IRA rollover deadline waived after adviser error

Plain-English summary

The IRS waived the 60-day deadline for an IRA rollover. The taxpayer had received a total distribution, kept the uncashed check in a safe deposit box while away caring for a family member, and missed the deadline after receiving incomplete advice from a financial adviser. The IRS allowed the taxpayer 60 days from the ruling letter's issuance to contribute an amount equal to the distribution to an IRA. The waiver did not apply to minimum required distributions or other rollover requirements.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the IRS waive the 60-day IRA rollover requirement under the circumstances?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 408(d)(3), 408(a)(6), and 408(a)(9); Rev. Proc. 2003-16, 2003-4 I.R.B. 359

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20224

201022027

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

Uniform Issue List: 408.03-00
MAR - 8 2010

SE:T:EP:RA:FS

Legend:

Taxpayer A:

IRA X:

Financial Institution L:

Financial Institution M:

Financial Advisor W:

Amount M:

Amount O:

Date 1:

Date 2:

Date 3:
Month 10:

Enrolled Agent W:

Dear

This is in response to your letters dated August 3, 2009, and November 5, 2009,
submitted on your behalf by your authorized representative, in which you request
a waiver of the 60-day rollover requirement contained in section 408(d)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code (“the Code”).

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Page 2

The following facts and representations have been submitted under penalty of
perjury in support of the ruling requested.

Taxpayer A, age, maintained an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), IRA X,
with Financial Institution L. Taxpayer A asserts that on Date 2 Taxpayer A
received a distribution of Amount M from IRA X and that her failure to accomplish
a rollover of Amount M within the 60-day period prescribed by section 408(d)(3)
of the Code was due to Financial Advisor W’s error.

Relying on advice from Advisor W of Financial Institution L Taxpayer A requested
a direct transfer of Amount O which had been held in an IRA at Financial
Institution M. On Date 1 Amount O was transferred in a trustee-to-trustee
transfer from Taxpayer A’s IRA at Financial Institution M to IRA X maintained by
Financial institution L.

In Month 10, because of losses incurred by IRA X, Taxpayer A contacted
Financial Advisor W and stated she wished to withdraw all of IRA X before she
incurred any further losses. Taxpayer A informed Financial Advisor W of her
intent to reinvest the funds in a certificate of deposit at a credit union. In the
discussion about the withdrawal from IRA X, Financial Advisor W advised
Taxpayer A to be sure to tell the bank that it was an IRA when cashing the check
but failed to inform her of the 60-day rollover period or the possibility of a trustee-
to-trustee transfer. Financial Advisor W completed a distribution request form for
Taxpayer A and on Date 2 Financial Institution L issued a check in Amount M to
Taxpayer A which was a total distribution of IRA X.

During Month 10 Taxpayer A received a check for Amount M and placed the
uncashed check in a safe deposit box pending her return from a trip to take care of
her sister. Upon returning, Taxpayer A attempted to establish a rollover IRA at a
Credit union but was told that she could not because the 60-day rollover period
had expired approximately one week earlier.

Based on the facts and representations, you request a ruling that the Internal
Revenue Service waive the 60-day rollover requirement, with respect to the
distribution of Amount M contained in section 408(d)(3) of the Code (“the Code”).

Section 408(d)(1) of the Code provides that, except as otherwise provided in
section 408(d), any amount paid or distributed out of an IRA shall be included in
gross income by the payee or distributee, as the case may be, in the manner
provided under section 72 of the Code.

Section 408(d)(3) of the Code defines, and provides the rules applicable to IRA
rollovers.

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Section 408(d)(3)(E) of the Code provides that the rollover provisions of section
408(d) do not apply to any amount required to be distributed under section
408(a)(6).

Section 408(d)(3)(A) of the Code provides that section 408(d)(1) of the Code
does not apply to any amount paid or distributed out of an IRA to the individual
for whose benefit the IRA is maintained if

(i) the entire amount received (including money and any other property) is paid
into an IRA for the benefit of such individual not later than the 60th day after the
day on which the individual receives the payment or distribution; or

(ii) the entire amount received (including money and any other property) is paid
into an eligible retirement plan (other than an IRA) for the benefit of such
individual not later than the 60th day after the date on which the payment or
distribution is received, except that the maximum amount which may be paid into
such plan may not exceed the portion of the amount received which is includible
in gross income (determined without regard to section 408(d)(3)).

Section 408(d)(3)(B) of the Code provides that section 408(d)(3) does not

apply to any amount described in section 408(d)(3)(A)(i) received by an individual
from an IRA if at any time during the 1-year period ending on the day of such
receipt such individual received any other amount described in section
408(d)(3)(A)(i) from an IRA which was not includible in gross income because of
the application of section 408(d)(3).

Section 408(d)(3)(D) of the Code provides a similar 60-day rollover period for
partial rollovers.

Section 408(d)(3)(E) of the Code provides that the rollover provisions of section
408(d) do not apply to any amount required to be distributed under section
408(a)(6).

Section 408(d)(3)(I) of the Code provides that the Secretary may waive the 60-
day requirement under sections 408(d)(3)(A) and 408(d)(3)(D) of the Code where
the failure to waive such requirement would be against equity or good
conscience, including casualty, disaster, or other events beyond the reasonable
control of the individual subject to such requirement. Only distributions that
occurred after December 31, 2001, are eligible for the waiver under section
408(d)(3)(I) of the Code.

201022027

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Rev. Proc. 2003-16, 2003-4 I.R.B. 359 (January 27, 2003) provides that in
determining whether to grant a waiver of the 60-day rollover requirement
pursuant to section 408(d)(3)(I), the Service will consider all relevant facts and
circumstances, including: (1) errors committed by a financial institution; (2)
inability to complete a rollover due to death, disability, hospitalization,
incarceration, restrictions imposed by a foreign country or postal error, (3) the
use of the amount distributed (for example, in the case of payment by check,
whether the check was cashed); and (4) the time elapsed since the distribution
occurred.

The information presented and documentation submitted by Taxpayer A is
consistent with her assertion that her failure to accomplish a rollover of Amount
M within the 60-day period prescribed by section 408(d)(3) of the Code was due
to Financial Advisor W’s error.

Therefore, pursuant to section 408(d)(3)(I) of the Code, the Service hereby
waives the 60-day rollover requirement with respect to the distribution of Amount
M from IRA X. Pursuant to this ruling letter, Taxpayer A is granted a period of 60
days measured from the date of the issuance of this letter ruling to make a
rollover contribution of an amount equal to Amount M to an IRA (or IRAs)
described in Code section 408(a). Provided all other requirements of Code
section 408(d)(3), except the 60-day requirement, are met with respect to such
IRA contribution, the contribution will be considered a rollover contribution within
the meaning of Code section 408(d)(3).

Please note that, pursuant to code section 408(d)(3)(E), this ruling letter does not
authorize the rollover of the Code section 401(a)(9) minimum required
distributions.

No opinion is expressed as to the tax treatment of the transaction described
herein under the provisions of any other section of either the Code or regulations,
which may be applicable thereto.

This letter is directed only to the taxpayer who requested it. Section 6110(k)(3) of
the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

A copy of this letter ruling is sent to your authorized representative pursuant to
the provisions of a Power of Attorney on file in this office.

201022027

Page 5

If you have any questions, please contact XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXKX by
phone at XXXXXXXXXXXX or fax at XXXXXXX.

Sincerely yours,

Frances V. Sloan, Manager
Employee Plans Technical Group 3

Enclosures:
Deleted Copy of Ruling Letter
Notice of Intention to Disclose