SECURE Act · 10-Year Rule · June 2026
If you inherit an IRA from a parent, the rules are driven mainly by (1) whether you're a spouse or non-spouse beneficiary and (2) whether your parent died before or after the point they were required to start RMDs. For many adult non-spouse beneficiaries, the SECURE Act's 10-year rule means the inherited IRA generally must be emptied by the end of the 10th year after the year of death.
An "inherited IRA from parent" usually means the account is retitled as an inherited IRA after the owner's death. It is not the same as your own IRA, and in most non-spouse cases it is not a normal rollover into your personal retirement account. The way the account is titled and reported matters, because it affects both the tax reporting and the distribution rules that follow.
The main question is not just "Did I inherit an IRA?" It is: What kind of beneficiary are you under IRS rules?
For many adult non-spouse beneficiaries, the big rule is the SECURE Act's 10-year rule. In plain English: the inherited IRA generally must be fully distributed by the end of the 10th year following the year of the owner's death.
Deadline construction template:
That sounds simple, but there's a catch: in some situations, especially if the deceased parent had already started RMDs, the IRS rules can impose distribution requirements before the final year-10 deadline. So "I'll just take it all in year 10" is not always a safe assumption.
If your parent died in 2021, the inherited IRA generally must be emptied by December 31, 2031. This is the general year-10 deadline concept; additional annual distribution mechanics may apply in certain cases depending on the decedent's RMD status and your beneficiary category.
Whether you are the spouse or a non-spouse beneficiary is usually the biggest branching point in the rules. Spouses generally have more options. Non-spouses are more likely to fall under the SECURE Act's 10-year framework, unless they qualify as an EDB.
The SECURE Act changed inherited IRA outcomes for many deaths after 2019. That timing is one reason search results often look confusing: older "stretch IRA" advice may no longer apply.
If the parent had already started RMDs, the inherited IRA may be subject to more than just a final year-10 deadline. There can be annual distribution requirements during the 10-year period, depending on the facts and the IRS rule set that applies to your category.
IRS Notice 2024-35, released April 16, 2024, provides transition relief for certain missed RMDs in 2024 for beneficiaries subject to the 10-year rule's annual RMD mechanics, in situations described by the notice. It does not change the underlying beneficiary deadline rules.
Ask these three questions:
This is one of the most common inherited IRA misunderstandings. The 10-year rule does not always mean "do nothing until year 10." In some situations, there can be annual distribution mechanics in years 1 through 9, especially if the deceased owner had already started RMDs.
The safe approach is to separate two ideas:
If your parent had not started RMDs, your situation may be simpler. If they had, do not assume the account can sit untouched until the end.
The IRS does not just care that you took money out. It also cares how the withdrawal was reported. Withdrawals are typically reported on IRS Form 1099-R. You can review the 1099-R and custodian statements to confirm the withdrawal was coded consistent with an inherited-IRA distribution.
A precious-metals IRA structure, often called a Gold IRA, may change where the assets are held, but it does not erase the inherited IRA rules. The inherited IRA distribution requirements still apply regardless of what the account holds.
That creates a practical issue: metals are not as liquid as cash. If you need to take a required distribution, the custodian may need to sell metals first — which takes time and involves additional fees.
Fees are not just a cost issue — they can affect distribution timing. For a 10-year inherited IRA, especially one holding gold or other illiquid assets, fees and processing delays can compress your available timeline.
Ask the custodian for a current, dated fee schedule showing all relevant costs before you make any distribution decisions. Verify the timeline for processing a distribution, especially near December 31 deadlines.
Confirm whether the inherited account is a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Tax treatment differs.
Determine whether you are a spouse, a non-spouse beneficiary, or one of the IRS exception categories.
Ask the custodian how they are applying the IRS rule and what deadline they have on file.
Record the year of death, the end of year 10, and any interim dates the custodian gives you.
For a traditional inherited IRA, withdrawals are generally taxable as ordinary income. Timing can affect your tax bracket, so plan rather than guess.
Liquidation timing may depend on your custodian's process. Fee structures vary by custodian and dealer, so review your specific custodian's published fee schedule and metal liquidation or redemption rules.
As an adult non-spouse beneficiary, you will usually be subject to the SECURE Act's 10-year rule, which means the inherited IRA generally must be fully distributed by the end of the 10th year following the year of your parent's death. Important exceptions exist for eligible designated beneficiaries.
Not under current rules for most adult children. The SECURE Act eliminated the stretch IRA for most non-spouse beneficiaries who are not eligible designated beneficiaries. Many adult children are subject to the 10-year clean-out rule.
It depends on whether your parent had already started RMDs before death. If yes, annual distributions may also be required during the 10-year period — not just the final deadline. Confirm the exact mechanics using IRS Publication 590-B for your beneficiary type.
An EDB is a category of beneficiary the IRS treats more favorably. EDB categories can include surviving spouses, certain disabled or chronically ill individuals, minor children of the decedent in limited circumstances, and beneficiaries not more than 10 years younger than the IRA owner.
A precious metals IRA structure may change where the assets are held, but it does not erase the inherited IRA distribution rules. The inherited IRA rules still apply regardless of what the account holds.