IRS Provides Help with Rollovers
If you receive a distribution check and fail to roll over the payment to an IRA or other plan within 60 days, you may be in luck. The IRS has provided a self-certification procedure for those who inadvertently fail to complete a rollover within 60 days. Revenue Procedure 2016-47 provides a sample self-certification letter that a taxpayer can use to notify an IRA or other institution that he qualifies for a waiver of the 60-day rollover requirement. The waiver applies if one or more of 11 circumstances apply, including:
- Check was misplaced and not cashed
- Taxpayer’s home was severely damaged
- A family member died
- Taxpayer or family member was seriously ill
- Taxpayer was in jail
- Postal error
Form 5500