PLR 1309026: IRS waives the 60-day IRA rollover deadline after an unauthorized distribution

Plain-English summary

The IRS considered a taxpayer whose IRA custodian caused a distribution that she had not requested. She did not learn about the distribution until after the 60-day rollover period had expired, and the investment was not liquidated or paid to her. The IRS waived the 60-day requirement under IRC § 408(d)(3)(I) and gave her 60 days from the ruling letter to contribute the amount to a rollover IRA, provided the other rollover requirements were met. The ruling did not authorize a rollover of amounts required to be distributed under IRC § 401(a)(9).

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Can the taxpayer receive a waiver of the 60-day IRA rollover deadline after an unauthorized distribution?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 408(d)(3)(A), 408(d)(3)(I), and 401(a)(9); Rev. Proc. 2003-16

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 201309026

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20224

COMMISSIONER DEC 05 2012

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

Uniform Issue List: 408.03-00

DATE

kkk

xak*K

Legend:

Taxpayer A = ***
IRA X = ***
Amount A = ***

kkk

Financial Institution

Custodian = “ee
Company = ***
Investment = “*
Accounting Firm = ***
Dear * * :

This is in response to your request dated June 19, 20° as supplemented by
correspondence dated September 14, 20, 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 represents that the custodian of IRA X caused a distribution from IRA
X totaling Amount A. Taxpayer A asserts that her failure to accomplish a rollover within
the 60-day period prescribed by section 408(d)(3) of the Code was due to an error
committed by Financial Institution, in that she did not request the distribution of Amount

201309026

A and she did not become aware of the distribution until after the 60-day period.
Taxpayer A further represents that Amount A has not been used for any other purpose.

Taxpayer A maintained IRA X with Financial Institution with Custodian acting as
custodian. The primary investment of IRA X was Investment, in which Taxpayer A
invested Amount A. Taxpayer A's employer, Company, manages Investment.

Taxpayer A received a notice dated September 14, 20 from Financial
Institution stating that Custodian may cease being the custodian of Investment in
November 20 . After receiving the notice, Taxpayer A spoke with Company and
Company's accounting firm, Accounting Firm. They both advised her that they were
looking into resolving the matter in order to keep Investment with Custodian. Taxpayer

. A relied on Company and Accounting Firm to handle the matter. On November 30,
20 , Custodian ceased acting as custodian of Investment, and Financial Institution
removed Investment from the list of assets of IRA X, in effect causing a distribution of
Investment valued at Amount A. Investment was not liquidated, and no distribution
check was received by Taxpayer A.

Taxpayer A did not become aware of this distribution of Investment from IRA X
until February 20. + when her tax preparer advised her that her Form 1099-R reported
this distribution of Amount A. Accounting Firm, which had been in discussion with
Financial Institution to resolve the matter, had not been informed of Custodian formally
ceasing to be custodian of Investment. Company, as manager of Investment, was not
informed of any change in ownership of IRA X's ownership interest in Investment.
Investment still lists IRA X as an owner and Taxpayer A even received a regular
dividend distribution from Investment in December 20 _, which she deposited as usual
in IRA X. Taxpayer A did not intend to distribute Investment from IRA X.

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 A.

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.

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

Page 3 | 201309025

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)
(related to required minimum distributions under section 401(a)(9) and incidental death
benefit requirements of section 401(a)).

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.

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) of the Code, 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 timely rollover was caused
by an unauthorized distribution made by Financial Institution. Taxpayer A did not
request the distribution of Amount A and did not become aware of the distribution until
after the 60-day period.

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

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

Page 4

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 ** at ( * )
.** Please address all correspondence to SE:T:EP:RA:T2.

Sincerely yours,

[signature]

Donzeli¢t Littlejohn, Manager,
Employee Plans Technical Group 2

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

cc: *eK