A $300K IRA at 73: The Tax Math Nobody Expects

Описание: You saved $300,000 in your IRA. At 73, the IRS says you have to start
taking money out — whether you need it or not. That's your Required
Minimum Distribution.

But here's where the math gets uncomfortable: that forced withdrawal
doesn't just get taxed. It can push you into a higher tax bracket,
trigger IRMAA surcharges on your Medicare, and increase how much of
your Social Security is taxed.

In this video, we run the exact numbers:

Scenario — Robert (Single, age 73):
• IRA balance: $300,000
• RMD at 73: $11,321 (factor: 26.5)
• Social Security: $28,000
• Pension: $42,000
• Base income without RMD: $70,000
• Income WITH RMD: $81,321
• Tax bracket jump: 12% → 22% on portion above $48,475
• Extra tax from bracket jump: ~$1,132
• Social Security taxation increase: up to 85% taxable
• If near IRMAA cliff ($109,000): RMD + pension + SS can push over

By age 78:
• IRA grows to ~$340,000 (even after RMDs, with 6% returns)
• RMD at 78: $15,172 (factor: 22.4)
• Higher forced income = higher taxes every year

The cascade effect:
RMD → higher MAGI → higher tax bracket → more Social Security taxed
→ possible IRMAA surcharge → effective tax rate far above marginal rate

📌 Key numbers:
— RMD factor at age 73: 26.5
— RMD factor at age 75: 24.6
— RMD factor at age 78: 22.4
— RMD factor at age 80: 20.2
— $300K ÷ 26.5 = $11,321 first RMD
— 2026 Single tax brackets: 10% up to $11,925 / 12% up to $48,475 / 22% up to $103,350
— IRMAA single cliff: $109,000
— RMD penalty for missing: 25% (reduced to 10% if corrected within 2 years)

⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 — Your IRA is about to shrink — by law
0:20 — What is an RMD and why it exists
0:39 — The math: $300K at age 73
1:31 — The IRS Knocks
2:40 — The Tax Cascade
4:37 — It gets worse with age
5:13 — The Double -- RMD Trap
5:52 — The Escape Plan

Sources:
• IRS Publication 590-B, Uniform Lifetime Table
• IRS 2026 Tax Brackets (Rev. Proc.)
• CMS 2026 IRMAA Brackets
• SSA Social Security taxation thresholds

📌 New to RMDs? Start here first:
👉 "Why Required Minimum Distributions Surprise So Many Retirees"
   • Why Required Minimum Distributions Surpris...  

📋 Full Foundations Series Playlist:
👉    • Retirement Planning Fundamentals  

🔍 WHAT'S NEXT — SERIES 2
In Series 2, we go deeper into advanced retirement mechanics, including:
• Social Security optimization and advanced claiming strategies
• Medicare planning and IRMAA avoidance
• Advanced Roth strategies (Backdoor Roth, QCDs, timing windows)
• Withdrawal sequencing and income coordination
• Estate and legacy planning mechanics

Same math-first approach.
No opinions. No hype.
Next-level strategies.
Stay tuned.

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