Life and Death Planning for Retirement Benefits

FrontCoverWordTest1
LandDMAY2017-REV52
Changes Corresponding to 7th print edition (2011)4
Introduction27
Terminology Used in this Book28
Abbreviations and Symbols29
CHAPTER 1: THE MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION RULES31
1.1 Introduction to the RMD Rules31
1.1.01 Where to find the law31
1.1.02 Which plans are subject to the RMD rules32
1.1.03 RMD economics: The value of deferral32
1.1.04 WRERA suspended RMDs for 200933
1.1.05 RMDs under DB plans and “annuitized” DC plans34
1.1.06 Planning for change?35
1.2 RMD Fundamentals35
1.2.01 The 12 Fundamental Laws of RMDs35
1.2.02 Which distributions do or do not count towards the RMD37
1.2.03 Tables to determine Applicable Distribution Period (ADP)38
1.2.04 Meaning of “age”, “methods of computing “life expectancy”39
1.2.05 How to determine “account balance” for RMD purposes40
1.2.06 How rollovers impact calculation of RMD41
1.2.07 Adjustment for post-year-end recharacterizations43
1.2.08 Valuation rules for determining account balance43
1.3 RMDs During Participant’s Life45
1.3.01 Road Map: How to compute lifetime RMDs45
1.3.02 The Uniform Lifetime Table: Good news for retirees46
1.3.03 Lifetime RMDs: Much-younger-spouse method47
1.3.04 Taking distributions from multiple plans49
1.3.05 Separate accounts within a single plan50
1.4 The RBD and First Distribution Year50
1.4.01 Required Beginning Date (RBD); Distribution Year51
1.4.02 RBD for IRAs and Roth IRAs51
1.4.03 QRPs: RBD for 5-percent owner52
1.4.04 QRPs, cont.: RBD for non-5-percent owner52
1.4.05 RBD for 403(b) plans (including “grandfather rule”)53
1.4.06 What “retires” means; rollover in retirement year54
1.4.07 RBD versus first Distribution Year: The limbo period55
1.4.08 Grandfather rule: TEFRA 242(b) elections57
1.5 RMDs after the Participant’s Death58
1.5.01 Overview of the post-death RMD rules59
1.5.02 Road Map for determining post-death RMDs60
1.5.03 Road Map, cont.: RMDs in case of death BEFORE the RBD62
1.5.04 Road Map, cont.: RMDs in case of death AFTER the RBD64
1.5.05 RMDs based on life expectancy of Designated Beneficiary67
1.5.06 Death before the RBD: The 5-year rule69
1.5.07 Life expectancy or 5-year rule: Which applies?70
1.5.08 Computing RMDs based on participant’s life expectancy72
1.5.09 Aggregation of inherited accounts for RMD purposes74
1.5.10 Plan not required to offer stretch payout or lump sum76
1.5.11 Switching between 5-year rule and life expectancy method77
1.5.12 Who gets the benefits when the beneficiary dies?77
1.5.13 What is the ADP after the beneficiary’s death?79
1.6 Special Rules for the Surviving Spouse80
1.6.01 Overview of the special spousal rules80
1.6.02 Definition of “sole beneficiary”81
1.6.03 How to determine RMDs of the surviving spouse81
1.6.04 Required Commencement Date: Distributions to spouse85
1.6.05 If both spouses die before the participant reached 70 ½: The (B)(iv)(II) rule86
1.6.06 When is a trust for the spouse the same as the spouse?88
1.7 The Beneficiary and the “Designated Beneficiary”90
1.7.01 Significance of having a Designated Beneficiary90
1.7.02 Who is the participant’s beneficiary?90
1.7.03 Definition of Designated Beneficiary91
1.7.04 Estate cannot be a Designated Beneficiary93
1.7.05 Multiple beneficiary rules and how to escape them93
1.7.06 Multiple beneficiaries: Who must take the RMD?94
1.7.07 Simultaneous and close-in-time deaths95
1.8 Modifying RMD Results after the Participant’s Death96
1.8.01 The separate accounts rule96
1.8.02 How do you “establish” separate accounts?99
1.8.03 “Removing” beneficiaries by Beneficiary Finalization Date100
1.9 Enforcement of the RMD Rules102
1.9.01 Who enforces the minimum distribution rules?102
1.9.02 Failure to take an RMD: 50% excise tax, other effects103
1.9.03 IRS waiver of the 50 percent excise tax104
1.9.04 Statute of limitations on the 50 percent excise tax105
CHAPTER 2: INCOME TAX ISSUES107
2.1 Income Tax Treatment: General & Miscellaneous107
