by Bill Griffith Bill Griffith No Comments

Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) After Death

What is the required minimum distribution (RMD) that must be taken if an IRA owner dies on or after the required beginning date?

For the purposes of this article, we will be discussing traditional IRAs.  More specifically, we will be discussing the required minimum distribution (RMD) that must be taken for the year that an IRA owner dies.

If your loved one passed away in 2019, you will need to know what the options are when inheriting an IRA.

Required Beginning Date

First, what is the required beginning date?  Any discussion about retirement topics or IRAs typically includes a reference to the required beginning date. 

The required beginning date is simply the deadline for taking the first required minimum distribution (RMD).  The deadline is April 1 of the year following the year that you become age 70 ½.

For example, an IRA owner who turned 70 in February 2017 was 70 ½ in 2017.  The required beginning date will be April 1, 2018.  An IRA owner who turned 70 in November 2017 did not reach 70 ½ until 2018.  The required beginning date was April 1, 2019.

If IRA Owner Dies on or After the Required Beginning Date

An IRA owner who dies after the required beginning date should have been taking RMDs.  If not, he or she would have been subject to a 50% penalty tax on the amount not withdrawn.

A required minimum distribution must also be taken for the year of death just as if the IRA owner was still living.  The questions are, how is the RMD calculated and who must take it?

Calculating the RMD

The RMD for the year of death is calculated the same as if the IRA owner was still living.  In most cases, the Uniform Lifetime Table is used unless the beneficiary is a spouse and more than 10 years younger than the IRA owner.

For example, the RMD for a person who dies in 2019 at the age of 72 would be calculated by using a distribution period of 25.6.   

Who Takes the Required Minimum Distribution?

It is very important to know who must take the RMD for the year of death.  This depends on whether the IRA owner already took the RMD in the year of his or her death.  If the IRA owner did not take the RMD in the year of death, then the beneficiary must take it. 

For example, if your spouse died in 2019 before taking the RMD, then you will take the RMD if you are the named beneficiary.

If you are the named beneficiary of your parent’s IRA, then you must take the RMD for the year of death.

IRA Rules Can Be Confusing

There are many rules regarding IRAs. Sometimes, the rules and deadlines can be confusing. 

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the rule regarding the required minimum distribution (RMD) that must be taken if an IRA owner dies on or after the required beginning date.

As always, do not sign any beneficiary claim forms until you fully understand the company’s contractual and/or IRS tax ramifications.  A mistake could trigger a huge tax penalty. And make sure that you contact your advisor (estate attorney, CPA, CFP®) for professional advice.

excess ira contribution
by Bill Griffith Bill Griffith No Comments

Correcting an Excess IRA Contribution

The deadline for correcting an excess IRA contribution for the 2018 tax year is coming up. If the excess amount is not removed according to a special formula, a penalty tax of 6% will accrue on excess amounts that remain in the owner’s IRA.  

An excess IRA contribution occurs when an IRA owner contributes more than the statutory limit to their IRA in a given year.  For the year 2018, the IRA contribution limit was the lesser of $5,500 or 100% of earned income.  An additional catch up contribution of $1,000 is available for individual’s age 50 or older.

An excess contribution can occur when an IRA owner simply contributes too much to their IRA in one tax year, such as by contributing more than the lesser of $5,500 or 100% of earned income. 

For example:  Say that in 2018, Mr. Smith, age 62 and single with earned income of $5,000 and rental income of $34,500, contributed $6,500 to his traditional IRA.  Mr. Smith has made an excess contribution of $1,500 to his IRA ($6,500 minus the $5,000 limit). The contribution limit is the lesser of $6,500 or 100% of earned income.  In this case, the rental income of $34,500 is not earned income.

Correcting an Excess IRA Contribution After Due Date

Individuals who contribute too much to their IRA have until their tax-filing deadline, including extensions, to correct any excess contribution.  Individuals who file their tax returns by April 15th and file for an extension have six months to remove the excess amount, which for calendar year taxpayers is October 15, 2019. 

If the excess amount is not removed according to a special formula, which determines the amount of the excess contribution plus interest or other income earned on the excess contribution, a penalty tax of 6% will accrue on excess amounts that remain in the owner’s IRA.