Required beginning date (RBD)

Your required beginning date is the date by which you must take your first minimum required distribution from retirement savings plans that require distributions.

For an individual retirement account (IRA), it's April 1 of the year following the year you turn 70 1/2. For a 401(k), it's either the April 1 of the year following the year you turn 70 1/2 or the April 1 following the year you retire, unless you own 5% or more of the company sponsoring the plan. If that's the case, your deadline is April 1 of the year after the year you turn 70 1/2.