"If I am reading the new proposed regulations for required minimum distributions correctly, the rules for the spousal election/spousal rollover (to treat a deceased spouse's IRA as the surviving spouse's own account) are quite different than under the prior regime, and much more restrictive. Under the prior regime there was no deadline for the spousal election/rollover, and under the new regime the election (the proposed
regulations use that term) must be made by the later of (i) the end of the calendar year in which the surviving spouse reaches age 72, or (ii) the end of the calendar year following the calendar year of the IRA account holder's death. Also under the old regime if the IRA account holder designated a trust or their estate as the IRA beneficiary it was still possible for the spousal election to be made 'through' the trust or estate
provided that the surviving spouse had dole dominion over the IRA asset under the terms of the trust or as executor of the estate. But per Proposed Treas. Reg. Section 1.508-8(c)((1)(iii) that would no longer appear to be the case -- the cited provisions states:
'In order to make the election described in this paragraph (c)(1), the surviving spouse must be the sole beneficiary of the IRA and have an unlimited right to
withdraw amounts from the IRA. If a trust is named as beneficiary of the IRA, this requirement is not satisfied even if the surviving spouse is the sole beneficiary of the trust.'
Nothing is said about an estate being designated as beneficiary but it would appear that the election opportunity would be lost in that instance, as well. The ability to make the election by not taking an RMD when required, or by making a contribution to
the IRA, is preserved, in addition to the more conventional way of making the election, by re-designating the account, but the deadline would apply regardless of how the election is made."