RMD for IRA Inherited from Father

[jkharvey]

Individual inherits an IRA from her father who passed away in 2000. The father reached age 70 1/2 a couple of years before his death. The beneficiary (daughter) took a distribution in 2000 based on 1/5 of the balance of the IRA. Does this constitue some kind of irrevocable election requiring her to complete the distribution over 5 years or can she take the 2001 distribution based on her life expectancy?

[Appleby]

The five year rules applies only when the participant dies before the required beginning date, i.e. before April 1, following the year of the 70 1/2 birthday anniversary.

The daughter is permitted to take distributions over her single life expectancy (according to the New proposed RMD regulations), beginning 2001