RMD to deceased participant

A participant in RMD pay status passed away this year, and her plan beneficiary is her estate.  However, the estate is not responding to the plan paperwork to have the RMD processed.  What can be done?  I know there's generally a 50% penalty to the participant if the RMD isn't paid by 12/31/21, but I don't think the participant herself cares at this point - would the penalty pass through to the estate?  Thanks.

Why don't you just send the estate a check?   It is an RMD you don't need paperwork to pay it. 

If the plan compels an involuntary distribution and you have the estate’s taxpayer identification number, pay the required distribution (as ESOP Guy suggests).

If the plan compels an involuntary distribution and you lack information needed for tax-information reporting, consider suggesting that the personal representative seek his or her lawyer’s advice about the representative’s personal liability for the estate’s loss that results from a failure to collect an amount due the estate and for an excise tax that could have been avoided.

On 10/31/2021 at 8:23 PM, Peter Gulia said:

If the plan compels an involuntary distribution and you have the estate’s taxpayer identification number, pay the required distribution (as ESOP Guy suggests).

If the plan compels an involuntary distribution and you lack information needed for tax-information reporting, consider suggesting that the personal representative seek his or her lawyer’s advice about the representative’s personal liability for the estate’s loss that results from a failure to collect an amount due the estate and for an excise tax that could have been avoided.

This is the problem - I believe the plan sponsor does not have the estate's TIN.

Thank you both.