Published by CNBC.com

Written by Kate Dore

“If you inherited an individual retirement account, there is a key change for 2025 that — without action on your part before year-end — could trigger an IRS penalty of up to 25%.”

“Starting in 2025, certain non-spouse heirs, including adult children, must start taking required minimum distributions, or RMDs, while emptying their inherited IRA over 10 years, according to IRS regulations released in 2024.

“The change comes as investors prepare for the “great wealth transfer,” with more than $100 trillion expected to flow to heirs through 2048, according to a December report from Cerulli Associates. Much of that wealth will eventually move from parents to adult children, and tax planning for that windfall will be important, experts say.

“Some heirs should consider depleting accounts sooner than the IRS requires, depending on their tax situation, experts say.

“Here are the key things to know about the 2025 change and how to avoid an IRS penalty.

Who must take RMDs for 2025

“Since 2020, certain inherited accounts are subject to the “10-year rule,” which means heirs must deplete the balance by the 10th year after the original account owner’s death.

“The “10-year rule” and new RMD requirement apply to most non-spouse beneficiaries, such as adult children, if the original IRA owner reached RMD age before their death.

“Most of our clients fall into that 10-year window,” and they have faced “years of ambiguity” about RMDs, said certified financial planner Kristin McKenna, president of Darrow Wealth Management in Needham, Massachusetts.
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