Required Minimum Distribution Rules for Defined Benefit Plans

Summary

This practice note discusses the rules under I.R.C. § 401(a)(9) for required minimum distributions (RMDs) that must be made to participants or their beneficiaries from defined benefit qualified retirement plans, as well as the RMD rules for annuitized benefit distributions from defined contribution plans and individual retirement annuities. See Required Minimum Distribution Rules for Defined Contribution Plans for application to other defined contribution plan distributions and individual retirement accounts. An understanding of RMDs is important for employee benefits practitioners to help their clients who sponsor retirement plans comply with applicable requirements. This practice note covers the RMD final regulations issued in 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 58,886 (July 19, 2024), which among other things implement changes under the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act (Division O of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Pub. L. No. 116-94) and the ...