Inherited (Beneficiary) IRA

For investors who've inherited a retirement account:

  • Keep assets tax-deferred
  • Pay taxes generally only upon distribution
  • Use the Inherited IRA Tool for assistance
  • Enjoy fast, easy withdrawals at age 59½ with free cash management features1

888-402-0653

talk to a Beneficiary Services Representative

No

account opening minimums

Why an Inherited IRA?


Eligibility information

Generally, anyone who has inherited an IRA or qualified retirement plan


Keep inherited assets tax-deferred

Pay taxes generally only when distributions are taken


No annual IRA fees and no account minimums

Transaction fees, fund expenses, brokerage commissions, and service fees may apply


Access to a wide range of investment choices

Choose from a wide range of stocks, bonds, options, 7,000+ mutual funds, and ETFs

Trade more, pay less

With E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, you pay $0 commissions for online US-listed stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trades. Here’s a quick overview of our clear, competitive per-trade pricing.1

Stocks

$0

ETFs

$0

Mutual Funds

$0

Bonds

$1.00

per bond for online secondary market trades ($10 minimum, $250 maximum)3

Options

50¢ - 65¢

per contract4

Inherited IRA FAQs

See all FAQs
  • Must be the beneficiary of an IRA or qualified retirement plan
  • Generally, spouse beneficiaries can roll over assets into an IRA of their own, or an Inherited IRA. If funds are rolled into an Inherited IRA, a spouse beneficiary may need to begin taking annual required minimum distributions, depending on their age and the age of the original account holder.
  • Generally, non-spouse beneficiaries, may roll over assets into an Inherited IRA. Your inherited IRA will be subject to the after-death required minimum distribution rules, which, depending on a number of factors, may require you to (a) take annual distributions each year for a certain period of time, (b) take a distribution of the entire value of the account no later than the end of the 10th year following the original account holder's death or (c) take a distribution of the entire value of the account no later than the end of 5th year following the original account holder's death.
  • Withdrawal options for beneficiaries can be complex. Call the Beneficiary Services team at 1-888-402-0653 for assistance.

 

We extend our heartfelt condolences. We're committed to supporting you every step of the way.

There are 3 simple steps to take to inherit an existing E*TRADE IRA: 1) notify us of a death to start the inheritance process by calling our Beneficiary Services team at 1-888-402-0653, 2) open the same type of IRA account you're inheriting by completing the Inherited IRA Application and submit a certified or original death certificate, and 3) once your new Inherited IRA account is open and we've verified the death certificate, the inherited assets will be moved to your IRA.

Learn more about your choices for inherited IRAs

Inherited IRA Application

An Inherited IRA can be opened online by completing and returning the Inherited IRA Application Once the Inherited IRA is open, the online transfer form can be used to initiate the transfer of funds from another firm to E*TRADE.

Learn more about your choices for inherited IRAs.

An individual does not have to withdraw all of the funds immediately. After the assets have been transferred to an Inherited IRA, the beneficiary may have multiple options. Given the changes in the RMD rules, this isn't entirely right. Suggest deleting this highlighted content. You could consider rewriting it if you want, but that would require significant changes. Use the Inherited IRA tool to see guidelines for withdrawal and determine the amount of any annual withdrawals.

Learn more about your choices for inherited IRAs.

There are several options available to Inherited IRA beneficiaries. The options depend on whether the beneficiary is a spouse or non-spouse, and how old the original account holder was when they passed away. Use the Inherited IRA tool to help understand the options.

Explore similar accounts

Traditional IRA

You may be eligible to make income tax deductible contributions

Earnings potentially grow tax-deferred until you withdraw them in retirement.

Roth IRA5

Tax-free growth potential retirement investing

Pay no income taxes or tax penalties on qualified distributions if you meet certain requirements.

Core Portfolios

Automated investment management

Get a diversified portfolio that’s monitored and managed for a low annual advisory fee of 0.30% and $500 minimum.d1