ONCE-PER-YEAR ROLLOVER RULE AND ROTH CONVERSIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
Ian Berger, JD
IRA Analyst
Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport
Question:
Mr. Slott,
Would a person who took a Coronavirus-Related Distribution from his IRA in 2020, with intent to repay within 3 years, be disqualified from taking a distribution and making a 60-day rollover in 2021 if it is within 12 months of the CRD
Thank you,
Betty
Answer:
Hi Betty,
The repayment of a CRD is considered a trustee-totrustee transfer between IRAs. As such, the once-per-year rollover rule does not apply. Therefore, there would be no reason why a 60-day IRA rollover could not be done within 12 months of the CRD.
Question:
Hello Sir/Madam,
We had a question on Roth conversions in our office that is stirring up quite a debate, and we are hoping that you could add your expert opinion,
Bob Smith, Age 65 (in 2021), US Resident, US Citizen & US Tax Filer
- Bob has a Traditional IRA worth $100K (with no cost basis).
- In January of 2019, he opens up a new Roth IRA and converts the entire $100K amount into this new Roth via a Roth conversion in Jan 2019.
- Bob pays the tax due in 2019 for this Roth conversion on his federal tax return.
- In January of 2021, Bob takes a withdrawal of $10,000 from this Roth conversion account. Let’s assume that Bob invested the funds in the money market and this Roth is still worth the original $100K at the time of the withdrawal.
Question: Has Bob violated the 5-year holding period rule that would subject him to the penalty? Or, is he exempt because he is over age 59 ½?
Thank you in advance for your time and assistance with this.
All my best,
Steve
Answer:
Hi Steve,
Distributions of Roth conversions are never subject to the 10% early distribution penalty if the individual has attained age 59 ½. So, Bob’s distribution would be penalty-free If he were under 59 ½, the 5-year holding period would apply, and he would have to wait until 2024 to receive a penalty-free distribution.