S. 3527Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

A bill to waive required minimum distribution rules for retirement plans in 2020.

Introduced March 18, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:32 AM UTC

The bill temporarily suspends the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules for 2020. It applies to most defined‑contribution retirement plans, certain 457(b) deferred‑compensation plans, and individual retirement accounts, letting participants skip the mandatory withdrawals for that year. The change also clarifies how those waived distributions are treated for rollover tax purposes.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new subparagraph to the tax code that exempts 2020 RMD requirements for defined‑contribution plans (including 403(a) and 403(b) plans), eligible 457(b) plans, and individual retirement accounts.
  • Specifies that the usual RMD start dates and any five‑year calculation periods are determined without considering the 2020 waiver for future years.
  • Amends the definition of eligible rollover distributions so that any distribution treated as a rollover only because of the 2020 waiver will not be counted as an eligible rollover for other tax provisions.
  • Sets the waiver’s effective date to begin after December 31, 2019, and includes rules for plan amendments made under the waiver.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

March 18, 2020

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 18, 2020

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

March 18, 2020

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Introduced in SenateIssued March 18, 2020

II

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3527

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 18, 2020

Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Daines) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To waive required minimum distribution rules for retirement plans in 2020.

1.

Temporary waiver of required minimum distribution rules for certain retirement plans and accounts

(a)

In general

Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(I)

Temporary waiver of minimum required distribution

(i)

In general

The requirements of this paragraph shall not apply for calendar year 2020 to—

(I)

a defined contribution plan which is described in this subsection or in section 403(a) or 403(b),

(II)

a defined contribution plan which is an eligible deferred compensation plan described in section 457(b) but only if such plan is maintained by an employer described in section 457(e)(1)(A), or

(III)

an individual retirement plan.

(ii)

Special rules regarding waiver period

For purposes of this paragraph—

(I)

the required beginning date with respect to any individual shall be determined without regard to this subparagraph for purposes of applying this paragraph for calendar years after 2020, and

(II)

if clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) applies, the 5-year period described in such clause shall be determined without regard to calendar year 2020.

.

(b)

Eligible rollover distributions

Section 402(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining eligible rollover distribution) is amended by adding at the end the following new flush sentence:

If all or any portion of a distribution during 2020 is treated as an eligible rollover distribution but would not be so treated if the minimum distribution requirements under section 401(a)(9) had applied during 2020, such distribution shall not be treated as an eligible rollover distribution for purposes of section 401(a)(31) or 3405(c) or subsection (f) of this section.

.

(c)

Effective dates

(1)

In general

The amendments made by this section shall apply for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2019.

(2)

Provisions relating to plan or contract amendments

(A)

In general

If this paragraph applies to any pension plan or contract amendment, such pension plan or contract shall not fail to be treated as being operated in accordance with the terms of the plan during the period described in subparagraph (B)(ii) solely because the plan operates in accordance with this section.

(B)

Amendments to which paragraph applies

(i)

In general

This paragraph shall apply to any amendment to any pension plan or annuity contract which—

(I)

is made pursuant to the amendments made by this section, and

(II)

is made on or before the last day of the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2022.

In the case of a governmental plan, subclause (II) shall be applied by substituting 2023 for 2022.
(ii)

Conditions

This paragraph shall not apply to any amendment unless during the period beginning on the effective date of the amendment and ending on December 31, 2020, the plan or contract is operated as if such plan or contract amendment were in effect.