2.1.01 Plan distributions taxable as ordinary income107
2.1.02 3.8% additional tax on net investment income108
2.1.03 When does a “distribution” occur?109
2.1.04 Actual distributions and deemed distributions109
2.1.05 Whose income is it? Community property etc.110
2.1.06 List of no-tax and low-tax distributions111
2.1.07 Plan loans: Income tax treatment, RMDs, etc.112
2.1.08 Excess IRA contributions; corrective distributions114
2.1.09 Distributions made in error: Wrong amount, person, etc.118
2.2 If the Participant Has After-tax Money in the Plan or IRA119
2.2.01 Road Map: Tax-free distribution of participant’s “basis”119
2.2.02 General rule: The “cream-in-the-coffee rule” of § 72120
2.2.03 Participant’s basis in a QRP or 403(b) plan120
2.2.04 QRP distributions from account that contains after-tax money121
2.2.05 Partial and split rollovers, conversions: QRP distributions124
A. Introduction: Please read this first.124
B. Part direct rollover to Roth IRA, part direct rollover to traditional IRA.125
C. Part outright distribution, part direct rollover into any IRA(s).126
D. Distribution outright to participant followed by one or more 60-day rollover(s).126
E. Direct rollover into multiple traditional (or Roth) IRAs.128
F. How these options apply to QRP beneficiaries.129
G. Effective date and retroactivity of Notice 2014-54.129
2.2.06 Participant’s basis in a traditional IRA129
2.2.07 Beneficiary’s basis in an inherited IRA130
2.2.08 How much of a traditional IRA distribution is basis?131
2.2.09 Exceptions to the cream-in-the-coffee rule for IRAs135
2.2.10 Partial rollovers and conversions: IRA distributions135
2.3 Income Tax Withholding136
2.3.01 Withholding of federal income taxes: overview136
2.3.02 Periodic, nonperiodic, and eligible rollover payments137
2.3.03 Exceptions and special rules139
2.3.04 Mutually voluntary withholding139
2.3.05 How withheld income taxes are applied139
2.4 Lump Sum Distributions139
2.4.01 Introduction to lump sum distributions140
2.4.02 First hurdle: Type of plan140
2.4.03 Second hurdle: “Reason” for distribution140
2.4.04 Third hurdle: Distribution all in one taxable year142
2.4.05 Exceptions to the all-in-one-year rule144
2.4.06 Special averaging: Participant born before 1936144
2.5 Net Unrealized Appreciation of Employer Stock144
2.5.01 NUA: Tax deferral and long-term capital gain144
2.5.02 Reporting NUA distributions; finding plan’s basis145
2.5.03 Distributions after the employee’s death146
2.5.04 Basis of stock distributed in life, held until death146
2.5.05 Election to include NUA in income146
2.5.06 Should employee keep the LSD or roll it over?147
2.5.07 NUA and partial rollovers148
2.6 Rollovers and Plan-to-Plan Transfers150
2.6.01 Definitions: rollovers, trustee-to-trustee transfers, etc.150
2.6.02 Distributions that can (or can’t) be rolled over152
2.6.03 Rollovers in an RMD year: RMD cannot be rolled over!153
2.6.04 Must roll over (only) same property received155
2.6.05 Limit of one IRA-to-IRA rollover in 12 months155
2.6.06 Earliest date a rollover can be made158
2.6.07 Avoid some rollover requirements with IRA-to-IRA transfer158
2.7 The 60-day Rollover Deadline159
2.7.01 Computation of the 60 days159
2.7.02 Does the deadline apply to direct rollovers?160
2.7.03 How does the deadline apply to lost checks?160
2.7.04 Non-hardship exceptions to the 60-day deadline161
2.7.05 Hardship waivers of 60-day rollover deadline: General162
2.7.06 Hardship waiver method #1: Self-certification163
2.7.07 Hardship waiver method #2: Apply to the IRS165
A. Waiver granted for error by financial institution. This is by far the most common reason for obtaining a deadline waiver. The IRS always grants the waiver when the participant missed the deadline due to a processing error by a financial institution...166
B. Waiver granted: Distribution was not requested (or not understood) by taxpayer. In many successful hardship waiver requests to the IRS, the original distribution was “involuntary,” in that the participant hadn’t requested it and often did not even ...166
