1st RMD clarification

[Basically]

Bob was born 3/1/1953
He turns 72 after December 31, 2022 therefore his RMD age is now 73
He turns 73 on 3/1/2026... he needs to take a 2026 RMD
He can put off his 1st RMD payment as long as it is paid by April 1 of the following year, 4/1/2027.

Q/ This payment he makes on or before 4/1/2027 represents the 2026 RMD based on his 12/31/2025 year end balance... correct?
OR; is the deal he can put off his 1st RMD payment until 2027, the amount of the RMD is based on the 2026 YE Balance,  but the catch is he must take it by 4/1

What I struggle with is if he puts off his 1st RMD (the 2026 RMD based on 2025 YE Bal) until  4/1/27 (the following year) and then he needs to take another one for 2027 based on the 2026 YE Bal, he is going to have 2 RMD payments hitting his personal account in 2027...  a lot of taxes to come up with.  Am I overthinking this?

[Belgarath]

14 minutes ago, Basically said:

What I struggle with is if he puts off his 1st RMD (the 2026 RMD based on 2025 YE Bal) until  4/1/27 (the following year) and then he needs to take another one for 2027 based on the 2026 YE Bal, he is going to have 2 RMD payments hitting his personal account in 2027...  a lot of taxes to come up with.  Am I overthinking this?

You are correct, and you aren't overthinking it IMHO. But it has always been this way, just utilizing younger RMD ages prior to these new age changes. The "two in one year" issue is one that many people have avoided (and can avoid) by not postponing the first RMD. 

 

[Basically]

Thanks 

So what I gather is that Uncle Sam will get his taxes for each year.  He allows you to push it off for the first year but then you get hit twice the second year.  After that it's year to year. 

[Gina Alsdorf]

Uncle Sam always gets his piece.  That is pretty much the truest part of tax law. You can delay it, but usually it is an eventuality.