3 required minimum distribution tax mistakes to avoid

If you are of a certain age and have saved money in a tax-advantaged retirement account like a 401(k) or IRA, the year will inevitably come when you have to start withdrawing those funds. These withdrawals, known as required minimum distributions (RMDs), are mandated by the IRS to ensure that at some point, you pay taxes on the balance you have amassed.

While it may sound straightforward enough to simply remove the money from your account, RMDs introduce a minefield of rules and particulars. You will want to make sure you are aware of these, especially since certain missteps can lead to a sizable tax penalty.

1. Missing the deadline

As the end of the year approaches, so, too, does the deadline for taking your RMD. If you miss this deadline, the IRS “imposes a 25% penalty on the amount not withdrawn by the deadline,” said Kiplinger. You may be able to lower the penalty to 10% if you correct your mistake within two years, but you will still face a penalty.

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The only variation in this annual deadline is the first year you are required to take your RMD. The year you turn 73 (75 if you were born in 1960 or later), the IRS gives you until April 1 of the following year to take your first RMD. But putting it off until then can introduce challenges, as it will mean “you have to take two RMDs in less than 12 months — the one you held over to the end of March, and the regular one due on Dec. 31,” said Investopedia. Depending on your account size, that could translate to hefty withdrawals, and, thus, a hefty tax bill.

2. Miscalculating RMD amounts

Many retirees “struggle with accurately determining their RMD due to confusion about which IRS life expectancy table to use or how to account for year-end account balances,” said Kiplinger. This can result in not taking out enough and then owing penalties. Again, the penalty for this is 25%, and it would apply to the amount not withdrawn on time, in addition to the regular income tax already owed.

The good news: You likely do not even have to do this math yourself — either your 401(k) plan administrator or IRA custodian should be able to tell you the proper amount of your RMD. The bad news: “An outstanding rollover or transfer will cause the calculation to reflect an amount that is less than your true RMD,” said Morningstar. This could throw a wrench into the equation, which is why it is vital to ensure you are providing all relevant information to your account provider.

3. Getting mixed up on rules for different account types

Another way RMDs commonly trip people up is when there is more than one account type involved, such as a 401(k) and an IRA, or more than one of each. For instance, “RMDs from 401(k) plans must be calculated and withdrawn separately for each account, meaning they can’t be combined with RMDs from IRAs,” said Kiplinger.

However, “with traditional IRAs and with 403(b) accounts, if you have more than one account, once you total your RMDs from all of your accounts, you can withdraw that total sum from just one or from multiple accounts,” said The Motley Fool. That said, you cannot “withdraw an RMD for an IRA from a 403(b) or vice versa,” said Kiplinger.

Any mixups can lead to taking insufficient RMDs, which, once again, can lead to a penalty. To clear up confusion, talk to a tax professional or financial adviser.