The CARES Act Says Retirees Don’t Have to Take RMDs This Year – But What If You Already Did? You Could Get a Do-Over
We’ve been getting a lot of questions here at AgingOptions about the CARES Act and how it affects retirees. “CARES” stands for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, and this new law’s impact is far-reaching and, in many cases, still being assessed. One of the well-publicized benefits of the new law for retirees is the stipulation that they do not need to take their required minimum distribution (RMD) from their retirement accounts in 2020. Instead they can leave those dollars on deposit to (hopefully) recover from some recent losses.
The RMD Do-Over Let’s You Put That Withdrawal Back Where It Came From
But between January 1st and March 27th, the date the CARES Act was signed into law, many retirees, unaware that a rules change was in the offing, may have already taken their RMD for this year. If you were one of them, this article from the Money website has some potential good news: you just might be able to claim a do-over.
Here’s how Money’s Carla Fried explained it. “The coronavirus stimulus bill that became law in late March suspended the RMD requirement for this year. But what if you already took your required minimum distribution for 2020, and now you wish you hadn’t? You may be able to put the money back into your retirement account.”
The RMD Do-Over Means Uncle Sam Has to Wait a Bit Longer for His Share
The RMD law is, according to the article, “Uncle Sam’s way of finally getting his hands on some of the money that’s grown tax-deferred for decades in your traditional 401(k) or IRA.” The rule, which affects everyone 72 and older, requires account holders to withdraw a minimum amount from their account each year and pay income taxes on it, whether they need the money to live on or not. But IRS rules also allow what’s called a roll-over, where the entire withdrawal is re-deposited in a qualifying account within 60 days, generally with no tax consequences.
“In the case of an RMD,” says Money, “you could do the rollover back into the account you withdrew it from, or move the money into another retirement account.” This may be the simplest and best idea for those who want to undo an early withdrawal. “If you don’t need that money to pay your bills, you might as well put it back,” reporter Carla Fried advises. “Extra income could push you into a higher tax bracket for the year and a higher income bracket for Medicare premiums down the line.”
The RMD Do-Over: Some of the New Rules Are Still Under Consideration
Under the CARES Act, Money explains, if you’re already past the 60-day window, you’ll still have some options “that allow early-bird RMD takers to reverse their decision.” However, some of those options haven’t yet been made clear. “The expectation is that the Internal Revenue Service will soon release guidelines that may make it possible for anyone to return an RMD taken out in January or February, regardless of whether they’ve been affected by the coronavirus or not,” the article explains.
Financial experts echo this wait-and-see approach. “Caution and patience are the name of the game,” CPA Hayden Adams from the Schwab Center for Financial Research told Money. “The IRS is definitely going to be coming out with guidance,” possibly within weeks as the agency works through the particulars of the CARES Act. “Until there is 100 percent clarity,” the article says, “it’s ‘best to hold off’ on any moves right now.”
Some Important Rules About the RMD Do-Over
Even though some of the rules have yet to be released, there are some that are expected to remain in force. Here are a few things Money magazine wants early-bird RMD-takers to know:
- Directly Impacted by COVID-19: According to Money, “The 60-day limit on a rollover doesn’t apply if you have been directly impacted by the coronavirus.” You can put the money back into the same account it came from if you, your spouse, or your dependent have been diagnosed with COVID-19. You’re also exempt from the 60-day rule if you or a spouse have experienced “adverse financial consequences” from quarantine, furlough, or lay-off.
- One Do-Over Per Year: Under most circumstances, you can only “undo” one IRA transaction per 365-day period. That means one withdrawal, not one account. There are some detailed provisions you need to know about, so make sure you get good advice from a qualified planner.
- The Entire Distribution: “If you already took a 2020 distribution, you likely had some taxes withheld,” says Money. “If you intend to return the money to a retirement account, you need to repay the entire amount, not just what landed in your pocket. For example, if you took a $20,000 RMD and had 10 percent withheld for federal taxes, the net that landed in your account was $18,000. But to repay you must rollover (recontribute) the entire $20,000 into a retirement account.”
As stated above, there will be more to this story, so it’s best to sit tight. The CARES Act gives the government wide latitude in allowing retirees to reverse an RMD distribution, regardless of when it was taken in 2020. “Translation: Stay tuned,” says Money. The best short-term strategy will be “a virtual huddle with your tax advisor to start working through under what conditions you may be able to roll an early RMD back into a retirement account.”
