The Bank of America Beneficiary Form is a crucial document used by beneficiaries of Traditional and Roth IRA accounts to elect how they wish to receive the proceeds following the account holder's death. This form ensures that all necessary information is collected, complying with regulations designed to protect against fraud and illegal activities. If you are a beneficiary, take the next step by filling out the form below.
The Bank of America Beneficiary Form is a crucial document for individuals who find themselves as beneficiaries of a Traditional or Roth IRA following the death of the account holder. This form is structured to gather essential information about both the deceased depositor and the beneficiary, ensuring compliance with regulations such as the USA PATRIOT ACT. Key sections of the form include details about the deceased, such as their name, date of birth, and social security number, alongside the beneficiary’s personal information, including their relationship to the deceased and their source of income. Additionally, the form outlines the options available for distribution of the IRA funds, which must be elected by the beneficiary within a specified timeframe. Choices range from a lump sum distribution to various payment plans based on life expectancy or specific terms. Furthermore, the form includes instructions for tax withholding, emphasizing the importance of understanding potential tax implications. Overall, the Bank of America Beneficiary Form serves as a comprehensive guide for beneficiaries to navigate the distribution process while ensuring adherence to legal requirements.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (THE “BANK”)
Traditional/Roth IRA Plan
Beneficiary Distribution Election Form
1. DECEASED DEPOSITOR INFORMATION
Depositor’s Name
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Social Security Number
Plan Number
Plan Type
Traditional IRA Roth IRA
Bank of America, like all financial institutions, is required by the USA PATRIOT ACT to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each beneficiary of an IRA account with us. When you are a beneficiary of an IRA account with us, we will ask you for your name, address and other information that will allow us to identify you. The information we gather is for your protection and the country’s against terrorist activity and illegal money laundering schemes.
2. BENEFICIARY INFORMATION
Beneficiary Name
Daytime Telephone Number
Physical Street Address, City, State, Zip
Mailing Address (If different)
Country of Citizenship
Country of Residency
Relationship to Depositor
Source of Income:
Employment
Investment
Inheritance
Retirement/Social Security
Employer Name (If Employment Selected)
Occupation (If Employment Selected)
Non U.S. Citizen Required Information
#of Days Present in U.S. This Year
#of Days Present in the U.S. Last Year
#of Days Present in the U.S. During Previous Year
Senior Political Figure and Politically Exposed Persons
Have you or any of your immediate family ever been elected, appointed or assumed any political position in
a National, State, or Provincial government? (Y/N)
If yes, describe the position.
3. DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS
BANK OF AMERICA RECOMMENDS YOU CONTACT YOUR TAX ADVISOR BEFORE MAKING YOUR ELECTION
A beneficiary of an IRA Plan should elect how to receive the proceeds of the IRA Plan no later than 09/30 of the year following the year of the IRA Plan Depositor’s death. Any separate beneficiary accounts must be established by 12/31 of the year following the IRA Plan Depositor’s death. Available options depend on the age of the IRA Plan Depositor, the relationship of the beneficiary to the IRA Depositor, and the type of IRA Plan.
SELECT ONLY ONE OF THE PAYMENT OPTIONS BELOW.
Lump Sum Distribution I elect to receive my entire portion of the IRA Plan in a single lump sum payment.
Deposit into my Bank of America
Checking
Savings
Life Expectancy
Mail check to the address above.
State
Option A.
I elect to receive my entire portion of the IRA Plan by taking payments over the longer of my own life
Payments
expectancy or the remaining life expectancy of the deceased IRA Plan Depositor.
Always
Specific Amount
I elect to receive my entire portion of the IRA Plan by taking payments of
Available
Specific Term
I elect to receive my entire portion of the IRA Plan by taking payments over
year
5-Year Payout
I elect to receive my entire portion of the IRA Plan by 12/31 of the year containing the 5th anniversary
of the IRA Plan Depositor’s death. (Only available if the deceased IRA Plan Depositor was under the
age of 70½ on the date of death)
Option B.
Spouse Treat as Own
I am the spouse of the deceased IRA Plan Depositor and I elect to treat the assets of the IRA Plan as
my own IRA.
Additional Options
Spousal Exception
I am the spouse of the deceased IRA Plan Depositor and I elect to delay taking distributions until the
for Spouse Only
year my spouse would have reached age 70½. Date:
NOTE: Under both options, additional amounts may be withdrawn at any time.
4. RMD PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
You are responsible for taking your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from the IRA Plan. The Bank will not distribute your RMD unless you give the Bank timely written distribution instructions. The Specific Start Date is limited to any date between January 7th and December 28th. If date selected is a non-business day, the distribution will be processed on the first business day following the date.