C. Waiver granted: Health problems, trauma. Many successful waiver requests have involved participants who were hampered physically or psychologically from carrying out the rollover by significant mental or physical health problems (of themselves or f...167
D. Waiver denied: “Short term loan” (Participant spent funds, etc.) The IRS normally refuses a waiver when the taxpayer deliberately took the distribution with the intent to spend it or invest it elsewhere (e.g., to qualify for Medicaid, PLR 2005-470...167
E. Lack of tax information/understanding. Many times individuals have sought a hardship waiver of the 60-day rollover deadline on the grounds that they did not understand the tax rules, no one told them it was taxable, etc. Especially in more recent ...168
F. Erroneous tax advice received. Sometimes erroneous tax advice is grounds for granting a hardship waiver of the 60-day deadline...and sometimes it isn’t.168
G. Waiver denied: Taxpayer’s own mistake. The most insidious trend in IRS waivers is that they will not grant the waiver if the taxpayer himself made a mistake that caused the rollover deadline to be missed (and the taxpayer was not incapacitated).169
H. Evolving and inconsistent IRS standards. The IRS has grown more restrictive over the years when it comes to granting hardship waivers.169
CHAPTER 3: MARITAL MATTERS171
3.1 Considerations for Married Participants171
3.1.01 Road Map: Advising the Married Participant171
3.1.02 Road Map: Advising the Surviving Spouse172
3.1.03 Simultaneous death clauses173
3.2 Spousal Rollover; Election to Treat Decedent’s IRA as Spouse’s IRA174
3.2.01 Advantages and drawbacks of spousal rollover174
3.2.02 Spousal rollover: QRPs and 403(b) plans175
3.2.03 Rollover (or spousal election) for IRA or Roth IRA176
3.2.04 Roth conversion by surviving spouse178
3.2.05 Rollover or election by spouse’s executor179
3.2.06 Deadline for completing spousal rollover179
3.2.07 Plans the spouse can roll benefits into180
3.2.08 Rollover if spouse is under age 59½181
3.2.09 Spousal rollover through an estate or trust182
3.3 Qualifying for the Marital Deduction184
3.3.01 Road Map: Leaving Benefits to Spouse or Marital Trust184
3.3.02 Leaving retirement benefits to a QTIP trust185
3.3.03 IRS regards benefits, trust, as separate items of QTIP186
3.3.04 Entitled to all income: State law vs. IRS187
3.3.05 Ways to meet the “entitled” requirement; Income vs. RMD188
3.3.06 Distribute all income to spouse annually190
3.3.07 Do not require stub income to be paid to spouse’s estate!190
3.3.08 Combination marital deduction-conduit trust191
3.3.09 General Power marital trust191
3.3.10 Automatic QTIP election for “survivor annuities”191
3.3.11 Marital deduction for benefits left outright to spouse192
3.4 REA ’84 and Spousal Consent192
3.4.01 Introduction to the Retirement Equity Act of 1984193
3.4.02 Plans subject to full-scale REA requirements193
3.4.03 REA requirements for “exempt” profit-sharing plans193
3.4.04 IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 403(b) plans194
3.4.05 Various REA exceptions and miscellaneous points195
3.4.06 Requirements for spousal consent or waiver195
3.4.07 Spousal waiver or consent: Transfer tax aspects196
CHAPTER 4: INHERITED BENEFITS: ADVISING EXECUTORS AND BENEFICIARIES198
4.1 Executor’s Responsibilities198
4.1.01 The Executor’s Road Map198
4.1.02 Recharacterizing the decedent’s Roth conversion198
4.1.03 Who can make or withdraw decedent’s IRA contribution?200
4.1.04 Completing rollover of distribution made to the decedent201
4.1.05 Executor’s responsibilities regarding decedent’s RMDs203
4.2 Post-Death Transfers, Rollovers, & Roth Conversions205
4.2.01 How to title an inherited IRA205
4.2.02 Post-death distributions, IRA-to-IRA transfers206
4.2.03 Combining inherited IRAs209
4.2.04 Nonspouse beneficiary rollovers from nonIRA plans209
4.2.05 Nonspouse beneficiary Roth conversions212
4.3 Federal Estate Tax Issues214
4.3.01 Retirement benefits on the estate tax return214
