PLR 1315035: IRS waives the 60-day rollover deadline after a spouse's death

Plain-English summary

The IRS granted a waiver of the 60-day rollover requirement for a surviving spouse's distribution from a qualified retirement plan. The taxpayer delayed the rollover while dealing with emotional trauma, financial unfamiliarity, probate issues, and possible foreclosure after the decedent's unexpected death. The Service concluded that the circumstances supported relief under section 402(c)(3)(B). The contribution was treated as a rollover if the other requirements of section 402(c) were satisfied. The ruling did not authorize rollover of amounts required to be distributed under section 401(a)(9).

Ruling snapshot

• Question: What did the IRS decide under the facts presented?
• Outcome: Approved, on the stated facts and representations.
• Key authorities: IRC § 402; IRC § 401; IRC § 6110.

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY PUL3SL5SUSS
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20224

TAX EXEMPT AND JAN 1 7 2013

GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

Uniform Issue List: 402.00-00

TERA T!

Legend:

Taxpayer A =
Decedent B =
Company C =
Plan D =

Account F =

Financial Institution G

Account H

Financial institution |

IRA J =

Financial Institution K
Amount 1 =
Amount 2 =
Amount 3 =
Amount 4 =

Amount 5 =

; 201315035

Amount 6 ; =

Dear

This letter is in response to a request for a letter ruling dated August 10, 2011,

as supplemented by correspondence dated February 16, May 7, October 31, and
November 27, 2012, from your authorized representative, in which you request a

waiver of the 60-day rollover requirement contained in section 402(c)(3)(B) of the

Internal Revenue Code ("Code"), regarding the distribution of Amount 4 from

Plan D.

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

Taxpayer A represents that she received a distribution of Amount 1 from Plan D.
The actual amount of the check was Amount 4 (Amount 1 less federal and state
tax withholdings of Amounts 2 and 3, respectively). Taxpayer A asserts that her
failure to accomplish a rollover of Amount 4 within the 60-day period prescribed by
section 402(c)(3)(A) of the Code was due to Taxpayer A’s mental condition
following the death of her spouse, Decedent B, which impaired her ability to make
financial decisions during the 60-day period. Taxpayer A further represents that
Amount 4 has not been used for any other purpose.

Decedent B was primarily responsible for financial matters for the family prior to
his death. Decedent B died unexpectedly in May of 20. © Through his work with
Company C, Decedent B had participated in Plan D, a qualified retirement plan.
On July ,20_, as surviving spouse, Taxpayer A received a net distribution
(Amount 4) of Decedent B’s account balance in PlanD. OnJuly ,20. ,
Taxpayer A deposited Amount 4 into a savings account (Account F) with Financial
Institution G. On August ,20 , Taxpayer A withdrew Amount 5 (which includes
Amount 4) from Account F with Financial institution G. On September , 20° ,
after the expiration of the 60-day rollover period, Taxpayer A met with a
representative of Financial Institution | and deposited Amount 5 into component
parts (Checking Account and Premier Savings Account) of Account H with
Financial Institution |. On December ,20_ , after Taxpayer A’s financial advisor
discovered that Account H was not an IRA, Taxpayer A wrote a check for Amount
6, drawn on Account H, and deposited it into IRA J with Financial Institution K on
December ', 20

Taxpayer A experienced emotional trauma during the months following the sudden
death of Decedent B. Taxpayer A has also represented that she faced both a
probate challenge from Decedent B’s family and possible foreclosure on her
primary residence. Taxpayer A asserts that as a result of her unfamiliarity with
financial transactions and the stressful 2vents following Decedent B’s death, she
was unable to accomplish a timely rollover of Amount 4.

° 2U1315035

Based on the above facts and representations, you request that the Internal
Revenue Service (“Service”) waive the 60-day rollover requirement contained in
section 402(c)(3)(A) of the Code with respect to Amount 4.

Section 402(c) of the Code provides that if any portion of the balance to the credit
of an employee in a qualified trust is paid to the employee in an eligible rollover
distribution, and the distributee transfers any portion of the property received in
such distribution to an eligible retirement plan, and in the case of a distribution of
property other than money, the amount so transferred consists of the property
distributed, then such distribution (to the extent transferred) shall not be includible
in gross income for the taxable year in which paid. Section 402(c)(3)(A) of the
Code states that such rollover must be accomplished within 60 days following the
day on which the distributee received the property. An individual retirement
account (IRA) constitutes one form of eligible retirement plan. -

Section 402(c)(4) of the Code provides that an eligible rollover distribution shall not
include any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under section
401(a)(Q).

Section 402(c)(3)(B) of the Code provides, in relevant part, that the Secretary may
waive the 60-day requirement under section 402(c) 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 402(c)(3)(B) of the
Code.

Section 402(d)(6) of the Code provides that any amount transferred in a direct
trustee-to-trustee transfer in accordance with section 401(a)(31) shall not be
includible in gross income for the taxable year of such transfer.

Section 1.401(a)(31) of the Income Tax Regulations, Question and Answer-15,
provides, in relevant part, that an eligible rollover distribution that is paid to an
eligible retirement plan in a direct rollover is a distribution and rollover, and not a
transfer of assets and liabilities.

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.

: 201315035

The information presented and the documentation submitted by Taxpayer A is
consistent with her assertion that her failure to accomplish a timely rollover of
Amount 4 was due to her unfamiliarity with financial affairs and the personal
and emotional stress she experienced following the death of her husband
(Decedent B).

Therefore, pursuant to section 402(c)(3)(B), the Service hereby waives the 60-day
rollover requirement with respect to the distribution of Amount 4 from Plan D and
provided all other requirements of section 402(c) of the Code, except the 60-day
requirement, were met with respect to the contribution not in excess of Amount 1
into IRA Jon December ', 20. ., such contribution will be considered a rollover
contribution within the meaning of section 402(c) 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 ruling does not authorize the rollover of amounts that are required to be
distributed by section 401(a)(9) of the Code.

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 has been sent to your authorized representative

pursuant to a power of attorney on file in this office. If you wish to inquire about
this ruling, please contact (I.D. # ); ,at( )

Sincerely yours,

Carlen. 4. Woiteins

Manager
Employee Plans Technical Group 4

cc: