Do Roth IRAs Have Required Minimum Distributions?
Roth IRAs are not subject to required minimum distributions during your lifetime
You will never have to withdraw money from a Roth IRA while you are alive, no matter how old you are or how much money sits in the account. This is one of the defining features that separates Roth IRAs from traditional IRAs, which require you to start taking withdrawals at age 73 (as of 2023, though this age changes under current law).
The absence of required minimum distributions (RMDs) means you can leave your Roth IRA untouched for decades if you do not need the money. Your contributions and earnings continue to grow tax-free, and you control entirely when and whether to take money out. This flexibility makes Roth IRAs particularly useful for people who want to pass money to heirs or who simply do not need the income during retirement.
Key Takeaways
- Roth IRA owners face no required minimum distributions at any age during their lifetime, unlike traditional IRA owners who must start withdrawals at 73.
- Your beneficiaries will have to withdraw the money after you die, following rules that depend on their relationship to you and when you opened the account.
- The no-RMD rule applies only to the original account owner, not to inherited Roth IRAs held by spouses, children, or other heirs.
- You can still withdraw your own contributions (not earnings) from a Roth IRA at any time without penalty, even before age 59½.
Why Roth IRAs skip the RMD requirement
The IRS treats Roth IRAs differently from traditional IRAs because the money going in has already been taxed. With a traditional IRA, the government deferred your taxes when you contributed, so it wants to collect those taxes eventually by forcing withdrawals. With a Roth IRA, you paid taxes upfront, so the IRS has no tax reason to force you to take money out.
This tax structure creates a powerful incentive to use Roth IRAs as long-term wealth-building tools. You can let the account compound for 30, 40, or 50 years if you want, and the IRS will not demand a single withdrawal. The only person who can force withdrawals is your beneficiary after you pass away.
What happens to a Roth IRA after you die
Your beneficiaries do face withdrawal rules, but those rules depend on who they are and when you opened the account. A spouse who inherits a Roth IRA can treat it as their own, which means they also get the no-RMD benefit for the rest of their life. Non-spouse beneficiaries (adult children, grandchildren, friends, or your estate) must withdraw the entire balance within 10 years of your death, though they can spread those withdrawals across the decade however they choose.
If you opened your Roth IRA before 2024, there was an older rule that allowed non-spouse beneficiaries to stretch withdrawals over their own lifetime. That rule no longer applies to most people, so the 10-year window is now the standard. The specific rules can vary depending on whether you had already started taking withdrawals before you died, so your beneficiaries should check with a tax professional or the IRA custodian about their exact obligations.
The difference between Roth and traditional IRA withdrawal rules
| Account Type | RMD During Your Lifetime | RMD Age (if applicable) | Spouse Inherits | Non-Spouse Inherits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roth IRA | No | Never | No RMD for spouse | Must withdraw within 10 years |
| Traditional IRA | Yes | Age 73 | No RMD for spouse | Must withdraw within 10 years |
The RMD age for traditional IRAs is 73 as of 2023, but this age is scheduled to increase to 75 by 2033 under the SECURE 2.0 Act. Roth IRA owners never face this deadline. If you have both types of accounts, you only calculate RMDs on the traditional IRA; the Roth sits untouched unless you choose to withdraw from it.
How the no-RMD rule affects your retirement planning
The absence of RMDs gives you more control over your tax situation in retirement. You can manage your income in years when you want to stay in a lower tax bracket, or you can take larger withdrawals in years when you have other income. This flexibility is especially valuable if you have a mix of account types—you might take money from a taxable brokerage account one year and a Roth IRA the next, depending on what makes sense for your taxes.
The no-RMD rule also makes Roth IRAs attractive for people who do not need retirement income right away. If you retire at 62 but do not need to touch your Roth until 75, you can let it grow for 13 years. By contrast, a traditional IRA owner would be forced to start withdrawals at 73, whether they needed the money or not, and those withdrawals would be taxed as ordinary income.
Contributing to a Roth IRA after age 73
You can continue to contribute to a Roth IRA as long as you have earned income, regardless of your age. There is no age limit on Roth contributions, unlike traditional IRAs, where you cannot contribute after age 73. This means you can keep adding money to your Roth well into your 80s or 90s if you are still working and want to save more.
This rule, combined with the no-RMD requirement, makes Roth IRAs a powerful tool for people who work past traditional retirement age. You can contribute new money, let it grow tax-free, and never be forced to withdraw it during your lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withdraw money from my Roth IRA before age 59½ without a penalty?
You can withdraw your contributions (the money you put in) at any age without penalty or taxes. Withdrawals of earnings before 59½ are generally subject to taxes and a 10% penalty, unless you meet a specific exception like a first-time home purchase (up to $10,000 lifetime) or a may have access to hardship.
If I inherit a Roth IRA from my spouse, do I have to take RMDs?
No. A spouse who inherits a Roth IRA can treat it as their own, which means they also get the no-RMD benefit for life. You can roll the inherited Roth into your own Roth IRA or keep it separate; either way, you face no required withdrawals.
What if I inherit a Roth IRA from my parent?
As a non-spouse beneficiary, you must withdraw the entire balance within 10 years of your parent's death. You can take the money out in any pattern you choose during that decade—all at once, in equal installments, or whenever you need it—but the account must be empty by the end of year 10.
Does a Roth IRA conversion count toward RMDs on my traditional IRA?
No. When you convert money from a traditional IRA to a Roth, that amount is removed from your traditional IRA balance, so it reduces the amount subject to RMDs. However, the conversion itself is a taxable event in the year you do it, so you may owe income tax on the converted amount.