Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts, better known as IRAs, were created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and have revolutionized how Americans save for their golden years. They became available on January 1, 1975.
Read MoreThe financial organization holding the IRA as of December 31 of the prior year must provide an RMD statement to the IRA owner by January 31 of the year for which the distribution is required.
Read MoreIRS final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations were published on July 19, 2024, more than four years after enactment of relevant statutory changes in the SECURE Act of 2019. Especially noteworthy are provisions affecting those who inherit an IRA whose owner had not yet satisfied the RMD for the year in which they died. Ironically, these provisions have the potential to both simplify and to complicate the process by which beneficiaries meet year-of-death RMD obligations.
Read MoreAlthough RMDs from separate IRAs can be aggregated and taken from one Traditional IRA, individuals cannot satisfy RMDs from qualified retirement plans by taking a Traditional IRA distribution. In addition, individuals cannot satisfy Traditional IRA RMDs by taking distributions from their qualified retirement plans.
Read MoreIn 2019, the SECURE Act made several changes to the rules for retirement plans and IRAs, including raising the applicable RMD age from 70½ to 72. In 2022, the IRS released proposed regulations that revised long-standing RMD rules and provided guidance on certain SECURE Act provisions. Congress also passed the SECURE 2.0 Act, which increased the applicable RMD age again from age 72 to age 73 in 2023, and then to age 75 in 2033 (or the year of retirement, if later, for certain plan participants who are not five percent owners).
Read MoreThe new RMD regulations are not without at least one limitation for spouse beneficiaries, in the form of the “hypothetical RMD.” This could affect a spouse beneficiary who inherits an IRA or qualified retirement plan account before the deceased’s RMDs are required to begin—generally age 73—and who elects the new 10-year beneficiary payout rule in order to delay the onset of required distributions.
Read MoreAs the end of the year approaches, some of your clients may start requesting qualified charitable distributions (QCDs).
Read MoreEvery year, retirement savers in their 70s are faced with either starting or delaying their required minimum distributions (RMDs): whether it be from an employer-sponsored retirement plan or an individual retirement arrangement (IRA). The required beginning date (RBD) determines how long an account owner can delay taking an RMD. As different RBDs may apply, the topic is notoriously confusing. But we are here to help.
Read MoreOn April 16, 2024, the IRS issued Notice 2024-35 to provide additional transition relief for certain specified RMDs for 2024.
Read MoreBeginning with account owner deaths in 2020 and later, the SECURE Act of 2019 made significant changes to the rules on how qualified plan beneficiaries distribute their inherited assets. One significant provision prevents most nonspouse beneficiaries from “stretching” out distributions and taxation over their life expectancy.
Read MoreIt's a brand-new year filled with fresh reporting deadlines, and perhaps a good time to take note on whether your financial organization is on track to meet these obligations—or to refresh your memory on when specific deadlines occur. First quarter is always a busy reporting season.
Read MoreJanuary is rapidly approaching and with it comes the deadline for fair market value (FMV) statements. One of the most challenging IRA reporting requirements is FMV statement reporting for the IRA owner’s year of death.
Read MoreEscheat, which is the transference of unclaimed property to a government entity, is primarily governed by state laws. So each state has its own laws that set procedures and timelines for reporting and reverting unclaimed or abandoned property to the state. Each financial organization should determine and set its own procedures to properly report and pay out unclaimed accounts.
Read MoreIf you’re uncertain about the RMD rules, you’re not alone. The rules can be complicated. And you may find that many beneficiaries don’t understand the rules either.
Read MoreBeneficiaries are allowed to disclaim inherited IRA assets. But beneficiaries cannot direct where the assets will go.
Read MoreThe IRS on July 14, 2023, issued Notice 2023-54 to provide transition relief for required minimum distributions (RMDs) in connection with the change in required beginning date (RBD) to age 73 under SECURE 2.0, and guidance for certain specified RMDs for 2023.
Read MoreThe IRS issued Notice 2023-23, guidance that addresses required minimum distribution (RMD) reporting by IRA trustees, custodians, and issuers.
Read MoreA conversion is a taxable, reportable movement of assets from either a Traditional IRA (including Traditional IRAs that hold SEP contributions) or a SIMPLE IRA (after a two-year period) to a Roth IRA.
Read More