Comments due on proposed IRS changes to RMD tables

On November 8, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service published [84 FR 60812] proposed regulations providing guidance relating to the life expectancy and distribution period tables that are used to calculate required minimum distributions from qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and annuities, and certain other tax-favored employer-provided retirement arrangements. These regulations affect participants, beneficiaries, and plan administrators of these qualified retirement plans and other tax-favored employer-provided retirement arrangements, as well as owners, beneficiaries, trustees and custodians of individual retirement accounts and annuities. The Federal Register document also provides a notice of a public hearing on the proposed regulations.

The revised life expectancy tables in the proposal reflect longer life expectancies than the tables in the existing regulations, and would reduce required minimum distributions, allowing participants to retain larger amounts in their retirement plans to account for the possibility they may live longer.

Comments on the proposal will be accepted through January 7, 2020.