When Do I Have to Start Making Withdrawals from My Retirement Plan?
The longer you can let it sit there, in most cases the better off you’ll be. But the government won’t let it sit there (tax-free!) forever. They want their taxes on your retirement money. According to a formula specified by the IRS, you have got to start taking money out of our retirement plans by April 1 in the year after you turn 70Y2. There is one big exception: Begin- fling January 1, 1997, if you are still working, your retirement money is in an employer-sponsored plan such as a 401(k), and you are 70Y or older, you do not have to make withdrawals until April 1 following the calendar year in which you do retire.