4.3.02 Problems paying the estate tax214
4.3.03 Alternate valuation method (AVM) for retirement benefits215
4.3.04 AVM, cont.: Distributions, other IRA events as “disposition”215
4.3.05 AVM, cont.: Sale of assets inside the IRA218
4.3.06 Federal estate tax exclusion for retirement benefits218
4.3.07 Valuation discount for unpaid income taxes218
4.3.08 Deaths in 2010: One-year “repeal” of the federal estate tax219
4.4 Qualified Disclaimers of Retirement Benefits220
4.4.01 Post-mortem disclaimer checklist220
4.4.02 Requirements for qualified disclaimer: § 2518221
4.4.03 Income tax treatment of disclaimers221
4.4.04 What constitutes “acceptance” of a retirement benefit222
4.4.05 Effect of taking a distribution; partial disclaimers224
4.4.06 Deadline for qualified disclaimer225
4.4.07 To whom is the disclaimer delivered?226
4.4.08 Who gets the disclaimed benefits and how do they get them?226
4.4.09 Disclaimers, ERISA, and the plan administrator228
4.4.10 Disclaimers and the minimum distribution rules230
4.4.11 How a disclaimer can help after the participant’s death230
4.4.12 Double deaths: Disclaimer by beneficiary’s estate231
4.4.13 Building disclaimers into the estate plan: Checklist232
4.5 Other Cleanup Strategies234
4.5.01 Check the plan’s default beneficiary235
4.5.02 Invalidate the beneficiary designation235
4.5.03 Spousal election to take share of estate235
4.5.04 Will (or beneficiary designation form) contest236
4.5.05 Reformation of beneficiary designation form236
4.5.06 Reformation of trust or will237
4.5.07 Choose the right cleanup strategy238
4.6 Income in Respect of a Decedent (IRD)239
4.6.01 Definition of IRD; why it is taxable240
4.6.02 When IRD is taxed (normally when received)240
4.6.03 Tax on transfer of the right-to-receive IRD240
4.6.04 Income tax deduction for estate tax paid on IRD241
4.6.05 Who gets the § 691(c) (IRD) deduction242
4.6.06 IRD deduction for deferred payouts243
4.6.07 IRD deduction: Multiple beneficiaries or plans244
4.6.08 IRD deduction on the income tax return244
4.7 Road Map: Advising the Beneficiary244
CHAPTER 5: ROTH RETIREMENT PLANS246
5.1 Roth Plans: Introduction246
5.1.01 Introduction to Roth retirement plans246
5.1.02 Roth retirement plan abuses246
5.2 Roth IRAs: Minimum Distribution and Income Tax Aspects247
5.2.01 Roth (and deemed Roth) IRAs vs. traditional IRAs247
5.2.02 Roth IRAs and the minimum distribution rules248
5.2.03 Tax treatment of Roth IRA distributions: Overview249
5.2.04 Qualified distributions: Definition250
5.2.05 Computing Five-Year Period for qualified distributions251
5.2.06 Tax treatment of nonqualified distributions253
5.2.07 The Ordering Rules254
5.3 How to Fund a Roth IRA; Regular and Excess Contributions255
5.3.01 The eight ways to fund a Roth IRA255
5.3.02 “Regular” contributions from compensation income255
5.3.03 Applicable Dollar Limit for regular contributions256
5.3.04 Who may make a “regular” Roth IRA contribution257
5.3.05 Penalty for excess Roth IRA contributions259
5.4 Conversion of Traditional Plan or IRA to a Roth IRA259
5.4.01 What type of plan may be converted to a Roth IRA259
5.4.02 Who may convert: age, plan participation, income, etc.261
5.4.03 Tax treatment of converting traditional IRA to Roth IRA262
5.4.04 Tax treatment of converting nonIRA plan to Roth IRA263
5.4.05 Income spreading for conversions in 1998 or 2010264
5.4.06 Failed conversions265
5.4.07 Mechanics of traditional IRA-to-Roth IRA conversions266
5.4.08 Mechanics of conversion from other traditional plans266
5.5 Roth Plans and the 10% Penalty For Pre-Age 59½ Distributions267
5.5.01 Penalty applies to certain Roth plan distributions267
5.5.02 Roth conversion prior to reaching age 59½268
5.5.03 Conversion while receiving “series of equal payments”269
5.6 Recharacterizing an IRA or Roth IRA Contribution270
5.6.01 Which IRA contributions may be recharacterized270
5.6.02 Income attributable to the contribution271
5.6.03 How to recharacterize certain IRA/Roth IRA contributions272
