RMD for spousal beneficiary

[pmacduff]

Can't seem to get this straight in my head.  Participant passes away late in 2022 and has already taken his 2022 RMD.  Spousal beneficiary (also a plan participant) has not yet taken rollover of husband's plan balance.  She plans to rollover his balance in 2023 to her personal IRA. 

Is a 2023 RMD required from the deceased participant's plan account prior to the 2023 rollover to spousal beneficiary's personal IRA?  (Both participants are owners, well over age 72 and have already been taking RMDs from their plan account balances.)

[Bird]

I think yes. RMDs are based on prior year 12/31 balances and there was a balance.

[pmacduff]

Thanks Bird, I thought so too.  So....the wife will need to take one 2023 RMD from his account before she rolls it to her IRA, and another from her own account with each based on her life expectancy factor - do I have that correct?

[Bird]

Correct