Beneficiaries of Inherited IRAs must be aware of the changes in rules that will take effect in 2025.

Beneficiaries of Inherited IRAs must be aware of the changes in rules that will take effect in 2025.
Beneficiaries of Inherited IRAs must be aware of the changes in rules that will take effect in 2025.
  • In 2025, heirs with inherited individual retirement accounts will be required to make yearly withdrawals or face penalties.
  • If the original account owner had passed away before their required minimum distribution age, then most non-spousal beneficiaries would be subject to the rule.
  • Experts suggest that some heirs may need to withdraw funds earlier, depending on their individual circumstances, even if annual withdrawals are not necessary.

In 2025, heirs with inherited individual retirement accounts will be required to make yearly withdrawals or face penalties.

Financial experts suggest that some non-spousal beneficiaries may want to consider taking distributions sooner, even if annual withdrawals aren't required, depending on their individual circumstances.

Vanguard's global head of advice methodology, Joel Dickson, stated that the topic is multi-year tax planning to optimize the advantages of an inherited IRA.

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In 2025, there will be a change in inherited IRA rules, and heirs can develop a tax planning strategy.

What to know about the 10-year rule

Under the Secure Act of 2019, heirs can no longer "stretch" inherited IRA withdrawals over their lifetime, which increases yearly taxes.

Accounts inherited since 2020 are subject to the "10-year rule," meaning that IRAs must be emptied by the 10th year following the original account owner's death, unless the heir is a spouse, minor child, disabled, chronically ill, or certain trusts.

After that, there has been uncertainty regarding whether heirs subject to the 10-year rule must withdraw funds annually, referred to as required minimum distributions (RMDs).

Dickson stated that it's crucial to comprehend the effects of these rules on your distribution strategy for the multi-dimensional matrix of outcomes from inherited IRAs.

If the original account owner had reached their RMD age before death, certain heirs will need to begin yearly RMDs from inherited accounts starting in 2025, after years of waived penalties.

If you fail to withdraw the required minimum distribution (RMD) annually or take less than the required amount, you will face a 25% penalty on the amount you should have withdrawn. However, you can reduce the penalty to 10% if you timely correct the RMD within two years, as per the IRS.

Consider 'strategic distributions'

Research from Vanguard in June shows that spreading withdrawals evenly over 10 years can reduce taxes for most heirs if they are subject to the 10-year rule for their inherited IRA.

According to certified financial planner Judson Meinhart, director of financial planning at Modera Wealth Management in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, strategic distributions are crucial for achieving financial goals.

Understanding your current marginal tax rate and how it may change over a 10-year period is crucial, he emphasized.

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It may be advantageous to make withdrawals during periods of lower taxation, such as during unemployment or early retirement before receiving Social Security benefits.

Boosting adjusted gross income can have other consequences, including eligibility for college financial aid, income-driven student loan payments, and Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for retirees.

by Kate Dore, CFP®

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