April 1 Deadline for Many Retirees to Start RMDs

The IRS has reissued a reminder that April 1, 2023, is the last day for many retirees to start RMDs, required minimum distributions from a traditional IRA, SEP, SARSEP, or SIMPLE IRA.

Following up on its December 12, 2022, announcement, the IRS has issued a second reminder expressly for retirees who turned age 72 in 2022. Individuals born in 1950 or earlier are generally required to make Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs, by withdrawing at least the lowest established amount from their traditional IRA, or SEP, SARSEP, or SIMPLE IRA*.  

While the RMD deadline is typically December 31 of each calendar year, account holders who celebrated their 72^nd birthday in 2022 must make their first RMD by April 1, 2023.

Per IR-2022-217, “Account owners can delay taking their first RMD until April 1 following the later of the calendar year they reach age 72 or, in a workplace retirement plan, retire. RMDs are taxable income and may be subject to penalties if not timely taken.

“IRAs: The RMD rules require traditional IRA, and SEP, SARSEP, and SIMPLE IRA account holders to begin taking distributions at age 72, even if they’re still working. Account holders reaching age 72 in 2022 must take their first RMD by April 1, 2023, and the second RMD by December 31, 2023, and each year thereafter.

“Retirement Plans: In 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans; profit-sharing and other defined contribution plans; and defined benefit plans, the first RMD is due by April 1 of the later of the year they reach age 72, or the participant is no longer employed (if allowed by the plan). A 5% owner of the employer must begin taking RMDs at age 72.”

You can learn more about the guidelines for required withdrawals at IRS reminds those over age 72 to start withdrawals from IRAs and retirement plans to avoid penalties, and in the March 9, 2023, update included in entirety below.

NOTE: Employers and executives looking for retirement and other savings strategies not subject to RMDs should discuss the opportunities available through nonqualified deferred compensation plans and other executive benefits options.

IR-2023-43 IRS reminder to many retirees: April 1 is last day to start taking money out of IRAs and 401(k)s

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded retirees who turned 72 during 2022 that, in most cases, Sunday, April 1, 2023, is the last day to begin receiving payments from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), 401(k)s and similar workplace retirement plans.

The payments, called required minimum distributions (RMDs), are normally made by the end of the year. But anyone who reached age 72 during 2022 is covered by a special rule that allows IRA account owners and participants in workplace retirement plans to wait until as late as April 1, 2023, to take their first RMD. In other words, in general, the special April 1 rule applies to IRA owners and other participants in these plans who were born after Dec. 31,1949.

Two payments in the same year

The April 1 RMD deadline only applies to the required distribution for the first year. For all later years, the RMD must be made by Dec. 31.

This means that taxpayers who receive their first required distribution (for 2022) in 2023, on or before April 1, must receive their second RMD (for 2023) by Dec. 31, 2023. Even though the first distribution is actually the required 2022 distribution, it’s taxable in 2023 and reported on the 2023 tax return – along with the regular 2023 distribution.

Types of retirement plans requiring RMDs

These required distribution rules apply to owners of traditional, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs while the original owner is alive. They also apply to participants in various workplace retirement plans, including 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. RMDs don’t apply to Roth IRAs.

An IRA trustee must either report the amount of the RMD to the IRA owner or offer to calculate it. Often, the trustee shows the RMD amount on Form 5498 in Box 12b. For a 2022 RMD, required by April 1, 2023, the RMD amount is shown on the 2021 Form 5498, normally issued to the owner during the first part of 2022.

Some can delay RMDs

Though the April 1 deadline is mandatory for all owners of traditional IRAs and most participants in workplace retirement plans, some people with workplace plans can wait longer to receive their RMD.

Most participants who are still working for that employer can wait until April 1 of the year after they retire to start receiving these distributions, if their workplace plan allows. This RMD exception does not apply to 5% owners of the business sponsoring the retirement plan or to participants in SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans. See Tax on Excess Accumulation in Publication 575 for details.

Employees of public schools and certain tax-exempt organizations with 403(b) plan accruals before 1987 should check with their employer, plan administrator or provider to see how to treat these accruals.

IRS online tools and publications can help

Many answers to questions about RMDs can be found at RMD FAQs on IRS.gov. Most taxpayers use Table III (Uniform Lifetime) to figure their RMD. Married taxpayers whose spouse is more than 10 years younger and is their only beneficiary use Table II.

For a 2022 RMD (due April 1, 2023), use the life expectancy tables in Appendix B of the Publication 590-B. As shown in Table III, the RMD for a person age 72 in 2022 will normally be based on a distribution period of 27.4 years. Divide the Dec. 31, 2021, balance by 27.4 to get the RMD for 2022. Pub. 590-B has worksheets, examples and other information that can help anyone figure their RMD.

New age 73 rule starts in 2023

For those planning ahead, starting in 2023 retirees can wait until age 73 to begin receiving RMDs. Visit IRS.gov for more information on this and other changes affecting retirees and retirement-plan participants.

* IRA (Individual Retirement Account)  SEP (Simplified Employee Pension), SARSEP, or SIMPLE IRA*.