By Sarah Brenner, JD
Director of Retirement Education

Question:

Can I satisfy my required minimum distribution (RMD) from my 401(k) by taking it from my IRA instead?

Answer:

No, that is not allowed. You may aggregate RMDs from your IRAs if you have multiple accounts, but you are not permitted to aggregate your IRA and 401(k) RMDs. You will need to take your 401(k) RMD from that plan.

Question:

I have multiple IRAs.  Do I have to take the total RMD from these accounts before I do an IRA transfer, as opposed to a rollover?

-Dave

Answer:

Hi Dave,

You must take all of your IRA RMDs prior to completing a 60-day rollover or a Roth conversion. However, the rules are different for transfers. If you are doing a direct transfer between IRAs, there is no requirement that the RMD must be taken prior to the transfer. You can wait until later in the year but just be sure you remember to take it.

If you have technical questions you would like to have answered, be sure to submit them to mailbag@irahelp.com, to be answered on an upcoming Slott Report Mailbag, published every Thursday.

https://irahelp.com/required-minimum-distributions-and-ira-transfers-todays-slott-report-mailbag/