The plan must start benefit payments by the required beginning date and follow a reasonable, good-faith reading of the cited tax rules.
(a) In General. Benefit payments under the plan must begin by the “required beginning date,” defined as April 1 of the calendar year following the later of: (1) The calendar year in which the participant attains age 70 1/2, or (2) The calendar year in which the participant terminates active employment. The participant’s entire interest in the trust must be distributed, beginning no later than the “required beginning date,” over the life of the participant or the lives of the participant and a designated beneficiary, or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the participant or the participant and designated beneficiary. (b) Participant Dies Before Entire Interest Is Distributed. (1) Distributions Have Begun. When a participant dies after distribution of benefits has begun, the remaining portion of the participant’s interest shall be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distributions prior to the participant’s death. (2) Distributions Have Not Begun. When a participant dies before distribution of benefits has begun, the following rules apply: a. Five-Year Rule and No Designated Beneficiary. If there is no designated beneficiary, the entire interest of the participant shall be distributed within five years of the participant’s death. b. Life Expectancy Rule and Designated Beneficiary. If the participant’s interest is payable to a non-spouse designated beneficiary, the entire interest shall be paid over the life of such designated beneficiary, such distributions shall begin on or before the end of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the participant died. c. Special Rule for the Surviving Spouse. If the participant’s sole designated beneficiary is the surviving spouse, the date on which distributions are required to begin shall not be earlier than the December 31st of the calendar year in which the participant would have attained age 70 1/2. (c) Reasonable and Good Faith Interpretation. Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the plan shall pay all benefits in accordance with a reasonable and good faith interpretation of Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(9), including the incidental death benefit requirement in Code Section 401(a)(9)(G), and the regulations thereunder, Treasury Regulation Sections 1.401(a)(9)-1 through 1.401(a)(9)-9.