As individuals continue to deal with the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act contains some retirement-related provisions to help ease the financial pain.

RMDs waived in 2020

If you’re in the fortunate financial position that you don’t need to access retirement account funds this year, you might benefit from the CARES Act’s required minimum distribution (RMD) relief: If you were scheduled to take an RMD this year, the CARES Act allows you to skip it.

People with traditional IRAs or 401(k) plan accounts generally must begin taking annual RMDs by April 1 of the year following the year in which they reach age 70½ (age 72 for those who didn’t turn 70½ before January 1, 2020). RMDs are also generally required for inherited retirement accounts regardless of the heir’s age (unless the heir is the original owner’s spouse).

Skipping a 2020 RMD can be advantageous because the funds can continue growing on a tax-advantaged basis. Plus, if the values of investments in your account have declined, taking a distribution means selling shares at depressed prices — not an ideal strategy.

In addition, your RMD for 2020 is calculated based on the account’s value as of December 31, 2019. If that value has declined, the RMD will represent a larger percentage of the account’s total value than you originally anticipated. Skipping your 2020 RMD can be a great strategy for preserving the account’s value to the extent possible.

Tax relief for withdrawals

If the COVID-19 pandemic has left you in need of cash to pay expenses, the CARES Act also provides relief. It allows you to withdraw up to $100,000 on or after January 1, 2020, and before December 31, 2020, from IRAs, 401(k) plans or certain other retirement plans (if the plan allows it) on a tax-advantaged basis, even if you’re under age 59½.

The law waives the 10% penalty for early withdrawals and allows you to avoid tax altogether by recontributing the withdrawn amount within three years (without regard to annual contribution limits in those years). To the extent this amount is not repaid within that time period, it’s taxable, but the tax may be prorated over three years.

To qualify for this tax treatment, you must meet one of the following conditions:

1. You were diagnosed with COVID-19,
2. Your spouse or a dependent was diagnosed with COVID-19, or
3. You experienced adverse financial consequences as a result of the pandemic because you were quarantined, furloughed, laid off, had your work hours reduced, were unable to work due to lack of child care, or were forced to close or reduce the hours of a business you own.

Check with your tax advisor or contact us on whether any IRS guidance on these conditions has been released that might affect your eligibility.

Increased limit on retirement plan loans

The CARES Act increases the amount you’re permitted to borrow from certain qualified retirement plans from the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of your vested account balance to the lesser of $100,000 or 100% of your vested account balance. The higher limit is available for loans taken within 180 days after the March 27, 2020, enactment date.

In addition, if you had any plan loans outstanding on that date, you may delay any repayments otherwise due in 2020 for one year.

Keep in mind that retirement plans aren’t required to allow loans. So check with your employer on whether your plan permits them.

Strike a balance

In challenging economic times, it’s important to strike a balance between meeting immediate financial needs and preserving assets for retirement. The CARES Act provisions discussed above make it easier to achieve this objective.

© 2020