
It is unfair that Americans spend decades saving for retirement through 401(k)s and IRAs, benefiting from tax advantages along the way, only to lose money to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) penalties for a recurring year-end mistake.
Many are unaware of this crucial financial rule. According to Vanguard, retirees lose up to $1.7 billion (£1.2 billion) annually in tax penalties for failing to take the required minimum distributions (RMDs) once they reach the age of 73.