Financial-institution error excuses late IRA rollover

Plain-English summary

A taxpayer received a distribution from one IRA and intended to roll it into a self-directed IRA. Following a financial-institution representative's instructions, the taxpayer instead deposited the full amount in two installments into a checking account for an LLC associated with the self-directed arrangement. The representative later explained that the money should first have been contributed to the IRA, and the taxpayer learned the distribution had been reported as taxable. The IRS found that the failure to complete a timely rollover resulted from the representative's error and that the money had not been used for another purpose. It waived the 60-day deadline and gave the taxpayer 60 days from the ruling date to contribute the full amount to a rollover IRA.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the taxpayer receive a waiver after following erroneous instructions for an IRA rollover?
• Outcome: Approved. The 60-day requirement was waived, and the taxpayer received a new 60-day contribution period.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 408(d)(3), 408(d)(3)(I); Rev. Proc. 2003-16

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
201432036

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20224

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
MAY 15 2014
DIVISION

Uniform Issue List: 408.03-00

XXXXXXXXXX
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Legend:
Taxpayer A = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
IRA X = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
IRA Y = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amount B = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amount C = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amount D = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Financial Institution E = XXxXXxXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bank F = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Entity M = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Date 1 = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Date 2 = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Date 3 = XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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Dear XXXXXXXXXXXX:

This is in response to your request, dated September 6, 2013, 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 he received a distribution from IRA X totaling Amount B. Taxpayer A asserts that his failure to accomplish a rollover within the 60-day period prescribed by section 408(d)(3) was due to an error made by a representative of Financial Institution E. Taxpayer A further represents that Amount B has not been used for any other purpose.

On Date 1, Taxpayer A received a distribution of Amount B from IRA X. Taxpayer A intended to rollover Amount B into an IRA Y, a self-directed individual retirement account held by Financial Institution E. Prior to receiving Amount B from IRA X, Taxpayer A had established Entity M, a limited liability company, and also established a checking account for Entity M with Bank F. Financial Institution E is the sole member of Entity M.

A representative of Financial Institution E instructed Taxpayer A to make rollover deposits into the checking account established for Entity M. In accordance with such instructions, on Date 2, Taxpayer A deposited Amount C into the checking account established for Entity M. On Date 3, Taxpayer A additionally deposited Amount D into that checking account. The total of Amounts C and D equal Amount B.

In March 2012, Taxpayer A contacted the representative at Financial Institution E who had instructed him to make the intended rollover contributions into the Entity M checking account and was then told by such representative that the rollover contributions should have been made to IRA Y before being deposited into the Entity M checking account. That was the first time Taxpayer A had been given such information.

It was not until Taxpayer A received a Form 1099-R showing the distribution of Amount B as being taxable that he realized the intended rollover from IRA X to IRA Y was done incorrectly.

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 B.

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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.

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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, 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 caused by an error committed by a representative of Financial Institution E.

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 B from IRA X. Taxpayer A is granted a period of 60 days from the issuance of this ruling letter to contribute Amount B into a rollover IRA. 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 B will be considered a rollover contribution within the meaning of section 408(d)(3) 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 408(a)(6) 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.

In accordance with a power of attorney on file in this office, a copy of this letter has been sent to your authorized representative.

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If you wish to inquire about this ruling, please contact xxxxxxxxxx (ID XXXXXXXX) at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Please address all correspondence to

SE:T:EP:RA:T 3.

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

cc: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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Sincerely yours,

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