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Surprise! You May Still be Eligible for the Stretch IRA Thumbnail

Surprise! You May Still be Eligible for the Stretch IRA

The arrival of the SECURE Act means the end of the stretch IRA for many beneficiaries. Instead, a 10-year payout rule applies for most IRAs inherited by non-spouse beneficiaries. However, the SECURE Act does allow the stretch to continue for certain select groups of beneficiaries. These beneficiaries are called “eligible designated beneficiaries” (EDBs). EDBs include spouse beneficiaries, minor children of the account owner, as well as disabled and chronically ill individuals.

Surprise! You May Still be Eligible for the Stretch IRA

Not More Than 10-Years Younger

Beyond the above listed groups of EDBs, there is another group of EDBs that may surprise you. This group is often overlooked, and many people are unaware of just how common it can be. A beneficiary who is not more than 10 years younger than the deceased IRA owner (based on their actual birthdates) also qualifies as an EDB. Under this definition, any beneficiary older the account owner would also be an EBD. This group of beneficiaries can include an unexpectedly large number of people. For example, siblings, friends, and unmarried partners, who are often named as beneficiaries, are all frequently close in age.

Example: Eli, age 65, dies in 2025. He has two IRAs. The beneficiary of one IRA is his older brother, Ben, age 77, and the beneficiary of the other IRA is his good friend, Thomas, age 60. Both Ben and Thomas qualify as EDBs because they were not more than 10 years younger than Eli. Therefore, they can both use the stretch IRA. They can take distributions from the IRAs they inherited from Ben using their single life expectancy. They are not required to use the 10-year rule.

Are You An EDB?

If you have inherited an IRA, you should not assume that the 10-year rule applies, even if you are a non-spouse beneficiary. Are you older than the IRA owner was? Or, were you close in age? That can make you an EDB, which changes your options for inherited IRA funds. If you are not more than 10 years younger than the account owner was, you are part of a surprisingly large group of beneficiaries who are still eligible for the stretch, even after the SECURE Act.

By Sarah Brenner, JD
Director of Retirement Education
Ed Slott and Company, LLC

Christian Cordoba, founder of California Retirement Advisors, has been a member of Ed Slott's Master Elite IRA Advisor Group since 2007.

Copyright © 2025, Ed Slott and Company, LLC Reprinted from The Slott Report, 03/19/25, with permission. https://irahelp.com/slottreport/surprise-you-may-still-be-eligible-for-the-stretch-ira/, Ed Slott and Company, LLC takes no responsibility for the current accuracy of this article. 
Investment advisory services offered through Mutual Advisors, LLC DBA California Retirement Advisors, a SEC registered investment advisor. Securities offered through Mutual Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual Securities, Inc. and Mutual Advisors, LLC are affiliated companies. CA Insurance license #0B09076. This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information and provided by California Retirement Advisors. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. California Retirement Advisors, nor any of its members, are tax accountants or legal attorneys and do not provide tax or legal advice. For tax or legal advice, you should consult your tax or legal professional.