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No lifetime RMD
Roth IRA
A Roth IRA is a personal retirement account funded with after-tax dollars. Qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free, and the original owner never faces lifetime RMDs.
No lifetime RMD for the original account owner.
Who might have one?
- Workers who expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement
- Younger savers with decades of tax-free growth ahead
- People who want tax diversification alongside pre-tax accounts
- Retirees doing Roth conversions to manage future tax liability
Why would you have one?
- Tax-free growth and tax-free qualified withdrawals in retirement
- No required minimum distributions during your lifetime
- Leave a tax-free inheritance to beneficiaries (with their own distribution rules)
- Flexibility — contributions (not earnings) can be withdrawn anytime without penalty
RMD rules for this account
Original Roth IRA owners do not take lifetime RMDs. However, if you inherit a Roth IRA, different rules apply — beneficiaries may need to empty the account under the 10-year rule or take stretch distributions depending on beneficiary type.
Common mistakes
- Assuming beneficiaries also avoid all distribution rules
- Not understanding Roth conversion tax implications in the conversion year
- Confusing Roth IRA (no owner RMD) with Roth 401(k) (RMD-free since 2024, but was required before)
Frequently asked questions
- Do Roth IRAs require RMDs?
- No — not for the original account owner. Inherited Roth IRAs have separate beneficiary distribution rules under the SECURE Act.
- Why include Roth IRAs on an RMD site?
- Many people hold both Roth and Traditional accounts. Knowing which accounts require withdrawals helps avoid taking unnecessary taxable distributions from the wrong account.
Related account types
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