Trust inheriting an IRA

There seems to be some confusion on what happens when a trust inherits an IRA. My understanding is that if a client passes away before their RBD the IRA must be paid out by the end of the 5th year after death (5yr rule).
Can the trust be distributed to the appropriate Beneficiary IRAs with each beneficiary depleting their bene IRA in 5yrs?

If the client passes away after their RBD the trust can be distributed to the beneficiaries of the trust with their IRA’s title as:
John Smith, deceased, IRA FBO Jane Doe of John Smith Estate.
Not sure if our custodian can accommodate this registration, it seems we only have the option of:
Jane Doe beneficiary IRA of John Smith IRA.

Will there be any issues with this?

Also, if the bene IRA’s are established, it seems we still have to calculate all beneficiaries RMDs using the deceased life expectancy.



  • If the trust is properly drafted, the trustees may set up an inherited IRA and stretch the distributions over the life expectancy of the oldest beneficiary of the trust.
  • Bruce Steiner


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