Q-1. If an employee dies before the employee's required beginning date, how must the employee's entire interest be distributed in order to satisfy
section 401(a)(9)?
A-1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in A-10 of
§ 1.401(a)(9)-6, if an employee dies before the employee's required beginning date (and, thus, before distributions are treated as having begun in accordance with
section 401(a)(9)(A)(ii)), distribution of the employee's entire interest must be made in accordance with one of the methods described in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii) or (iii) and (iv). One method (the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii)) requires that the entire interest of the employee be distributed within 5 years of the employee's death regardless of who or what entity receives the distribution. Another method (the life expectancy rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv)) requires that any portion of an employee's interest payable to (or for the benefit of) a designated beneficiary be distributed, commencing within one year of the employee's death, over the life of such beneficiary (or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of such beneficiary).
Section 401(a)(9)(B)(iv) provides special rules where the designated beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the employee, including a special commencement date for distributions under
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) to the surviving spouse.
(b) See A-4 of this section for the rules for determining which of the methods described in paragraph (a) of this A-1 applies. See A-3 of this section to determine when distributions under the exception to the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv) must commence. See A-2 of this section to determine when the 5-year period in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii) ends. For distributions using the life expectancy rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv), see
§ 1.401(a)(9)-4 in order to determine the designated beneficiary under
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv), see
§ 1.401(a)(9)-5 for the rules for determining the required minimum distribution under a defined contribution plan, and see
§ 1.401(a)(9)-6 for required minimum distributions under defined benefit plans.
Q-2. By when must the employee's entire interest be distributed in order to satisfy the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii)?
A-2. In order to satisfy the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii), the employee's entire interest must be distributed by the end of the calendar year which contains the fifth anniversary of the date of the employee's death. For example, if an employee dies on January 1, 2003, the entire interest must be distributed by the end of 2008, in order to satisfy the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii).
Q-3. When are distributions required to commence in order to satisfy the life expectancy rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv)?
A-3. (a)
Nonspouse beneficiary. In order to satisfy the life expectancy rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii), if the designated beneficiary is not the employee's surviving spouse, distributions must commence on or before the end of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the employee died. This rule also applies to the distribution of the entire remaining benefit if another individual is a designated beneficiary in addition to the employee's surviving spouse. See A-2 and A-3 of
§ 1.401(a)(9)-8, however, if the employee's benefit is divided into separate accounts.
(b) Spousal beneficiary. In order to satisfy the rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv), if the sole designated beneficiary is the employee's surviving spouse, distributions must commence on or before the later of—
(1) The end of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the employee died; and
(2) The end of the calendar year in which the employee would have attained age 70 1/2.
A-4. (a) No plan provision. If a plan does not adopt an optional provision described in paragraph (b) or (c) of this A-4 specifying the method of distribution after the death of an employee, distribution must be made as follows:
(2) If the employee has no designated beneficiary, distributions are to be made in accordance with the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii).
(b) Optional plan provisions. A plan may adopt a provision specifying either that the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii) will apply to certain distributions after the death of an employee even if the employee has a designated beneficiary or that distribution in every case will be made in accordance with the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii). Further, a plan need not have the same method of distribution for the benefits of all employees in order to satisfy
section 401(a)(9).
(c) Elections. A plan may adopt a provision that permits employees (or beneficiaries) to elect on an individual basis whether the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii) or the life expectancy rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv) applies to distributions after the death of an employee who has a designated beneficiary. Such an election must be made no later than the earlier of the end of the calendar year in which distribution would be required to commence in order to satisfy the requirements for the life expectancy rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv) (see A-3 of this section for the determination of such calendar year) or the end of the calendar year which contains the fifth anniversary of the date of death of the employee. As of the last date the election may be made, the election must be irrevocable with respect to the beneficiary (and all subsequent beneficiaries) and must apply to all subsequent calendar years. If a plan provides for the election, the plan may also specify the method of distribution that applies if neither the employee nor the beneficiary makes the election. If neither the employee nor the beneficiary elects a method and the plan does not specify which method applies, distribution must be made in accordance with paragraph (a) of this A-4.
Q-5. If the employee's surviving spouse is the employee's sole designated beneficiary and such spouse dies after the employee, but before distributions have begun to the surviving spouse under
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv), how is the employee's interest to be distributed?
A-5. Pursuant to
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iv)(II), if the surviving spouse is the employee's sole designated beneficiary and dies after the employee, but before distributions to such spouse have begun under
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) and (iv), the 5-year rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(ii) and the life expectancy rule in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iii) are to be applied as if the surviving spouse were the employee. In applying this rule, the date of death of the surviving spouse shall be substituted for the date of death of the employee. However, in such case, the rules in
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iv) are not available to the surviving spouse of the deceased employee's surviving spouse.
A-6. Distributions are considered to have begun to the surviving spouse of an employee, for purposes of
section 401(a)(9)(B)(iv)(II), on the date, determined in accordance with A-3 of this section, on which distributions are required to commence to the surviving spouse, even though payments have actually been made before that date. See A-11 of
§ 1.401(a)(9)-6 for a special rule for annuities.
Treas. Reg. § 1.401(a)(9)-3 — Death before required beginning date. · eCFR editorial change effective 2016-05-18 · https://pensionresource.website/EAMain?content=EAMain.Law&id=cfr26-1.401%28a%29%289%29-3&asof=2012-07-11 · printed Oct 16, 2026