If you inherit a traditional IRA from someone who was not your spouse, you are generally subject to the 10-year rule under the SECURE Act: The entire account must be distributed by Dec. 31 of the 10th year after the original owner’s death. If the original owner had already begun taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) before they passed, you must also take annual RMDs during years 1 through 9 — a requirement the IRS finalized in July 2024 and began enforcing fully in 2025. Surviving spouses have more flexibility and may treat an inherited IRA as their own. A wealth advisor and CPA should help you model a distribution schedule that seeks to minimize your income tax exposure across the full 10-year window.
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