PLR 1044037: IRS waived the 60-day IRA rollover deadline because of serious illness

Plain-English summary

The IRS waived the 60-day deadline for a taxpayer to roll an IRA distribution into another IRA. The taxpayer had a degenerative medical condition that limited his mobility and ability to manage his financial affairs during the rollover period, and a physician confirmed that he was confined to a bed or chair for most of that period. The IRS found that the evidence supported his intended rollover and granted him 60 days from the ruling date to contribute the amount to an IRA. The ruling did not authorize rollovers of amounts required to be distributed under IRC § 401(a)(9).

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May the IRS waive the 60-day rollover requirement because the taxpayer's medical condition prevented a timely rollover?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 72, 401, and 408; Rev. Proc. 2003-16

Full text (IRS public release)

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

201044037
TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

AUG 10 2010

U.I.L. 408.03-00

SE:T:EP:RA:T4

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

Legend:

Taxpayer A = xxxxx

IRA X = xxxxx

IRA V = xxxxx

Financial Institution C = xxxxx
Financial Institution D = xxxxx
Amount N = xxxxx

Year 1= xxxxx

Date 1 = xxxxx

Date 2 = xxxxx

Dear xxxxx:

This is in response to your submission dated December 17, 2009, in which you
request a letter ruling waiving the 60-day rollover requirement contained in
section 408(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”).

The following facts and representations are made under penalties of perjury in
support of your ruling request.

Taxpayer A, age 75, represents that on Date 1, Amount N was distributed from
IRA X, an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) he maintained at Financial
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201044037

Institution D. Taxpayer A asserts that he intended to roll over Amount N into
another IRA and that his failure to accomplish a rollover of Amount N within the
60-day period prescribed by section 408(d)(3) of the Code was due to the
worsening of a degenerative medical condition which affected his mobility and
limited his ability to manage his financial affairs. Taxpayer A further asserts that
Amount N has not been used for any purpose.

Taxpayer A represents that on Date 1, he liquidated IRA X, a Certificate of
Deposit, maintained at Financial Institution D with the intention of rolling over its
maturity value of Amount N into IRA V which he maintained at Financial
Institution C. Taxpayer A represents that, during the 60-day rollover period
following Date 1, he was bed-ridden on account of his degenerative medical
condition.

Taxpayer A has provided a letter from his treating physician stating that Taxpayer
A was confined to a bed or chair during most of a four-month period which
included the 60-day rollover period.

Taxpayer A represents that, upon improvement of his condition, he attempted to
roll over Amount N into IRA V, but was informed that the 60-day rollover period
had passed.

Based on the facts and representations presented in this letter, you request that
the Service waive the 60-day rollover requirement with respect to the distribution
of Amount N 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) 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)).
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201044037

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) of the Code.

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(d)(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) 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.

Revenue Procedure 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, 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 his assertion that he intended to transfer Amount N into IRA V
during the 60-day period following Date 1 and that his medical condition
prevented him from doing so.

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
N from IRA X. Taxpayer A is granted a period of 60 days from the issuance of
this ruling letter to contribute Amount N into an IRA.
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Provided all other requirements of section 408(d)(3) of the Code except the 60-
day requirement are met with respect to such contribution, Amount N will be
considered a rollover contribution within the meaning of section 408(d)(3) of the
Code.

This ruling does not authorize the rollover of amounts that are required to be
distributed to Taxpayer A by section 401(a)(9) of the Code.

This ruling assumes that IRA X satisfies the qualification requirements of section
408 of the Code at all times relevant to this transaction.

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 ruling 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.

If you wish to inquire about this ruling, please contact xxxxx, I.D. # xxxxx, by
telephone at 202-283-xxxxx. Please address all correspondence to
SE:T:EP:RA:T4.

Sincerely yours,

Laura B. Warshawsky, Manager
Employee Plans Technical Group 4

Enclosures:
Copy of deleted ruling letter
Notice of Intention to Disclose