Select One:
Monthly
Quarterly
Semi-Annually
Annually
Specific Start Date
Form 00-59-1289NSBW–Version 051712
5. TAX WITHHOLDING ELECTION
Notice of Withholding Election: Distributions you receive from your Individual Retirement Account are subject to Federal income tax withholding and may be subject to State income tax withholding and/or Local income tax withholding based on your state and municipality of residence unless you elect not to have withholding apply.
You are liable for Federal, and applicable State and Local income taxes on the taxable portion of your distribution. If you elect not to have withholding apply to your distribution, or if you do not have enough tax withheld from your distribution, you may be responsible for payment of estimated taxes. You may also incur penalties under the estimated tax rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient.
Withholding Election: You MUST indicate your withholding election below.
Complete if you are providing a U.S. Address:
Federal Withholding:
Important: Please note that if you do not make a withholding election, federal income tax will be automatically withheld from your distribution at a rate of 10%.
Do not withhold federal income tax from my distribution.
Withhold federal income tax from my distribution (check one):
At a rate of 10%
At a rate of
% (must be greater than 10%)
State Withholding:
Important: State withholding may also be required in certain states when you elect federal income tax withholding. North Carolina residents are required to use form NC-4P (Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments) for all North Carolina state withholding elections.
The minimum required for the state of
is
.
Do not withhold state income tax from my distribution.
from my distribution at the rate of
%, or amount of $
Withhold state income tax for the state of
Local Withholding:
Important: Local withholding may also be required in certain states.
The minimum required for the municipality of
Do not withhold local income tax from my distribution.
Withhold local income tax for the municipality of
Complete if you are providing a Foreign Address:
Important: If you are a U.S. citizen or a Resident Alien with a foreign address, you may not waive the Federal withholding requirement and you must complete Form W-9. If you are a Non-Resident Alien, all IRA distributions are subject to a tax treaty rate or 30% tax withholding and you must complete Form W-8BEN.
I am a U.S. Citizen or Resident Alien living abroad (check one)
Withhold:
6. BENEFICIARY’S ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I acknowledge that I have read and completed this Form. I further acknowledge that neither the Bank nor its agents or employees have made any representations to me regarding tax or any other effects of my elections/instructions on this Form, and the Bank has advised me to speak to my tax advisor regarding my elections/instructions. I direct the Bank to effect the elections/instructions I have made on this Form and agree that the Bank and its agents and employees have no liability for any action or inaction taken by them in reliance upon such elections/instructions.
BENEFICIARY SIGNATURE (REQUIRED)
DATE
Form 00-59-1289NSBW – Version 042412
Informational Sheet
Complete, sign and send the distribution form:
To your Local Bank of America Banking Center
Or, mail to the following address:
Bank of America, N.A.
Mail code: TX2-979-02-14
P.O. Box 619040
Dallas, TX 75261-9943
Depositor’s Name — Enter the deceased person’s name
Social Security Number — Enter the deceased person’s social security number
Date of Birth — Enter the deceased person’s Date of Birth
Plan Number — Enter the deceased person’s Plan Number that is being processed
Date of Death — Enter the date of death for the account owner (deceased person
Plan type — Select the plan type of the deceased account holder
Beneficiary Name — Enter the name of the beneficiary for the plan identified in the Plan Number section
Social Security Number — Enter the Social Security Number for the beneficiary listed in the Beneficiary Name section. If the beneficiary is an entity, enter the Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Daytime Telephone Number — Enter the best contact number that you can be reach at during the day
Date of Birth — Date of birth for the person listed in the Beneficiary Name section. If the beneficiary is an Entity, please list the Date of Birth for the decedent
Relationship to the Depositor — Example, Daughter, Mother, or Father. If the beneficiary is an Entity please leave this field blank
Physical Street Address, City, State, Zip — Enter the street address for the beneficiary listed in the Beneficiary Name section. Please note: This must be a physical address to comply with the USA Patriot ACT.
Source of Income — Select the appropriate option from the list provided. If the beneficiary is an Entity, please select Inheritance.
Mailing Address — Complete only if different from the Physical Address listed.
Employer Name — List the beneficiary’s current employer
Country of Citizenship — Enter the Country that the Beneficiary is a citizen
Country of Residency — Enter the Country the Beneficiary resides in
Occupation — Enter the Beneficiary’s current occupation or job ONLY if employment was selected as Source of Income
Non U. S. Citizen Required Information
of Days Present in the U.S. This Year — Enter the number of days that the beneficiary has been present in the U. S. for the current year
of Days Present in the U.S. Last Year — Enter the number of days that the beneficiary was in the U.S. during the last calendar year
of Days Present in the U.S. Prior to the Last Year — Enter the number of days that the beneficiary was in the U.S. Prior to the last full calendar year
Senior Political Figure and Politically Exposed Person
Indicate if you should be identified as a senior political figure or politically exposed person. Provide details on the position held or relationship.
