Medical incapacity qualifies partial IRA rollover for waiver

Plain-English summary

An IRA owner took a full distribution intending to move most of it to another IRA with a better return. Part of the distribution was her required minimum distribution, while the remainder was eligible for rollover. During the 60-day period she was hospitalized and experienced severe physical and mental health complications that impaired her ability to manage financial affairs. She completed the partial rollover after the deadline and left the rollover amount in the receiving IRA. Based on medical documentation, the IRS waived the deadline for the rollover amount under IRC § 408(d)(3)(I), but the ruling did not permit rollover of the required minimum distribution.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the taxpayer receive a waiver for a late partial IRA rollover caused by hospitalization and impaired capacity?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC § 408(d)(3)(I); Rev. Proc. 2003-16

Full text (IRS public release)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 201451063
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20224

TAX EXEMPT AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
DIVISION

SEP 24 2014

Uniform Issue List: 408.03-00

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Legend:

Taxpayer A = XXXXXXXXXXXXX
IRA B = XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bank C = XXXXXXXXXXXXX
IRA D = XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bank E = XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amount 1 = XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amount 2 = XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Amount 3 = XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXX:

This is in response to your request dated April 8, 2014, as supplemented by
correspondence dated May 20, 2014, in which your authorized representatives request,
on your behalf, a waiver of the 60-day rollover requirement contained in section
408(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”).

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 complete distribution from IRA B totaling
Amount 1. Taxpayer A asserts that her failure to accomplish a rollover within the 60-

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day period prescribed by section 408(d)(3) was due to her medical condition which
impaired her ability to manage her financial affairs.

Taxpayer A maintained IRA B, an individual retirement account under section 408 of the
Code, with Bank C. Taxpayer A asserts that she intended for her assets to remain in a
tax deferred environment. Taxpayer A represents that the distribution was requested
because the funds in IRA B were in an investment that was due to mature, and she was
advised that she would get a better return on her investment if she transferred her funds
to an IRA maintained at Bank E.

On November 30, 2011, Taxpayer A received a distribution totaling Amount 1 from IRA
B, with Amount 3 being the portion of Amount 1 that represents Taxpayer A’s required
minimum distribution for tax year 2011. During the 60-day rollover period following the
distribution of Amount 1, Taxpayer A was hospitalized for a period of time and suffered
severe side effects and complications that prevented her from carrying out her financial
affairs, including completing a timely rollover of Amount 2, as a partial rollover of the
distribution of Amount 1. On February 2, 2012, Taxpayer A transferred Amount 2 into
IRA D with Bank E. Taxpayer A represents that Amount 2 has not been used for any
other purpose and remains in IRA D.

Taxpayer A has suffered from a number of mental health disorders for several years
and has been receiving both treatment and medication. Documentation and medical
records have been submitted that show Taxpayer A’s state of physical and mental
health during the period surrounding the distribution of Amount 1, which condition
impaired her ability to manage her financial affairs.

Based on the facts and representations, a ruling has been requested that the Internal
Revenue Service (the “Service”) waive the 60 day rollover requirement contained in
section 408(d)(3) of the Code with respect to the distribution of Amount 2.

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

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(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, 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 Taxpayer A’s failure to accomplish a timely rollover was caused
by her medical condition which impaired her ability to manage her financial affairs.

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 2 from IRA B on
November 30, 2011, and contribution of Amount 2 into IRA D on February 2, 2012.
Provided all other requirements of section 408(d)(3) of the Code, except the 60-day
requirement, are met with respect to such contribution of Amount 2, Amount 2 will be
considered a rollover contribution within the meaning of section 408(d)(3) of the Code.

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This ruling does not authorize the rollover of any amounts that are required to be
distributed by section 408(a)(6) 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.

A copy of this letter is being sent to your authorized representatives pursuant to a
Power of Attorney on file in this office.

If you wish to inquire about this ruling, please contact XXXXXXXXXX (ID XXXXXXXXX)
at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Please address all correspondence to SE:T:EP:RA:T1.

Sincerely,

Carlton A. Watkins

Carlton A. Watkins, Manager
Employee Plans Technical Group 1

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