IRA & QRP Retirement Account Distribution Rules —
With the year-end approaching, an important deadline for retirement account owners is also coming: Required Minimum Distributions. This article will deal with some of the distribution rules surrounding IRAs and Qualified Retirement Plans such as 401Ks. A significant caveat applies here: retirement account distribution rules can be very complex and people have literally written books on the topic. Also, this article doesn’t address Roth IRAs which are very different.
Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) and Qualified Retirement Plans (“QRP”) like pensions, 401k and 403b plans, have similar distribution requirements. Because you generally receive a tax deduction for the money you put into these accounts, the distributions are usually taxable when you pull money out.
The Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
Generally, you must begin taking distributions in the year that you turn 70.5, and your first distribution must be taken out of the account by April 15th of the following year. Every subsequent distribution must be taken by December 31st. So, if you turned 70.5 in 2014 and you wanted to wait until April 2015 to take your first Required Minimum Distribution (“RMD”), you would also have to take your second distribution by December 31 of next year, creating two taxable distributions in the same year. We generally advise against this but it really depends on your circumstances.
The most important point is: Don’t forget to take your RMD! If the RMD is not taken by the deadline, the IRS can hit you with a penalty of 50% of the amount you should have taken plus the taxes due on the distribution. OUCH!
FAQS
We’re happy to answer any questions you have about our firm and our processes. Here are answers to some of the questions we receive most frequently.
The RMD amount changes each year and is based on the account value as of 12/31 of the prior year. So, to calculate your 2014 RMD, start with the account value on your 12/31/2013 statement. That value is divided by a factor which can be found in the life expectancy tables published by the IRS in Publication 590. The calculation essentially forces you to withdraw a slightly larger portion of your account value each year. For most people, the first RMD will be about 3.7% of your account value. By the time you reach age 100, your RMD will be about 16% of your account value. Note that for married couples with a spouse more than 10 years younger, the calculation is similar but different tables must be used.
The instructions in Publication 590 explain these retirement account distribution rules in greater detail. Brokerage firms are also required to notify you as to what they think the RMD should be. Finally, if you have multiple IRAs, you can aggregate your RMDs and withdraw the entire amount from a single account.
IRAs that you inherit from someone other than a spouse also have RMDs, but they are calculated very differently. You should either review the IRS retirement account distribution rules or work with your financial team to ensure you get this one correct.
GUIDES
The Essential Guide to Retirement Planning
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QRPs are a little different in that if you are an employee, you may not be required to take an RMD until you retire. However, if you are retired during any portion of a calendar year and you are 70.5 or older, you must take a full year’s RMD for that year! Someone who is more than a 5% owner of a company usually IS required to take the RMD, even if he or she is still working in the business.
The mechanics of actually taking the distribution are fairly straight-forward. You can do it in one lump sum or spread it out over periodic payments; whatever will work best for your circumstances. You can also withhold taxes from the RMD payments in order to avoid having to make estimated tax payments. Your financial advisor, brokerage or mutual fund company can generally help you with this process.
That’s enough IRS rules for one month. Again, retirement account distribution rules can be very complex, and the rules for Roth IRAs are different than discussed here. Please contact the team of CFP® professionals at Blankinship & Foster to review your specific situation and assist you with your RMDs.
