PLR 1039041: 60-day IRA rollover period waived after weekend deadline

Plain-English summary

The IRS waived the 60-day IRA rollover requirement for a taxpayer who received an IRA distribution, kept the funds intact, and missed the deadline because the deadline fell on a weekend while the financial institution’s offices were closed. The taxpayer contacted the institution on the next business day but was told that the period had expired. The IRS allowed the taxpayer to roll the remaining amount into a rollover IRA within 60 days after the ruling letter was issued. The ruling was limited to the taxpayer’s facts and expressed no opinion under other Code provisions.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the IRS waive the 60-day rollover requirement for the remaining IRA distribution under IRC § 408(d)(3)(I)?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC § 408(d)(3)(A), (D), and (I); Rev. Proc. 2003-16

Full text (IRS public release)

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

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

JUL - 6 2010

U.I.L. 408.03-00

XXXXXXKXXKXKXXXXXXKXXXKXXKKX TT E ? \2 A ; T 3
XXXXXXXXKXXAXXXXXXKXXXXXX ; .

XXXXKXXXXXXXXXKXXXKXXKAKK

Legend:

Taxpayer A = — XXXXXXXXXXXAXXXAXXXXXXXAXXAXX
IRA X = — XXXXXXXXXXXXXAXXXAXXAXXAXXXAXK
Company B = — XXXXXXXXXXXXXAXXAXXXXXAXXXXK
Amount C = = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXAXXXXXAXXK
Amount D = = XXXXXXXXXXXAXXXXXXXAXXXXXN
Amount P = = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Company B = — XXXXXXXXXXXXXAXXXXXXXAXXXX
Date E = — XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXK
Date F = — XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXAXXX
Date H = XXXXXXXXXAXXXXXXXAXXXXXAXKK
Bank M = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXAXKK

Dear XXXXXXXXXX:

This letter is in response to your letter dated xxxxxxxxxx, as supplemented by
correspondence dated xxxxxxxxxx, 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."

The following facts and representations have been submitted under penalties of
perjury in support of your request.

Taxpayer A represents that he was the owner of IRA X, a qualified individual
retirement arrangement (“IRA”) established and maintained at Company B under
the rules of section 408 of the Code. On Date E, Taxpayer A represents that he
received a distribution of Amount C from IRA X and deposited the distribution
amount into a non-IRA account with Bank M.

Taxpayer A represents that he was laid off unexpectedly on Date F which was
four (4) days before the expiration of 60-day rollover period which ended on a
weekend, during which the offices of Company B were closed. Taxpayer A
further represents that he attempted to rollover the distribution amount into a
rollover IRA with Company B, the next business day on Date H but could not do
so as Company B notified Taxpayer A that they would not accept Amount C as a
rollover because the 60-day rollover period had expired.

Taxpayer A states that Amount C is still intact with Bank M. Taxpayer A further
requests to rollover only Amount D into a rollover IRA with Company C as he
intends to make use of a portion of the distribution, Amount P, and rollover the
remainder, Amount D, into a rollover IRA with Company B.

Based upon the foregoing facts and representations, Taxpayer A requests that

the Service waive the 60-day rollover requirement with respect to the distribution
of Amount D from IRA X.

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.

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 received 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 in 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 included 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)(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 and good
conscience, including casualty, disaster, or other events beyond the reasonable
control of the individual subject to such requirement. Only distributions that occur

after December 31, 2001, are eligible for the waiver under section 408(d)(3)(I) of
the Code.

Rev. Proc. 2003-16, 2003-4 I.R.B. 359, 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, or hospitalization, incarceration, restrictions imposed by a
foreign country or postal error; (3) the use of 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 his assertion that his failure to accomplish a rollover of Amount D
was due to the fact that the 60th day fell on a weekend and the business offices
of Company B were closed. Taxpayer A avers that he contacted Company B the
next business day, on Date H, and attempted to redeposit Amount D into a
rollover IRA but was advised that the 60-day rollover period had already expired.

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

D from IRA X. Taxpayer A is granted a period of 60 days from the issuance of
this ruling letter to contribute Amount D into a Rollover IRA.

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

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

If you have any questions concerning this ruling, please contact
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, SE: T: EP: RA: T3, at xxxxxxxxxx.

Sincerely yours,

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{ /

/Frances V. Sloan/Manager

Employee Plans/Technical Group 3
Enclosures:

Deleted copy of letter ruling
Notice 437