Please ensure that you select only one of the payment options from the list. Selecting multiple options can delay the processing of your request.
Option A:
Lump Sum Distribution — Available to all beneficiaries. This option would be a single lump sum payment of the funds directly to the beneficiary
Life Expectancy — Payments would be made over the life expectancy of the beneficiary list in the Beneficiary Name section Specific Amount — Payment amounts would be disbursed as specified by the beneficiary (the beneficiary will be responsible to ensure that their disbursement amount meets IRS requirements)**
Specific Term — Payments will be disbursed over a specified term as elected by the beneficiary (the beneficiary will be responsible to ensure that their disbursement amount meets IRS requirements)**
5-year Payout — Payments will be disbursed by 12/31 of the 5th year post the year of death of the IRA Plan holder**
Option B (Spousal Options):
Spouse Treat as Own — An IRA plan honoring the deceased depositor’s existing IRA Plan terms would be established for the spouse, and the account would be treated as their own.
Spousal Exception — The spouse elects to delay taking distributions until the deceased account holder would have reached 70½
**Under these methods denoted above, additional amounts may be withdrawn at any time.
Please note: If you selected any option except Lump Sum, please ensure Section 4 is completed (if applicable).
The Beneficiary is responsible for taking their annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from the IRA Plan. The Specific Start Date is limited to any date between January 7th and December 28th. If date selected is a non-business day, the distribution will be processed on the first business day following the date.
Please review the options carefully and select the appropriate distribution for the beneficiary.
You MUST indicate your withholding election on the form provided.
Important: State withholding may also be required in certain states when you elect federal income tax withholding. Note that North Carolina residents must use Form NC-4P (Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments) to elect or waive North Carolina state withholding.
Complete denoted section if you are providing a Foreign Address:
For additional questions, please contact your local Bank of America Banking Center or our customer service associates are available toll-free at 1.888.827.1812 to answer questions and provide additional information.
Filling out the Bank of America Beneficiary form is an important step in managing the distribution of an IRA account after the account holder's passing. Once you have the form ready, you will provide essential information about both the deceased account holder and yourself as the beneficiary. After completing the form, you will submit it to the appropriate Bank of America location for processing.
Once the form is filled out, review it for accuracy. Then, you can either take it to your local Bank of America Banking Center or mail it to the specified address. Make sure to keep a copy for your records.
The Bank of America Beneficiary form is used by individuals who are beneficiaries of a Traditional or Roth IRA account. It allows beneficiaries to provide necessary information about themselves and the deceased account holder. The form also facilitates the selection of distribution options for the IRA proceeds.
You will need to provide the following details about the deceased depositor:
The beneficiary must provide their name, daytime telephone number, date of birth, physical address, mailing address (if different), country of citizenship, country of residency, Social Security number, and their relationship to the depositor. Additional details about the source of income and presence in the U.S. may also be required.
Beneficiaries can choose from several distribution options:
Beneficiaries must elect how to receive the proceeds of the IRA no later than September 30 of the year following the year of the depositor's death. Additionally, any separate beneficiary accounts must be established by December 31 of the following year.
The RMD is the minimum amount that must be withdrawn from the IRA each year. Beneficiaries are responsible for taking their RMD and must provide written distribution instructions to the bank. The start date for RMD can be selected between January 7 and December 28 of each year.
Distributions from an IRA are subject to federal income tax withholding and may also be subject to state and local taxes. Beneficiaries must indicate their withholding preferences on the form. If no election is made, federal tax will be automatically withheld at a rate of 10%.
If you do not make a withholding election, federal income tax will be automatically withheld from your distribution at a rate of 10%. You may also be responsible for estimated tax payments if withholding is insufficient to cover your tax liability.
You can submit the completed form by visiting your local Bank of America Banking Center or by mailing it to the specified address:
Bank of America, N.A. Mail code: TX2-979-02-14 P.O. Box 619040 Dallas, TX 75261-9943
For further assistance, you may contact your local Bank of America Banking Center. Alternatively, customer service associates are available toll-free at 1.888.827.1812 to answer questions and provide additional information.
Failing to provide the deceased depositor's information correctly, including their name, date of birth, and social security number.
Not selecting a payment option. You must choose only one option for how to receive the IRA proceeds.
