Skip to main content
You spent decades saving for retirement. A long time ago, you understood and took to heart the advice about the importance of your retirement savings. You’ve just turned 70, and you’re proud of your financial achievements.
You worked hard; you sacrificed, and now you’re retired and doing well enough so that you don’t have to take money from your retirement savings. After all, you’re still healthy and strong, and you’d prefer to let your retirement investments grow even more. And, besides, you don’t really need it right now.
The truth is, federal rules require you to begin making regular withdrawals from certain retirement savings accounts once you reach 70½. It’s called the Required Minimum Distribution, and it’s the minimum you have to withdraw per year. In other words, you don’t have a choice.
The RMD rule applies to certain plans.[1]
Once you reach 70½, you have to start making withdrawals from IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SEP IRAs, and other retirement accounts. Roth IRAs are exempt from the requirement until the account owner dies.
Here are two important provisions:
  • You may withdraw more than the minimum required amount.
  • Withdrawals are considered taxable income; exceptions include money that was previously taxed or is considered tax free, such as distributions from certain Roth accounts.
Calculating the RMD.
 
You calculate the RMD for a year by dividing the account balance at the end of the preceding calendar year by the number from an IRS distribution table (“Uniform Lifetime Table”). For more information, go to https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/required-minimum-distribution-worksheets.
The link directs you to select between two options:
  • A worksheet to calculate your withdrawal if your spouse is more than 10 years younger than you.
  • A worksheet for everyone else.
Date to receive RMD. 
 
The date to receive your first distribution varies depending on the type of retirement account.
For IRAs (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs), it’s April 1 of the year following the year when you reached 70½. So, if you reach 70½ in 2019, you have until April 1, 2020.
For 401(k), profit-sharing, 403(b), and other defined contribution plans, it’s the same as mentioned above or when you retire, whichever is later.
Dates to receive successive RMDs.
You must make account withdrawals every year by December 31. The calendar year after you reach 70½ you’ll have to make two withdrawals, on April 1 and another by December 31. To avoid having to pay taxes on both those payments, you may take the first withdrawal in the year you reach 70½ before December 31. That way the income falls into two separate tax years.
Penalties for waiting to take withdrawals.
If you don’t take withdrawals or don’t take adequate amounts, you may face 50% excise taxes on the amounts that are not distributed.
The government may require you to report the excise tax by filing “Form 5329.” “Form 5329 instructions” provides additional information about the excise tax.
If you would like to discuss your retirement distribution options or other financial strategies, Scarlet Oak Financial Services can be reached at 800.871.1219 or contact us here.  Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter with the latest economic news.
These are the views of Platinum Advisor Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.
By clicking on these links, you will leave our server, as they are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site.

 

[1] www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-required-minimum-distributions-rmds