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Inherited IRA RMDs

Avoid steep penalties by getting familiar with inherited IRA RMD rules.

By Robin Hartill, CFP – Updated Mar 29, 2025 at 9:29PM

Key Points

  • Spouses have the option to treat an inherited IRA as their own or roll it into their own IRA.
  • If the original account owner was RMD age, beneficiaries generally need to start RMDs by Dec. 31 the year after their death.
  • Most non-spouses who inherit an IRA from someone who wasn't yet RMD age generally need to deplete the account within 10 years.
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