05/27/2026
If you've inherited an IRA recently, the rules may not be what you remember hearing.
The SECURE Act in 2019 eliminated what used to be called the stretch IRA for most people who aren't a surviving spouse. SECURE 2.0 added more updates on top of that. The result is a set of rules that could catch beneficiaries off guard, especially around timing.
For most non-spouse beneficiaries today, the account generally needs to be fully distributed within 10 years of the original owner's death. What trips people up may not always be as simple as waiting until year 10 and taking everything at once. If the original owner had already started taking required minimum distributions, annual distributions during that 10-year window may also be required.
Getting this wrong could mean penalties. And the income tax timing of those distributions could impact the rest of your financial picture in meaningful ways.
If you've inherited an IRA or expect to, consider talking through the current rules with both your advisor and your tax professional.
*Always consult with your tax professional before implementing any new tax strategy.