Definition
The date by which a retirement account owner must begin distributing required minimum distribution (RMD) amounts from a Traditional, SEP or SIMPLE IRA, a qualified plan account 403(b) or governmental 457(b) account.
For IRAs, the required beginning date (RBD) is April 1 of the year following the year the individual reaches their applicable RMD age.
For qualified plans, 403(b) and 457(b) accounts, the RBD is April 1, following the calendar year in which the later of the following occurs:
- The year the individual reaches their applicable RMD age, or
- The year the individual retires from employment with the employer that sponsors the plan.
By definition, the term ‘qualified plan’ include pension plans, 401(k) plans, money purchase pension plans and stock bonus plans. The rules that apply to qualified plans may differ from the rules that apply to 403(b) and 457(b) plans.
But see “additional helpful information ‘ below.
Note: For 5-percent owners, the required beginning date is April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the employee attains age 72, even if the employee has not retired.
Referring Cite
IRC § 401(a)(9)(C); Treas.Reg. § 1.401(a)(9)-2,
Additional Helpful Information
- For purposes of the RMD rules, a 5-percent owner is an employee who is a 5-percent owner with respect to the plan year ending in the calendar year in which the employee attains age 72.
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A qualified plan is permitted to provide that the RBD for all employees is April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which an employee attains their applicable RMD age, regardless of whether the employee is a 5-percent owner.[Treas. Reg. 1.401(a)(9)-2, Q&A 2(e)]. That is, while the regulations do permit qualified plans to be designed to allow employees (other than 5% owners) to delay their RBD past their applicable RMD ageif they are still employed, it is an optional provision. Therefore, the plan can define the RBD for all employees as April 1 of the year, following the year they reach their applicable RMD age. Therefore, employees must refer to the summary plan description (SPD) or check with the plan administrator to determine the RBD that applies to their plan
