As a general rule, individuals are required to begin taking minimum distributions from tax deferred retirement plans, such as IRAs, 403(b)s, 401(k) plans, when the individual attains age 70 1/2.  An employee who is working after attaining age 70 1/2 may be allowed to delay until retirement the required minimum distributions from his employer’s 401(k) plan.  The 401(k) plan must specifically allow for delayed distribution for working employees, and the employee must not be a 5% or greater owner of the business that sponsors the 401(k).  Under this special rule, the first required minimum distribution is due for the year in which the employee retires, and may be delayed until April 1 of the year following the year of retirement.  Subsequent required minimum distributions are due by December 31^st of each year following the year of retirement.

A tax savvy employee who has the option of retiring in December or waiting until the following January may want to consider the due dates for taking required minimum distributions when setting his or her retirement date.  For example, if an employee retires on December 31, 2016 without having taken the required minimum distribution from his 401(k) account in 2016, then the employee will have to take two required minimum distributions in 2017.  The 2016 distribution for the year of retirement is due by April 1, 2017, and is calculated using the employee’s 401(k) account balance as of December 31, 2015.  The 2017 distribution is due by December 31, 2017 and is calculated using the employee’s account balance as of December 31, 2016.