Are RMDs required for a younger spouse

Submitted by Kevin Vasilik on Fri, 2017-12-29 15:12

Hello, Here is a scenario we recently encountered:
Husband, age 80 passed away in 2016, but prior to this RMDs were automatically distributed.
Wife, age 65 is alive.

The question is: if the IRA is transferred into a spousal IRA, registered in the wife’s name, will an RMD be required year over year?
If the account stayed in the husband’s IRA registration, would a distribution be required for 2017?
If in an Inherited IRA, I am assuming an RMD would be required?

Thanks!



Submitted by Alan - IRA critic on Fri, 2017-12-29 20:20

  • If the surviving spouse assumes ownership of the IRA or rolls it over to her own IRA, she will not be subject to RMDs until the year she reaches 70.5. If she titles it as beneficiary, her first beneficiary RMD is due by 12/31/2017 but if she does not distribute it she will be deemed to have assumed ownership of the IRA and the 2017 RMD requirement would be erased. This assumes she is the sole beneficiary of the IRA.
  • The 2016 year of death RMD calculated using Table II due to sole beneficiary spouse being more than 10 years younger is still correct despite the owner’s death in 2016.

Submitted by Kevin Vasilik on Fri, 2017-12-29 20:33

THANK YOU as always!

Add new comment

Log in or register to post comments