5.6.04 Partial recharacterizations273
5.6.05 Deadline for Roth IRA contributions and conversions274
5.6.06 Recharacterization deadline: Due date “including extensions”275
5.6.07 Same-year and immediate reconversions banned277
5.7 Designated Roth Accounts277
5.7.01 Meet the DRAC: Roth 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457(b)s277
5.7.02 DRAC contributions: Who, how much, how, etc.278
5.7.03 RMDs and other contrasts with Roth IRAs280
5.7.04 DRACs: Definition of “qualified distribution”280
5.7.05 Nonqualified DRAC distributions282
5.7.06 Rollovers of DRAC distributions: General rules283
5.7.07 DRAC-to-DRAC rollovers284
5.7.08 DRAC-to-Roth-IRA rollovers: In general285
5.7.09 DRAC-to-Roth IRA rollovers: Effect on Five-Year Period286
5.7.10 DRAC accounting may not shift value287
5.7.11 In-plan conversions288
5.8 Putting it All Together: Roth Planning Ideas and Principles288
5.8.01 Roth plan or traditional? It’s all about the price tag289
5.8.02 Factors that incline towards doing a Roth conversion291
5.8.03 Factors that incline against a Roth conversion292
5.8.04 How participant’s conversion helps beneficiaries293
5.8.05 Annual contributions: Traditional vs. Roth plan294
5.8.06 Roth plans and the estate plan295
CHAPTER 6: LEAVING RETIREMENT BENEFITS IN TRUST298
6.1 Trust as Beneficiary: Preliminaries298
6.1.01 Trust as beneficiary: Drafting checklist298
6.1.02 Trust accounting for retirement benefits299
6.1.03 Trust accounting: Drafting solutions301
6.1.04 “Total return” or “unitrust” method302
6.1.05 Transferring a retirement plan out of a trust or estate303
6.1.06 Can a participant transfer an IRA to a living trust?306
6.1.07 Individual retirement trusts (trusteed IRAs)306
6.2 The Minimum Distribution Trust Rules308
6.2.01 When and why see-through trust status matters308
6.2.02 RMD trust rules: Ground rules309
6.2.03 What a “see-through trust” is; the five “trust rules”310
6.2.04 Dates for testing trust’s compliance with rules311
6.2.05 Rule 1: Trust must be valid under state law311
6.2.06 Rule 2: Trust must be irrevocable311
6.2.07 Rule 3: Beneficiaries must be identifiable312
6.2.08 Rule 4: Documentation requirement313
6.2.09 Rule 5: All beneficiaries must be individuals315
6.2.10 Payments to estate for expenses, taxes315
6.2.11 Effect of § 645 election on see-through status316
6.3 RMD Rules: Which Trust Beneficiaries Count?317
6.3.01 If benefits are allocated to a particular share of the trust317
6.3.02 Separate accounts: benefits payable to a trust or estate319
6.3.03 Beneficiaries “removed” by Beneficiary Finalization Date321
6.3.04 Disregarding “mere potential successors”323
6.3.05 Conduit trust for one beneficiary323
6.3.06 Conduit trust for multiple beneficiaries326
6.3.07 Accumulation trusts: Introduction327
6.3.08 Accumulation trust: O/R-2-NLP328
6.3.09 Accumulation trust: “Circle” trust329
6.3.10 Accumulation trust: 100 percent grantor trust330
6.3.11 Powers of appointment331
6.3.12 Combining two types of qualifying trusts332
6.4 Estate Planning with the RMD Trust Rules333
6.4.01 Boilerplate provisions for trusts named as beneficiary333
6.4.02 Advance rulings on see-through trust status334
6.4.03 Should you use a separate trust for retirement benefits?335
6.4.04 Planning choices: Trust for disabled beneficiary335
6.4.05 Planning choices: Trusts for minors337
6.4.06 Planning choices: Trust for spouse340
6.4.07 Generation-skipping and “perpetual” trusts343
6.4.08 “Younger heirs at law” as “wipeout” beneficiary345
6.5 Trust Income Taxes: DNI Meets IRD345
6.5.01 Income tax on retirement benefits paid to a trust345
6.5.02 Trust passes out taxable income as part of “DNI”346
6.5.03 Trust must authorize the distribution348
6.5.04 Trusts and the IRD deduction348
6.5.05 IRD and the separate share rule349
6.5.06 IRD, separate shares, and discretionary funding350
6.5.07 Income tax effect of transferring plan351
6.5.08 Funding pecuniary bequest with right-to-receive IRD352
6.6 See-Through Trust Tester Quiz353
CHAPTER 7: CHARITABLE GIVING358
