RMD Table 2020 — RMDs Waived by the CARES Act
Were Required Minimum Distributions required in 2020?
In 2020, the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, signed March 27, 2020) suspended all Required Minimum Distributions for the calendar year. No RMD was required from traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, inherited IRAs, or employer plans such as 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) accounts.
Congress acted to prevent retirees from being forced to sell investments at the sharply depressed prices seen during the early-2020 market crash. The one-year waiver let account holders keep funds invested during the recovery. It also gave inherited IRA beneficiaries a one-year pause in their 10-year distribution clock.
If you had already taken a 2020 distribution before the waiver passed, a special IRS ruling gave you until August 31, 2020 to roll those funds back into the account — bypassing the usual 60-day and one-rollover-per-year restrictions.
Calculate Your 2020 RMD
Age 73 · Balance $500,000 → ~$18,868 RMD
Enter your actual balance for a precise calculation
Formula
RMD = Account Balance ÷ Distribution Period (IRS Uniform Lifetime Table)
Key RMD Rules
- 12020 RMDs were completely waived — zero distribution was required from IRAs or employer plans.
- 2The waiver applied to inherited IRAs including those under the SECURE Act 1.0 10-year rule.
- 3Distributions taken before the CARES Act could be rolled back by August 31, 2020 (special one-time exception).
- 4Defined benefit pension plans were NOT covered by the 2020 waiver.
- 5Normal RMD rules resumed fully on January 1, 2021.
Common RMD Mistakes to Avoid
- ⚠Assuming the 2020 waiver extended into 2021 — RMDs resumed in full on January 1, 2021.
- ⚠Missing the August 31, 2020 rollback deadline for 2020 distributions already received.
- ⚠Not realizing the waiver also applied to first-year RMDs (those whose first RMD year was 2020).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or financial advice. RMD rules are based on IRS Publication 590-B and SECURE 2.0 Act provisions. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation. IRS rules may change; verify current requirements at irs.gov.