Until 2021, the table reflected life expectancy data from 2012. In 2020, the IRS updated the table to reflect its assumptions of longer life expectancies (this work was done before COVID-19, which reduced the average life expectancy for Americans by 1.8 years). These changes just went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
For an IRA with a balance of $700,000 on 12/31/2021, the difference in RMD is $28,455 (new table) versus $30,568 (old table). We're happy to have the new tables available in an official public release. As always, make sure to check with your tax adviser before you take any actions related to RMDs.
In November 2020, the IRS issued new life expectancy tables. These new tables are effective January 1, 2022. This was the first change in the RMD tables since 2002 and was intended to reflect the improvement in mortality rates over that period.
The life expectancy method is a way of calculating individual retirement account (IRA) distribution payments by dividing the balance or total value of a retirement account by the policyholder's anticipated length of life.
The Uniform Lifetime Table assumes a life expectancy based on the owner's age and an assumed beneficiary who is 10 years younger. The Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy table is used if your spouse is your sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger than you.
Any RMDs for the year 2022 will start using the new table and distribution period factors. For all subsequent years after your reach your RMD age, including the year in which you were paid the first RMD by April 1, you must take the RMD by December 31 of that year.
Single Filers: The maximum deduction is reduced at $68,000 in 2022 (up from $66,000 in 2021) and is completely eliminated at $78,000 or more (up from $76,000). Married Filing Jointly: The maximum deduction is reduced at $109,001 (up from $105,001 in 2021) and is completely eliminated at $129,000 (up from $125,000).
The SECURE Act 2.0 increases this threshold to those age 73 on Jan. 1, 2022, to those age 74 on Jan. 1, 2030, and to those age 75 on Jan. 1, 2033.
The finalized rules go into effect on January 1, 2022. This rule change is in addition to the CARES Act waiving 2020 RMDs, the SECURE Act increasing the RMD age to 72, and new post-death distribution rules. RMD rules don't apply to Roth IRAs and any amounts in Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
For all later years, the RMD must be made by December 31. This means that taxpayers who turned 72 after June 30, 2021, and receive their first required distribution (for 2021) in 2022 on or before April 1, must receive their second RMD (for 2022) by December 31, 2022.
You reach age 70½ after December 31, 2019, so you are not required to take a minimum distribution until you reach 72. You reached age 72 on July 1, 2021. You must take your first RMD (for 2021) by April 1, 2022, with subsequent RMDs on December 31st annually thereafter.
However once you are at full retirement age (between 65 and 67 years old, depending on your year of birth) your Social Security payments can no longer be withheld if, when combined with your other forms of income, they exceed the maximum threshold.
Standard deductions increased in 2021. For those whose filing status is single, married filing separately, and head of household, the amount increased by $150 from 2020. For joint filers qualifying widows or widowers, it increased by $300.
Congress a couple of years ago passed the SECURE Act which changed the required minimum distribution (RMD) date from age 70 1/2 to age 72. Last week the House passed "SECURE 2" which would increase the RMD age to 73 starting in 2023, then age 74 in 2030 and finally age 75 in 2033.
** The Uniform Lifetime Table can be used by all IRA owners, unless their sole beneficiary for the entire year is their spouse who is more than 10 years younger. In that case, the regular Joint Life Expectancy Table is used, which could reduce the RMD even further.
That bill raised the RMD age to 72 from age 70½. The recent House-passed bill would change when RMDs must start by raising the current age 72 to 73 next year, and then 74 in 2030 and age 75 in 2033.
Spouses have 60 days from receiving the inherited distribution to roll it over into their own IRA as long as the distribution is not a required minimum distribution. By combining the funds, the spouse doesn't need to take a required minimum distribution until they reach the age of 72.
The single life expectancy table is used to calculate RMDs from inherited IRAs for IRA beneficiaries who inherited their IRAs from a deceased IRA owner who died before Jan. 1, 2020 (which was the effective date of the SECURE Act).
Under the 2019 legislation, if you turned 70 ½ in 2019, then you should have taken your first RMD by April 1, 2020. If you turned 70 ½ in 2020 or later, you should take your first RMD by April 1 of the year after you turn 72. All subsequent ones must be taken by December 31 of each year.
Avoid Taxes on RMDs by Working Longer
One of the simplest ways to defer RMDs and the taxes on those withdrawals is to continue working. If you're still working at age 72 or beyond and contributing to an employer's 401(k), the IRS allows you to delay taking RMDs from those accounts.
Key provisions of the House bill passed Tuesday include: Raising the age at which seniors must take required minimum distributions, or RMDs, from their retirement savings accounts to 73 from 72, effective next Jan. 1. The bill will raise the age to 74 starting in 2030 and to 75 starting in 2033.