Minimum Required Distributions

Minimum Required Distributions were designed by the IRS to ensure that benefits from 401k plans and other retirement plans are actually used by the employees who paid into them. The age of minimum required distributions is set at 70 ½ years old. However, it is possible that your particular 401k plan has an earlier set age for the minimum required distributions. If you're unsure of the age requirement for your plan, you should ask your financial services provider. In some cases, for those who are older than 70 ½ years old and are still working, and do not own more than five percent of the business they are employed by, they may be able to defer the date of their minimum required distributions until April 1st of the year that follows one year after you retire.