Finance & Irish taxes · Calculator companion · By K Imports
Retirement drawdown timeline: practical guide
This guide explains how to use the Count.ie retirement drawdown timeline. Project a retirement fund under inflation-linked withdrawals. Follow the inputs, method and worked example below, then compare your own scenario.
Guide written .
Open the Retirement drawdown timeline calculatorWhat to prepare
- Find the relevant statement, payslip or transaction record rather than estimating from a bank balance.
- Identify the tax year, transaction date and whether each amount is gross, net, annual or monthly.
- Separate known facts from assumed rates and check eligibility against the linked official sources.
Understand the inputs
The calculation method
Apply annual returns, withdraw at year end, and increase future withdrawals by inflation.
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and their result.
Example inputs
- Starting retirement fund (€)
- 500000
- First annual withdrawal (€)
- 25000
- Annual net return (%)
- 4
- Withdrawal growth / inflation (%)
- 2
- Projection years
- 30
Calculated example result
- Ending Fund
- €0.00
- Depletion Year
- 27
How to interpret the result
Distinguish a tax saving, a tax bill, cash received and money remaining: they are not interchangeable. An estimate does not establish eligibility, filing compliance or when a refund will be paid.
Compare the same income or transaction under one changed assumption at a time. Keep a record of the year, date and assumptions so a change in the result can be explained.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not mix tax years or apply a newly announced measure to an earlier transaction.
- Avoid counting an allowance, credit, contribution or loss twice.
- Check exclusions and personal circumstances before relying on the headline result.
Assumptions and sources
Constant returns exclude market sequence risk, pension withdrawal rules, tax and fees.
If your case falls outside this scope, use a more suitable calculator or contact us about an unclear method.