Mechanics of Inheriting a Younger Spouse’s IRA

Situation: I am 70 1/2, have started taking my own IRA RMDs, and am sole beneficiary of my spouse’s IRA. My spouse is 62 and has ~$50.000 in her IRA. My spouse pre-deceases me.
My understanding: If I understand correctly, as sole surviving spouse: a) I do not have to take RMDs from her IRAs until she would have attained age 70 1/2, and then b) by rolling her IRA over into my name prior to her 70 1/2 year, will be able to take owner RMDs at Table III rates and name my own successor beneficiaries.

Question: How do I effect defer taking RMDs above? Do I

a) Retitle her IRA as an inherited IRA FBO me just as if I were a non-spouse beneficiary (I believe 26 U.S.C. Sec 408(d)(3) states that a spousal inherited IRA is not considered an inherited IRA), then roll them over prior to what would have been her 70 1/2 year, or

b) Immediately roll over the IRA into a new one under my name but not take RMDs until my spouse would have attained age 70 1/2, or

c) Do nothing — Just leave the IRA in her name until rolling them over to me prior to what would have been her 70 1/2 year?

d) Do something else I have not considered?

I can foresee all sorts of issues with IRA custodians regardless of whichever is recommended.



  • Your situation description is correct but you should still name your successor beneficiaries on the inherited IRA ASAP. If you were to pass prior to 70.5, they would be treated as designated beneficiaries for RMDs, not as successor beneficiaries. You could wait until December of the year she would have reached 70.5 before doing the rollover and could use the Uniform Table and your age for the RMD on this balance for that year. In other words, you would never have to take an inherited IRA calculated RMD. Just be sure not to miss that rollover deadline.
  • You would do a). 408(d)(3) just means that the spousal inherited IRA is not considered inherited for rollover purposes and therefore you can roll it over (60 day rollover if you want)  anytime you wish.
  • Of course, anytime you want to opt for simplicity you can roll it over before the 8 years is over. That would mean your total RMDs would be higher until you reached 70.5, but then lower because the balance would be somewhat less.

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