©  George H. Coughlin II  2002  All Rights Reserved          Return to Home Page

Calculating Minimum Required Distributions
At Age 70½ and Beyond

Based On Joint Fixed-Period Life Expectancy

               MRD_xxxx = Market Value on Preceding December 31 / Life Expectancy    

                Current Tax Year Is 2000

                Market Value of Your IRA on December 31, 1999 Was $400,000

                You Are Married

                   You and Your Spouse Both Reach Age 70½ By Year-End

                   Joint Life Expectancy Factor From Table VI of Reg. §1.72-9 Is 20.6 Years

 Calculation For 2000 

                MRD₂₀₀₀ = $400,000 / 20.6 = $19,417

Use the same formula but remember to substitute the market value as of December 31, 2000 as well as a life expectancy factor which is one year less than the original life expectancy factor.

If your IRA’s market value equals $408,583 on 12/31/2000 and the joint fixed-period life expectancy factor is 19.6 (the original 20.6 years minus 1.0 elapsed year), the calculation would be carried out as follows. 

                    MRD₂₀₀₁ = $408,583 / 19.6 = $20,846 

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