PLR 1210046: IRS waives the 60-day rollover requirement for an IRA distribution

Plain-English summary

A taxpayer moved a distribution from an IRA into a non-IRA account intending to complete a rollover, but the 60-day period expired before the rollover was completed. The taxpayer said that the serious and worsening medical condition of a spouse, combined with full-time caregiving duties, prevented timely action. The IRS waived the 60-day requirement under IRC § 408(d)(3)(I) and treated the later contribution to another IRA as a rollover, assuming the other rollover requirements were met. The ruling did not authorize rolling over amounts that were required to be distributed under IRC § 401(a)(9).

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Should the IRS waive the 60-day rollover requirement for the specified IRA distribution?
• Outcome: Approved.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 401(a)(9) and 408(d)(3)(I); Rev. Proc. 2003-16

Full text (IRS public release)

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

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

DEC 15 2011
201210046

Uniform Issue List: 408.03-00

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXAXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Legend:
Taxpayer A =
Taxpayer B =

IRA X =

Amount D =
Financial InstitutionC =
Financial Institution T =
Date 1 =

Date 2 =

TEP RA: T3

Date 3 = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Year M =

Year N

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Page 2 201210046

Dear XXXXXXXX:

This is in response to your letter dated February 15, 2011, as supplemented by
correspondence dated December 1, 2011, and December 6, 2011, 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 penalty of
perjury in support of the ruling requested.

Taxpayer A, age [redacted], represents that he received a distribution from IRA X
totaling Amount D. Taxpayer A asserts that his failure to accomplish a rollover within the
60-day period prescribed by section 408(d)(3) was due to the medical condition of
Taxpayer B, his spouse, and his duties as her caregiver which impaired his ability to
accomplish a timely rollover. Taxpayer A further represents that Amount D has not
been used for any other purpose.

Taxpayer A represents that on Date 1, he transferred Amount D from IRA X to a
non-IRA account. Taxpayer A represents further that when IRA X, which was
maintained at Financial Institution T, matured he decided to change investment vehicles
to obtain a higher rate of return; and that it was his intention to rollover Amount D to
another rollover IRA. Taxpayer A asserts further that prior to and during the rollover
period, Taxpayer B, his wife, experienced numerous medical problems, requiring
hospitalization and his full-time service as primary caregiver. Taxpayer B was
diagnosed with an aggressive disease and underwent several operations and therapy
during Year M and Year N. Taxpayer B’s mental and physical condition deteriorated
significantly in Year N requiring around the clock care by Taxpayer A until her demise
on Date 3. Taxpayer A asserts that his primary caregiver duties increased during the
60-day rollover period resulting in his inability to properly attend to his financial affairs.
On Date 2, approximately 11 days after the 60-day period expired, Taxpayer A
transferred Amount D to IRA Y, a qualified IRA account.

Documentation provided indicates that, at the time of the distribution, Taxpayer
A’s mental and emotional condition was seriously affected by his spouse's terminal
condition and having to provide around the clock care for her. The documentation
submitted shows that Taxpayer B had been treated for physical and mental health
conditions since Year M and that these health conditions increased in severity just
before and during the 60-day period following Date 1. Documentation also shows that
the effects of Taxpayer B’s long standing physical and mental health conditions
restricted Taxpayer A’s ability to handle his financial affairs.

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

XXXXAXAXXXXXXXHNN 201210046
Page 3

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 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.

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,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Page 4

201210046

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 his failure to accomplish a timely rollover was due to
the medical condition of Taxpayer B, his spouse, and his duties as her caregiver which
impaired his ability to accomplish a timely rollover.

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. Provided all other requirements of section 408(d)(3) of the Code, except
the 60-day requirement, are met with respect to such contribution, the Service will treat
Taxpayer A's Date 2 contribution of Amount D to IRA Y as 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 by section 401(a)(9) of the Code.

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.

If you wish to inquire about this ruling, please contact XXXXXXXXXX (ID XX-
XXXXX) at (XXX)-XXXXX. Please address all correspondence to SE:T:EP:RA:T3.

Sincerely yours,

Laura B. Warshawsky, Manager,
Employee Plans Technical Group 3

Enclosures:
Deleted copy of ruling letter
Notice of Intention to Disclose