7.1 Three “Whys”: Reasons to Leave Benefits to Charity358
7.1.01 What practitioners must know358
7.1.02 Reasons to leave retirement benefits to charity359
7.1.03 Charitable pledges (and other debts)361
7.2 Seven “Hows”: Ways to Leave Benefits to Charity361
7.2.01 Name charity as sole plan beneficiary361
7.2.02 Leave benefits to charity, others, in fractional shares362
7.2.03 Leave pecuniary gift to charity, residue to individuals365
7.2.04 Formula bequest in beneficiary designation367
7.2.05 Leave benefits to charity through a trust367
7.2.06 Leave benefits to charity through an estate368
7.2.07 Disclaimer-activated gift369
7.3 RMDs and Charitable Gifts Under Trusts370
7.3.01 Trust with charitable and human beneficiaries370
7.3.02 If charitable gift occurs at the participant’s death371
7.3.03 If charitable gift occurs later372
7.4 Income Tax Treatment of Charitable Gifts from a Trust or Estate375
7.4.01 Introduction to trust income tax rules, “DNI,” and the NIIT375
7.4.02 DNI deduction, retirement benefits, and charity377
7.4.03 Charitable deduction under § 642(c)377
7.4.04 Timing of charitable deduction for trust or estate384
7.4.05 Transfer benefits to charity to avoid “separate share” and other rules385
7.4.06 How to name a charity as beneficiary through a trust388
7.5 Seven “Whiches”: Types of Charitable Entities389
7.5.01 Suitable: Public charity389
7.5.02 Suitable: Private foundation389
7.5.03 Suitable: Donor-advised fund390
7.5.04 Suitable: Charitable remainder trust390
7.5.05 Income tax rules for CRTs; IRD deduction391
7.5.06 Solving planning problems with a CRT394
7.5.07 Reasons NOT to leave benefits to a CRT397
7.5.08 Suitable: Charitable gift annuity398
7.5.09 Usually unsuitable: Charitable lead trust399
7.5.10 Unsuitable: Pooled income fund399
7.6 Qualified Charitable Distributions400
7.6.01 Where to find the law400
7.6.02 Who can make QCDs: Individuals over age 70½400
7.6.03 From IRAs only (but not ongoing SEPs or SIMPLEs)401
7.6.04 How much? $100,000 per year per IRA owner402
7.6.05 Requirements applicable to charity and donation402
7.6.06 Income tax aspects; effect on basis402
7.6.07 How to do it; how to report it403
7.6.08 Using QCDs for the RMD; other planning uses and pitfalls404
7.7 Lifetime Gifts of Retirement Benefits405
7.7.01 Lifetime gifts from distributions405
7.7.02 Give your RMD to charity406
7.7.03 Gifts from a pre-age 59½ “SOSEPP”407
7.7.04 Gift of NUA stock407
7.7.05 Gift of other low-tax lump sum distribution408
7.7.06 Give ESOP qualified replacement property to CRT408
7.8 Putting it All Together409
CHAPTER 8: INVESTMENT ISSUES; PLAN TYPES410
8.1 IRAs: Issues for Investors410
8.1.01 Various investment issues for IRAs410
8.1.02 Investment losses and IRAs411
8.1.03 Restoring lawsuit winnings to IRA413
8.1.04 Paying, deducting, IRA investment expenses413
8.1.05 IRAs owning “nontraditional” investments414
8.1.06 IRAs and prohibited transactions417
8.2 IRAs and the Tax on UBTI420
8.2.01 UBTI: Rationale, exemptions, returns, double tax, etc.420
8.2.02 Income from an IRA-operated trade or business420
8.2.03 When investment income becomes UBTI421
8.2.04 Income from debt-financed property421
8.3 Types of Retirement Plans422
8.3.01 Overview of types of plans422
8.3.02 401(k) plan; elective deferral; CODA423
8.3.03 403(b) plan423
Deemed IRA, deemed Roth IRA. See 5.2.01.423
8.3.04 Defined Benefit plan423
8.3.05 Defined Contribution plan425
Designated Roth account (DRAC). See 5.7.426
8.3.06 ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan)426
8.3.07 Individual Account Plan. Defined Contribution Plan. 8.3.05.426
8.3.08 Individual Retirement Account (IRA); stretch IRA426
8.3.09 Keogh plan426
Money purchase plan. See 8.3.10.427
8.3.10 Pension plan427
8.3.11 Profit-sharing plan428
8.3.12 Qualified Retirement Plan428
Roth IRA. See 5.2.01.429
8.3.13 SEP-IRA, SIMPLE429
Traditional IRA. See 8.3.08.429
Trusteed IRA. See 8.3.08, 6.1.07.429
CHAPTER 9: DISTRIBUTIONS BEFORE AGE 59 ½430
9.1 10% Penalty on Early Distributions430
