At what age are required minimum distributions required

Turning 72 in 2022? Happy Birthday! Time to take your first required minimum distribution (RMD) from your retirement accounts. We have the details here.

If you’re turning 72 in 2022, you’ll want to be aware of your RMD requirements. Due to changes under the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, if your 70th birthday is July 1, 2019 or later, you do not have to take withdrawals until you turn 72. Let’s dive into your requirements.

What is an RMD?

Your required minimum distribution is the minimum amount you must withdraw from your account each year. This applies to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), SIMPLE IRAs, and SEP IRAs,. Roth IRAs do not require withdrawals until after the death of the account owner.

Some things of note:

• You can withdraw more than the minimum required amount.
• Your withdrawals will be included in your taxable income except for any part that was taxed before (your basis) or that can be received tax-free (such as qualified distributions from designated Roth accounts).

More about the 72 age requirement

The SECURE Act changed the age requirement from 70 ½ to 72, meaning anyone whose birthday falls on or after July 1, 2019 has until age 72 to take his/her first RMD.

If this applies to you, you have as late as April 1 of the year following the year you turn 72 to take your first RMD. For each year thereafter, the RMD must be made annually by December 31st. If you delay your first RMD until the following year [and prior to April 1], you will need to take two RMDs in that year.

For example, you turn 72 in June of 2022. You may delay your first RMD to March 31, 2023, however, you will need to take a second RMD by 12/31/2023.

How do you calculate your RMD?

Annually the required minimum distribution is calculated by dividing the IRA balance as of December 31st of the preceding calendar year by the applicable life expectancy factor from the IRS tables. A separate table is used if the sole beneficiary is the owner’s spouse who is ten or more years younger than the account owner. You can find the tables here- https://www.irs.gov/retirement...

How do I report this?

IRA trustees are required to report the required distribution amount to IRA owners, or to calculate it for the owners on request, by January 31st of the year the distribution is required. However, as the required minimum distribution can be withdrawn from whichever IRA you choose, you are responsible for ensuring the proper amount is timely received. You could be hit with a 50% penalty tax if you don't withdraw the required minimum amounts each year. It is your responsibility to take the RMD, not the Trustees’. If you have multiple retirement accounts, you need to add them all up to calculate the proper RMD. However, you can select which account(s) you wish to take the money from as long as the total distributions equal or exceed the RMD.

Any other requirements?

Annual distributions are also required to be made from your employer's qualified plan. These include 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) and profit-sharing plans. Generally, the plan administrator is responsible for calculating and timely paying the RMD amount from qualified retirement plans. If you are still working for the employer and do not own more than 5% of the company stock, you can delay your RMD until retirement.

Happy Birthday! Don’t forget to take your RMD as you will face substantial penalties for noncompliance. Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us.