slott report

Still Waiting for IRS Guidance on IRA Self-Correction Program

In the 2022 SECURE 2.0 legislation, Congress gave the IRS two years – until December 29, 2024 – to come up with rules allowing IRA owners to fix certain mistakes through self-correction. Alas, December 29, 2024 has now come and gone, and we’re still waiting for those rules.

Will Market Volatility Mean RMD Waivers for 2025?

Recent turmoil in the markets has hit many retirement savers hard as they see their IRA and 401(k) balances rapidly shrinking. For many, the age-old advice to stay the course for the long term and not cash out too soon applies, but for those who are age 73 or older, the rules requiring required minimum distributions (RMDs) present a hurdle.

Who Can Use a 10% Penalty Exception?

As a follow up to the March 26 Slott Report entry that included a full list of the 10% early withdrawal penalty exceptions (“10% Penalty Exceptions: IRAs and Plans”), here we get a little deeper into the weeds on some of the nuances of certain exceptions. As mentioned in the March 26 article, some exceptions apply to plans only, some to IRAs only, and some to both.

Make Your 2024 IRA Contribution by April 15

There is still time! You can still make a prior-year (2024) IRA or Roth IRA contribution up to the tax filing due date, April 15, 2025. For most people, there is no extension beyond that date, regardless of whether a tax return extension is filed.

Surprise! You May Still Be Eligible for the Stretch IRA

The arrival of the SECURE Act means the end of the stretch IRA for many beneficiaries. Instead, a 10-year payout rule applies for most IRAs inherited by non-spouse beneficiaries. However, the SECURE Act does allow the stretch to continue for certain select groups of beneficiaries. These beneficiaries are called “eligible designated beneficiaries” (EDBs).

IRA Trivia: Missed RMD or Excess Contribution?

Here is an all-too-common situation that seems counterintuitive: A participant in a 401(k) retires and must take his required minimum distribution (RMD). This person requests that his entire 401(k) plan balance be directly rolled over to an IRA. The plan follows the participant’s direction, and the entire amount is sent to the IRA.

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