Spousal successor beneficiary of an inherited IRA post SECURE Act

Submitted by Jeff Supple on Tue, 2020-02-04 15:29

Mother dies in 2017 and son inherits her IRA. Son has his wife listed as successor beneficiary of the inherited IRA. Son pass in January 2020. Is the wife subject to the 10-year rule?



Submitted by Alan - IRA critic on Tue, 2020-02-04 15:51

  • Yes. The Secure Act states that if a designated beneficiary for a pre 2020 death passes after 2019, the successor beneficiary is subject to the 10 year rule. The son must complete the 2020 beneficiary RMD of her husband if he did not complete it, but other than that she will not have annual beneficiary RMDs, just the 10 year rule deadline for draining the inherited IRA. 
  • However, had the son passed prior to 2020, the wording in the Secure Act stated above would not have applied, and the wife could have continued her son’s beneficiary RMD schedule instead of falling under the 10 year rule.

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