By Sarah Brenner, JD
Director of Retirement Education
Question:
My spouse and I have a combined six-figure required minimum distribution (RMD) from my two IRAs and her smaller IRA. Our CPA suggested that for 2026 we only withdraw 50% of her smaller RMD, and that I should pick up the balance to fulfill her requirement.
I questioned her about this situation. She said that since we are married filing jointly, I should do it. I have some concerns about this approach.
Thank you,
Tom
Answer:
Hi Tom,
You are right to have some concerns. When it comes to RMDs, spouses are not considered together, even if they are married and filing jointly. Aggregation of RMDs with a spouse is not permitted. You must each take your own RMDs.
Question:
An adult son inherited an IRA from his mother in 2016. He has been taking annual RMDs. This year, it will be ten years since he inherited the IRA. Does the SECURE Act require him to empty this inherited IRA in 2026?
Warm regards,
Carolyn Sue
Answer:
Hi Carolyn Sue,
The SECURE Act does impose a 10-year payout rule on most adult children who inherit IRAs from their parents. However, this rule does not apply to accounts inherited prior to 2020 when the SECURE Act was enacted. This IRA was inherited in 2016. Therefore, the 10-year rule does not apply and annual RMDs can continue.
If you have technical questions you would like to have answered, be sure to submit them to mailbag@irahelp.com, to be answered on an upcoming Slott Report Mailbag, published every Thursday.