Section 2. Time and Manner of

Distribution.

2.1. Required Beginning Date. The participant’s entire interest will be distributed, or begin to be distributed, to the participant no later than the participant’s required beginning date.

2.2. Death of Participant Before Distributions Begin. If the participant dies before distributions begin, the participant’s entire interest will be distributed, or begin to be distributed, no later than as follows:

(a) If the participant’s surviving spouse is the participant’s sole designated beneficiary, then, except as provided in the adoption agreement, distributions to the surviving spouse will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the participant died, or by December 31 of the calendar year in which the participant would have attained age 70½, if later.

(b) If the participant’s surviving spouse is not the participant’s sole designated beneficiary, then, except as provided in the adoption agreement, distributions to the designated beneficiary will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the participant died.

(c) If there is no designated beneficiary as of September 30 of the year following the year of the participant’s death, the participant’s entire interest will be distributed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the participant’s death.

(d) If the participant’s surviving spouse is the participant’s sole designated beneficiary and the surviving spouse dies after the participant but before distributions to the surviving spouse begin, this section 2.2, other than section 2.2(a), will apply as if the surviving spouse were the participant.

For purposes of this section 2.2 and section 4, unless section 2.2(d) applies, distributions are considered to begin on the participant’s required beginning date. If section 2.2(d) applies, distributions are

2002–24 I.R.B. 1179 June 17, 2002

year after the year of the participant’s death is the quotient obtained by dividing the participant’s account balance by the participant’s remaining life expectancy calculated using the age of the participant in the year of death, reduced by one for each subsequent year.

4.2. Death Before Date Distributions Begin.

(a) Participant Survived by Designated Beneficiary. Except as provided in the adoption agreement, if the participant dies before the date distributions begin and there is a designated beneficiary, the minimum amount that will be distributed for each distribution calendar year after the year of the participant’s death is the quotient obtained by dividing the participant’s account balance by the remaining life expectancy of the participant’s designated beneficiary, determined as provided in section 4.1.

(b) No Designated Beneficiary. If the participant dies before the date distributions begin and there is no designated beneficiary as of September 30 of the year following the year of the participant’s death, distribution of the participant’s entire interest will be completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the participant’s death.

(c) Death of Surviving Spouse Before Distributions to Surviving Spouse Are Required to Begin. If the participant dies before the date distributions begin, the participant’s surviving spouse is the participant’s sole designated beneficiary, and the surviving spouse dies before distributions are required to begin to the surviving spouse under section 2.2(a), this section 4.2 will apply as if the surviving spouse were the participant.