total from any one account. For 401(k) accounts, RMDs must be taken from each account individually — you cannot aggregate a 401(k) RMD with an IRA RMD.

How do I make a QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution) at Fidelity?

At Fidelity, you can initiate a QCD by calling Fidelity directly or by using the online transfer feature to send funds directly from your IRA to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity. The check must be made payable to the charity, not to you. Fidelity will report the distribution on Form 1099-R; you indicate the QCD exclusion on your Form 1040.

What is the deadline to take my Fidelity RMD?

December 31 of each year. Your first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of the following year, but delaying means taking two RMDs in one tax year. For all subsequent years, the deadline is December 31. Fidelity's automatic distribution service ensures you never miss the deadline.

Can I reinvest my Fidelity RMD back into a Roth IRA?

Yes, if you meet the Roth IRA contribution rules. Your RMD withdrawal itself cannot be rolled over (re-contributed to any IRA), but if you have earned income and are within income limits, you can make a separate Roth IRA contribution up to $7,000 ($8,000 if 73+) from other funds in the same year.

Fidelity RMD 2026 — How to Calculate, Schedule, and Automate Required Minimum Distributions

Your Fidelity required minimum distribution (RMD) for 2026 equals your December 31, 2025 IRA balance divided by your IRS life expectancy factor — for a 73-year-old, that factor is 26.5, producing an RMD of roughly 3.77% of the prior year-end balance. Fidelity offers an automated RMD service that calculates and distributes the correct amount on your schedule, so you never miss the December 31 deadline and never trigger the 25% penalty.

What Are RMDs?

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are the minimum amounts the IRS requires you to withdraw from pre-tax retirement accounts each year once you reach the applicable starting age. The IRS uses RMDs to ensure that tax-deferred money eventually gets taxed — you cannot leave pre-tax funds in an IRA or 401(k) indefinitely.

Accounts subject to RMDs:

Traditional IRAs
SEP-IRAs
SIMPLE IRAs
401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans (employer accounts)

Accounts NOT subject to RMDs (during the owner’s lifetime):

Roth IRAs
Roth 401(k) accounts (Roth 401(k) RMD exemption effective 2024 under SECURE 2.0)

2026 RMD Starting Age Rules

Under SECURE 2.0, the RMD starting age depends on your birth year:

Birth Year	RMD Starting Age
Before 1951	Already in RMD years
1951–1959	Age 73
1960 or later	Age 75

Your first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of the year following the year you reach your starting age. All subsequent RMDs must be taken by December 31 of each year. If you delay your first RMD, you will take two RMDs in one calendar year — which can push you into a higher tax bracket. In most cases, it makes more sense to take your first RMD by December 31 of the year you turn 73 (or 75).

How to Calculate Your RMD

The IRS uses the Uniform Lifetime Table (IRS Publication 590-B, Table III) for most IRA owners. The formula is:

$$ ext{RMD} = rac{ ext{Prior Year-End Account Balance}}{ ext{IRS Life Expectancy Factor}}$$

Selected factors from the 2026 IRS Uniform Lifetime Table:

Your Age	Life Expectancy Factor	RMD % of Balance
73	26.5	3.77%
74	25.5	3.92%
75	24.6	4.07%
76	23.7	4.22%
77	22.9	4.37%
80	20.2	4.95%
85	16.0	6.25%
90	12.2	8.20%
95	8.9	11.24%

Exception: If your sole beneficiary is a spouse who is more than 10 years younger, you use the Joint Life and Last Survivor Table (IRS Table II) — which produces lower RMDs.

Worked Example: Age-73 RMD

You turn 73 in 2026. Your traditional IRA balance on December 31, 2025 was $750,000. Your spouse is within 10 years of your age, so you use the Uniform Lifetime Table.

Life expectancy factor at age 73: 26.5
RMD = $750,000 ÷ 26.5 = $28,302

You must withdraw at least $28,302 from your traditional IRA by December 31, 2026. You can withdraw more, but you cannot carry unused RMD amounts to a future year.

Worked Example: Multiple IRAs

If you have three traditional IRAs, you calculate a separate RMD for each account — but you can take the total combined RMD from any one or combination of those accounts. The IRS requires you calculate per-account but allows flexible withdrawal across accounts.

IRA #1: $400,000 ÷ 26.5 = $15,094
IRA #2: $250,000 ÷ 26.5 = $9,434
IRA #3: $100,000 ÷ 26.5 = $3,774
Total combined RMD: $28,302

You can withdraw the full $28,302 from IRA #1 alone — you do not need to pull from each account separately.