Using an incorrect mailing address. Ensure the address provided is accurate and complete, especially if different from the physical address.
Neglecting to include the beneficiary's social security number. This is crucial for identification purposes.
Not indicating the relationship to the deceased. This information is essential for processing the form.
Overlooking the tax withholding election. Failing to make this election can lead to automatic withholding at a higher rate.
Providing incomplete beneficiary information, such as missing the daytime telephone number or country of citizenship.
Ignoring the required minimum distribution (RMD) instructions. Beneficiaries are responsible for taking their annual RMD.
Not consulting a tax advisor before making elections. It’s recommended to understand the tax implications of your choices.
Failing to sign and date the form. Your signature is required to validate the submission.
When dealing with the Bank of America Beneficiary form, several other documents may also be necessary to ensure a smooth process. Each of these forms serves a specific purpose and helps clarify the details surrounding the distribution of assets. Below is a list of common forms that are often used in conjunction with the Bank of America Beneficiary form.
It is important to gather and complete these documents carefully. Each form plays a crucial role in ensuring that the distribution process is handled efficiently and in accordance with legal requirements. If there are any uncertainties, seeking assistance from a financial advisor or legal professional can provide clarity and guidance.
The Bank of America Beneficiary form shares similarities with the Last Will and Testament, a fundamental legal document that dictates how an individual’s assets should be distributed upon their death. Both documents require the identification of beneficiaries and the distribution of assets. In a Last Will, the testator outlines their wishes regarding property and financial matters, while the Bank of America form specifies how IRA funds should be allocated to the designated beneficiaries. Both documents must comply with legal standards to ensure that the intentions of the deceased are honored, and they often require signatures to validate the choices made by the deceased or their representatives.
Another document that parallels the Bank of America Beneficiary form is the Trust Agreement. A Trust Agreement is a fiduciary relationship where one party holds property for the benefit of another. Like the Beneficiary form, it designates beneficiaries who will receive assets after the trustor's death. The Trust Agreement can provide more flexibility in terms of asset management and distribution compared to the straightforward beneficiary designation on the Bank of America form. Both documents aim to protect the interests of the beneficiaries, but a Trust can also help avoid probate, which the Beneficiary form does not inherently provide.
The Power of Attorney (POA) document is also akin to the Bank of America Beneficiary form in that it designates an individual to act on behalf of another. A POA can be used to manage financial matters during the principal’s lifetime, while the Beneficiary form deals with asset distribution after death. Both documents require careful consideration of whom to designate, as they involve significant control over financial assets. However, the POA is effective during the principal's life, whereas the Beneficiary form becomes effective only upon the depositor's death.
Similarly, the Health Care Proxy serves a distinct but related purpose. This document allows an individual to appoint someone to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated. Like the Bank of America Beneficiary form, it requires the identification of a designated person who will act according to the wishes of the individual. While the Beneficiary form pertains to financial assets, the Health Care Proxy focuses on health care decisions, yet both emphasize the importance of clear designation to ensure that the individual’s preferences are respected.
The Asset Transfer Form is another document that bears resemblance to the Bank of America Beneficiary form. This form is utilized to transfer ownership of specific assets to designated individuals or entities. Both forms necessitate the clear identification of beneficiaries and the assets being transferred. While the Beneficiary form is specific to IRA accounts, the Asset Transfer Form can cover a broader range of assets, including real estate and personal property. Both documents are crucial in ensuring that the intended recipients receive the assets without unnecessary complications.
Lastly, the Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation form is similar in function to the Bank of America Beneficiary form. This document allows policyholders to designate individuals or entities who will receive the death benefit from a life insurance policy. Both forms require the identification of beneficiaries and ensure that the intended recipients receive funds promptly after the death of the account holder or insured. While the Bank of America form deals specifically with IRA distributions, the Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation focuses on insurance payouts, yet both serve the essential purpose of directing financial benefits to chosen individuals following a death.
When filling out the Bank of America Beneficiary form, there are important guidelines to follow. Here’s a list of things you should and shouldn’t do:
Understanding the Bank of America Beneficiary form can be challenging, and several misconceptions often arise. Here are nine common misunderstandings, along with clarifications to help you navigate this important document.
Addressing these misconceptions can help beneficiaries better understand their rights and responsibilities. Navigating the complexities of beneficiary forms can be daunting, but being informed is the first step towards making the best decisions for your financial future.
When filling out and using the Bank of America Beneficiary form, it is essential to keep the following key takeaways in mind:
By understanding these key points, beneficiaries can navigate the process more effectively and ensure that their rights and interests are protected.