The IRS's Significant Changes to Inherited IRAs

The Secure Act of 2019 significantly changed the rules regarding inherited IRA distributions. The “stretch” rules were removed for many beneficiaries, but the requirement to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) every single year remained unclear. 

Upon further discussion and interpretation of the rule changes, Congress passed the Secure Act 2.0 in the fall of 2022, which provided more clarity to those affected. As advisers understand these changes and their impacts on beneficiary accounts, we have uncovered more information that is valuable to share with our clients.

Beneficiaries applicable under old “stretch” rules

First, let’s look at which beneficiaries are still applicable under the old “stretch” rules. To be considered an eligible designated beneficiary and take advantage of the more favorable distribution rules, the beneficiary must be one of the following:

• The surviving spouse of the decedent
• A minor (10-year rule begins at the age of majority)
• Disabled
• Chronically ill
• Not more than 10 years younger than the decedent

Beneficiary requirements under The Secure Act 2.0

For beneficiaries of IRAs who do not meet one of the above exceptions, The Secure Act 2.0 began enforcing annual RMDs depending on the RMD status of the original account owner at their date of death.

• If the original account owner died before their RMD age, while the 10-year rule still applies, the new account owner is not required to take annual RMDs each year within the 10 year window.
• If the original account owner died post-RMD age, Secure Act 2.0 now requires the beneficiary to take annual RMDs for 10 years following the death of the decedent until the account is fully liquidated. 

When signed in the fall of 2022, this new legislation was retroactively enforced as of the beginning of 2020. However, the IRS will not impose a penalty on any RMDs that were not taken during 2021, 2022, or 2023 and will not force beneficiaries to take distributions for the aforementioned years. 

It is important to note that even without a distribution in 2021, 2022, and 2023, you are still required to liquidate the entire balance by the end of the tenth year of the decedent’s death. Missing future RMDs can result in penalties of up to 25% of the missed distribution, so ensuring that the distributions are taken is extremely important.

As the IRS continues to interpret the Secure Act and Secure Act 2.0, please consult with your Sanderson Wealth Management adviser and tax accountant to help better understand and plan for the continuously changing financial landscape. 

• In the fall of 2022, Congress passed The Secure Act 2.0 to provide more clarity to those affected by the changes instilled by The Secure Act of 2019.
• For beneficiaries of IRAs who are not still eligible under the old "stretch" rules, The Secure Act 2.0 began enforcing annual RMDs depending on the RMD status of the original account owner at their date of death.
• The new legislation was retroactively enforced as of 2020, yet will not force beneficiaries to take distributions for 2021, 2022, or 2023. Without a distribution in those years, the beneficiary is still required to liquidate the entire balance by the end of the tenth year of the decedent's death.