9.1.01 What practitioners must know430
9.1.02 The § 72(t) penalty on early distributions430
9.1.03 How the penalty applies to particular distributions430
9.1.04 Enforcement of early distributions penalty431
9.2 Exception: “Series of Equal Payments”432
9.2.01 Series of substantially equal periodic payments (SOSEPP)432
9.2.02 How this exception works432
9.2.03 Notice 89-25 (A-12) and its successor, Rev. Rul. 2002-62433
9.2.04 Steps required to initiate a SOSEPP433
9.2.05 The three methods: RMD, amortization, annuitization433
9.2.06 Variations on the three methods434
9.2.07 Choose single or joint life expectancy434
9.2.08 Notes on Joint and Survivor Life Table435
9.2.09 Notes on Single, Uniform Lifetime Tables435
9.2.10 What interest rate assumption is used435
9.2.11 What account balance is used436
9.2.12 Applying the SOSEPP exception to multiple IRAs436
9.2.13 Starting a second series to run concurrently437
9.2.14 Procedural and reporting requirements437
9.3 Modifying the SOSEPP437
9.3.01 Effects of a forbidden modification of series437
9.3.02 When the no-modification period begins and ends437
9.3.03 Exceptions for death or disability438
9.3.04 Changing to RMD method after the SOSEPP commences438
9.3.05 When taking an extra payment is not a modification438
9.3.06 What other changes do NOT constitute a modification?438
9.3.07 What changes DO constitute a modification?439
9.3.08 Effect of divorce on the SOSEPP440
9.3.09 Transfers to, from, or among IRAs supporting a SOSEPP440
9.4 Other Exceptions to the Penalty441
9.4.01 Death benefits442
9.4.02 Distributions attributable to total disability442
9.4.03 Distributions for deductible medical expenses442
9.4.04 QRPs, 403(b) plans: Early retirement443
9.4.05 QRPs, 403(b) plans: QDRO distributions443
9.4.06 ESOPs only: Dividends on employer stock443
9.4.07 IRAs only: Unemployed’s health insurance443
9.4.08 IRAs only: Expenses of higher education443
9.4.09 IRAs only: First-time home purchase444
9.4.10 IRS levy on the account445
9.4.11 Return of certain contributions445
9.4.12 Qualified reservist distributions445
9.4.13 Exceptions for tax-favored disasters445
CHAPTER 10: MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION RULES FOR DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS AND ANNUITIZED IRAS446
10.1 Terminology You Must Know446
10.1.01 Annuity, deferred and immediate446
10.1.02 Meaning of “annuitize”447
10.1.03 Variable vs. fixed annuities447
10.1.04 What a “Defined Benefit plan” is448
10.1.05 What a “Defined Contribution plan” is449
10.2 RMDs for Defined Benefit Plans450
10.2.01 Introduction to the DB/annuity RMD rules450
10.2.02 Differences between DB, DC plan rules451
10.2.03 Payment intervals; other DB terminology451
10.2.04 Permitted forms, durations, of annuity451
10.2.05 Payments must be nonincreasing, except…453
10.2.06 Other changes permitted after the ASD455
10.2.07 When the annuity payments must commence; the RBD456
10.2.08 Converting an annuity payout to a lump sum457
10.2.09 If participant’s ASD is prior to the RBD458
10.2.10 RMD rules for DB plan death benefits459
10.3 Buying an Annuity Inside an IRA or Other DC Plan461
10.3.01 Purchasing an immediate annuity inside an IRA461
10.3.02 Exception for “Qualified Longevity Annuities”462
10.3.03 Definition of a QLAC462
10.3.04 Dollar and percentage limits on QLAC purchases463
10.3.05 QLAC concept does not apply to Roth IRAs463
10.3.06 Death benefits under a QLAC464
10.3.07 Planning use for QLACs464
10.4 Annuity Payouts from Plans: Putting It All Together465
10.4.01 Drawback of nonspouse survivor annuities465
10.4.02 Illustrations: Different choices465
10.4.03 Expert tip: Subsidized plan benefits466
10.4.04 More expert tips: How to evaluate choices467
10.4.05 Problems with the annuity rules467
CHAPTER 11: INSURANCE, ANNUITIES, AND RETIREMENT PLANS469
11.1 Miscellaneous Retirement/Insurance Rules469
11.1.01 The three valuation rules for annuity contracts469
11.1.02 RMD extension for insolvent insurance company471
