Inherited Roth IRA RMD Rules – Conflicting answers on today’s webinar

On today’s webinar for the Secure 2.0 RMD Rules, two questions were asked regarding Inherited Roth IRA’s and the RMD rules. In the first answer below, it says ALL ROTH IRA OWNERS are deemed to have died BEFORE the required beginning date. And Ed even said that no RMD’s are required from Inherited Roth’s and it just needs to be emptied by year 10. But the next time the question came up the answer was, Annual RMDs apply if original owner died on or after RMD required beginning date. Both questions were asking about the Inherited Roth IRAs, but it’s two different answers. Can someone please clarify which one is correct? I have copied and pasted the questions and answers directly from the webinar below.

Are RMDs on inherited Roth IRAs under the 10-year rule required in year 1-9? Theoretically, there was no RBD for the original account owner.
If RMDs were not “turned on” – meaning the owner did not reach the required beginning date – then no RMDs in years 1- 9 of the 10-year rule. ALL ROTH IRA OWNERS are deemed to have died BEFORE the required beginning date.

ON AN INHERITED ROTH IRA ARE THERE RMD RULES OR JUST WITHDRAW ALL WITHIN 10 YEARS?
Annual RMDs apply if original owner died on or after RMD required beginning date.



The response to the second question is confusing since a Roth owner never passes after the RBD since there are no RBDs. Passing after the RBD is possible for non Roth IRA owners, but not Roth owners. In addition, some Roth IRA beneficiaries will be EDBs, not subject to the 10 year rule, and those beneficiaries are subject to annual beneficiary RMDs starting the year after death.

So if a Roth IRA beneficiary is an EDB, they have to take a RMD every year from their Inherited Roth IRA, but the account does not have to be emptied by the 10th year.  If a Roth IRA beneficiary is NOT and EDB, then they do not have to take a RMD from their Inherited Roth IRA, but the account does have to be emptied by the 10th year.  Is that correct?

Yes, that’s correct. Of course, spousal beneficiaries are EDBs but can also assume ownership and eliminate any type of RMD.

That helps so much!!!  Thank you!!

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