The RMD Penalty

Missing an RMD — or taking less than the required amount — triggers a 25% excise tax on the shortfall. SECURE 2.0 reduced this from the prior 50% penalty. The penalty drops to 10% if you correct the missed RMD and file an amended return within two years.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): The Best RMD Strategy

If you are age 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) — a direct transfer from your IRA to a qualified charity. The QCD:

Counts toward your annual RMD
Is excluded from your taxable income (unlike a regular withdrawal)
Has a 2026 annual limit of $108,000 per person ($216,000 for married couples each using their own IRA)

Tax impact of QCD vs regular RMD withdrawal:

Method	RMD Amount	Taxable Income Increase	Federal Tax (22% bracket)
Regular withdrawal	$28,302	+$28,302	+$6,226
QCD to charity	$28,302	$0	$0

A QCD satisfies your RMD obligation while generating zero taxable income — making it the most tax-efficient strategy for charitably inclined retirees.

RMD Aggregation Rules

IRAs: You can aggregate RMDs across all traditional IRAs and withdraw the total from any one account.

401(k)s: You cannot aggregate 401(k) RMDs with IRA RMDs. Each 401(k) RMD must be taken from that specific account. However, if you have multiple 401(k)s at a former employer, you can aggregate those.

Practical tip: Many retirees roll old 401(k)s into a single traditional IRA to simplify RMD management to one account.

RMDs and Taxes

RMD withdrawals are treated as ordinary income. Large RMDs can:

Push you into a higher federal tax bracket
Trigger IRMAA surcharges on Medicare Part B and D premiums (income-tested)
Cause up to 85% of Social Security benefits to become taxable
Affect eligibility for income-based programs

This is why Roth conversions before RMDs begin are one of the most powerful retirement tax strategies — reducing the pre-tax balance reduces future RMD amounts.

Fidelity’s RMD Tools and Services

Fidelity Automatic RMD Service

Fidelity offers a free automatic RMD distribution service for IRA holders:

Setup: Call Fidelity (800-343-3548) or log in online and navigate to your IRA account settings
Calculation: Fidelity calculates your RMD based on the prior December 31 balance and your age using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table
Schedule options: Monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual distributions
Delivery: Direct deposit to a bank account, transfer to a Fidelity taxable brokerage account, or mailed check
Updates: Fidelity recalculates automatically each year as your balance and age change

Fidelity RMD Calculator

Fidelity’s online RMD calculator (available at fidelity.com/retirement) lets you estimate your RMD before setting up automatic distributions. Enter your account balance and birth date; the tool applies the correct IRS table and projects RMDs for future years.

In-Kind RMD Distributions

Fidelity allows in-kind RMDs — you can satisfy your RMD by transferring shares of a mutual fund or ETF from your IRA to a taxable brokerage account, rather than selling and taking cash. The fair market value of the shares on the transfer date counts toward your RMD. This is useful if you don’t want to liquidate a position you want to hold.

How to Set Up Your Fidelity RMD

Online method:

Log in to fidelity.com and navigate to your traditional IRA
Select “Distributions” or “Withdrawals” from the account menu
Choose “Required Minimum Distribution” as the withdrawal type
Set the schedule and delivery method
Confirm — Fidelity saves the instruction for each future year

Phone method: Call Fidelity at 800-343-3548 to speak with a retirement specialist who can set up automatic distributions and confirm your calculated RMD amount.

QCDs at Fidelity: Step-by-Step

To execute a Qualified Charitable Distribution at Fidelity:

Confirm eligibility — you must be age 70½ or older
Contact Fidelity — call 800-343-3548 to request a QCD; provide the charity’s name, address, and EIN
Fidelity issues a check payable directly to the charity (not to you — this is critical)
Deliver the check to the charity or request Fidelity mail it directly
Report on your tax return — the 1099-R from Fidelity will show the full distribution; you report the QCD exclusion on Line 4b of Form 1040

QCDs count toward your RMD, exclude the donated amount from taxable income, and avoid the deduction floor limitations that apply to regular charitable deductions.

RMD and Fidelity Account Types

Account Type	RMD Required?	Notes
Fidelity Traditional IRA	Yes	Annual; aggregatable across IRAs
Fidelity SEP-IRA	Yes	Aggregatable with other IRAs
Fidelity SIMPLE IRA	Yes	2-year rule for distributions
Fidelity Roth IRA	No	No RMD during owner’s lifetime
Fidelity 401(k) (current employer)	No (if still working)	Exception for 5%+ owners
Fidelity Rollover IRA	Yes	Treated as traditional IRA

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy