Taking RMD early in year I turn 70 1/2

You may take your RMD anytime in the year you turn age 70 1/2.

It will count for your 2015 RMD, not 2014 RMD.

"It will count for your 2015 RMD, not 2014 RMD."

Please explain how this works. I'll be 70.5 pretty soon and I really don't want to learn things like this when it's too late to do whatever it is that I want to do.

It works as you expect. The sentence you quoted was in response to a typo in the original post. Someone who turns 70 in April 2015 doesn't have a 2014 RMD. Their first RMD needs to be taken in the calendar year they turn 70 1/2 with the one time allowance that the first RMD can be taken as late as the following April 1.

Returning to the original post, any distribution taken in January 2015 will apply to the 2015 RMD, even though age 70 isn't reached until later in the year.

Ira Smilovitz

Thanks, Ira. I guess we pretty much hafta trust your answer, considering your first name...!