11.2 Plan-Owned Life Insurance: Income Taxes471
11.2.01 Tax consequences to participant: During employment471
11.2.02 Current Insurance Cost: From P.S. 58 to Table 2001473
11.2.03 Current Insurance Cost: Using insurer’s actual rates473
11.2.04 Current Insurance Cost: Term life insurance474
11.2.05 Current Insurance Cost: Investment in the contract474
11.2.06 Income tax consequences to beneficiaries475
11.3 Plan-Owned Life Insurance: The “Rollout” at Retirement475
11.3.01 Options for the policy when the participant retires475
11.3.02 How to determine policy’s FMV: Rev. Proc. 2005-25476
11.3.03 Tax code effects of sale below market value477
11.3.04 Plan sells the policy to the participant478
11.3.05 Sale to participant: Prohibited transaction issue478
11.3.06 Plan sells policy to the beneficiary(ies)479
11.3.07 Sale to beneficiary: Prohibited transaction aspects480
11.4 Plan-Owned Life Insurance: Other Aspects480
11.4.01 Estate tax avoidance: The life insurance subtrust480
11.4.02 Avoiding estate tax inclusion and “transfer for value”482
11.4.03 Second-to-die insurance482
11.4.04 Reasons to buy life insurance inside the plan483
11.4.05 Life insurance and IRAs and 403(b)s484
11.4.06 Planning principles with plan-owned life insurance485
11.4.07 Plan-owned insurance and the tax on UBTI486
11.4.08 Plan-owned life insurance subject to spousal ERISA rights486
11.5 Planning Ideas with Life Insurance and Retirement Benefits486
11.5.01 The CHIRA™487
11.5.02 Life insurance for under-age-59½ surviving spouse489
11.5.03 Life insurance to protect the “stretch”489
11.5.04 For young parents: Dump the stretch, buy life insurance490
11.5.05 Can a beneficiary roll over life insurance proceeds?490
11.5.06 The “dream” charitable rollover492
11.6 Bibliography for Chapter 11492
Appendix A: Tables494
Appendix B: Forms497
Checklist: Drafting the Beneficiary Designation498
Introduction to the Forms500
1. SIMPLE BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORM501
1.1. Simple Designation: Spouse, Then Issue501
2. MASTER BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORMS502
2.1 Master Beneficiary Designation: Traditional or Roth IRA502
2.2 Master Beneficiary Designation Form: Qualified Plan504
2.3 Additional Clauses for Master Beneficiary Designations505
3. SAMPLE INSERTS FOR MASTER FORMS506
3.1 Benefits Payable to Spouse, “Disclaimable” to Credit Shelter Trust; Different Contingent Beneficiary Depending on Whether Spouse Predeceases or Disclaims506
3.2 Spouse is Primary Beneficiary; Children are Contingent507
3.3 Designating Children (Or Their Issue) as Beneficiaries507
3.4 Trust Is Beneficiary, but Only If Spouse Survives508
3.5 To Issue; Hold in Trust If below Certain Age508
3.6 Spouse as Primary, Issue as Contingent Beneficiary; Hold in Trust If below Certain Age508
3.7 Different Beneficiaries for Roth, Traditional, Accounts509
3.8 Formula Gift with Reference to Outside Fiduciary509
4. TRUST PROVISIONS DEALING WITH BENEFITS510
4.1 Administration During Donor’s Life; Irrevocability510
4.2 Forbidding Payment of Benefits to Nonindividuals510
4.3 Excluding Older Adopted Issue511
4.4 Limitation on Powers of Appointment in Trust511
4.5 Marital Deduction Savings Language512
4.6 Establishing a Conduit Trust for One Beneficiary512
4.7 Conduit Trust for Spouse (Marital Deduction)512
4.8 Conduit Provision Included in “Family Pot” Trust513
4.9 Last Man Standing Trust for Children514
4.10 “O/R-2-NLP” Trust (Spouse then Issue)514
4.11 Definitions Used in Certain Trust Forms514
5. OTHER FORMS515
5.1 Power of Attorney for Retirement Benefits515
5.2 Will Provision Regarding Formula in Beneficiary Designation Form516
5.3 Will Provision: Roth IRA Conversions517
5.4 Fiduciary Letter Transferring Plan Account to Beneficiary517
5.5 Letter to Administrator Who Won’t Provide Information518
Appendix C: Resources520
The Pension Answer Book520
Ataxplan Website520
Software520
Newsletters521
Quick Reference Guides521
Choate Special Reports522
Bibliography523

Made with FlippingBook HTML5