07/20/2026
December is the busiest month for RMDs.
But waiting until then can mean you miss some chances with charitable giving or with estate ideas.
For anyone age 73 or older, the required minimum distribution is mandatory, and the penalty for missing a deadline can be steep.
But the timing of the withdrawal and which accounts it comes from can shape the tax bill in ways a December scramble can’t.
A few things worth knowing:
👉 Multiple IRAs can be aggregated; retirement plans cannot. Each RMD must come from that specific plan.
👉 In 2026, a Qualified Charitable Distribution may allow up to $111,000 per individual to go directly from an IRA to a qualified charity, satisfying the RMD without adding to taxable income. Check with your tax, legal, or accounting professional if you’re considering this approach.
👉 A QCD has to be a direct transfer. Once the money lands in a personal account, the option is gone.
👉 Coordinating across accounts, spouses, and inherited IRAs is where most of the value might sit.
Mid-year is when there is still room to model it.
If RMDs are part of your plan this year, this is a good time to map them.
