Under U.S. tax law, a married retired couple, both aged 65 or older, can withdraw approximately $47,500 from a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) in 2026 without incurring federal income tax. This tax-free amount is calculated by combining the standard deduction, the additional standard deduction for the elderly, and a temporary elderly deduction called the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB), which is valid until 2028. However, most retirees do not fully utilize this tax-free space, leading them to pay avoidable taxes at higher rates once Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin. This tax-free window closes when RMDs start at age 73, and the OBBB elderly deduction is set to expire in 2029.