Definition
The number of years that a participant is expected to live, as defined by regulations. Life expectancies are provided in the life-expectancy tables, which include the following:
- The Single Life Table, which is used only by beneficiaries to calculate RMD amounts after the death of the participant.
- The Uniform Lifetime Table, which is used to calculate RMD amounts for the participant. This is used in all cases, except where the Joint and Last Survivor Table can be used
- The Joint and Last Survivor Table, which is used to calculate RMD amounts for the participant, but only if the spouse of the participant is the sole primary beneficiary and is more than 1-years younger than the participant
For substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP), the Single Life , Uniform Lifetime or the Joint and Last Survivor Table may be used to calculate SEPP amounts
The life expectancy tables can be found in IRS Publication 590 and Revenue Ruling 2002-62
Referring Cite
Treas. Regs. § 1.401(a)(9)-9, Revenue Ruling 2002-62.
Additional Helpful Information
- The Single Life Table, Uniform Lifetime Table and Joint and Last Survivor Table may be changed by the Commissioner in revenue rulings, notices, and other guidance published in Internal Revenue Bulletins
- The life expectancy tables can be found in IRS Publication 590 and Revenue Ruling 2002-62
- Uniform Lifetime Table, for use by:
- Unmarried retirement account owners,
- Married retirement account owners, whose spouses are not more than 10 years younger, and
- Married retirement account owners, whose spouses are not the sole primary beneficiaries of their retirement accounts
