Phillips 66 Professionals: The IRS Changed the Rules for Inheriting Retirement Accounts Again

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for Phillips 66 Phillips 66 offers healthcare coverage through multiple providers, primarily Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), depending on the employee's home ZIP code. Employees also have access to a Kaiser HMO option if they live in designated areas of California or Washington. The medical plans include comprehensive coverage for various healthcare services, including preventive care, regular checkups, mental health, and substance use disorder treatments. Potential Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026 Healthcare costs for Phillips 66 employees can be expected to rise significantly in 2026, reflecting broader trends impacting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. As major insurers are filing for rate increases that may exceed 60% in certain states, Phillips 66 employees could face steep hikes in out-of-pocket premiums, especially if federal subsidies are not extended. The combination of escalating medical costs and the potential loss of enhanced subsidies means many employees may see their premium costs increase substantially, leaving them with difficult choices regarding their healthcare coverage amidst these changing economic conditions. Click here to learn more

The Q1 2026 oil market shock is creating meaningful tax planning opportunities for Phillips 66 employees, particularly around equity compensation timing, deferred compensation elections, and charitable giving strategies during what may be an unusually high-income year.

The Strait of Hormuz crisis has pushed Brent crude to ~$107/barrel and WTI to ~$94/barrel, marking one of the most severe oil supply shocks since the 1973 embargo, according to the IEA's March 2026 emergency report.

The energy price shock has rippled into natural gas: Henry Hub is trading near ~$2.94/MMBtu while European TTF has moved to approximately ~$16.90/MMBtu, driven partly by Iran's strikes on Gulf LNG infrastructure.

With Phillips 66 operating in one of 2026's strongest-performing sectors, employees should review their year-round tax planning strategy — particularly around RSU vesting schedules, deferred compensation elections, and the potential for AMT exposure driven by elevated energy equity values.

As Phillips 66 employees approach Retirement, be aware of IRS changes regarding inherited Retirement accounts and possible legislative shifts, as these can affect your tax strategy and long-term Retirement readiness, says [Advisor Name], a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of The Retirement Group.

With IRS deferring new payout regulations for inherited IRAs, Phillips 66 employees might want to reconsider withdrawal strategies and delay distributions to take advantage of tax deferral benefits, says [Advisor Name], a representative of the Retirement Group, a division of The Retirement Group.

In this article, we will discuss:

1. Regulations relating to Deferral of Inherited Retirement Account.

2. Effects of the Secure Act 2.0 on Retirement Planning.

3. Tax Advantages & Compliance for Inherited IRAs.

The Internal Revenue Service finalized regulations governing required minimum distributions for inherited retirement accounts in 2024. These rules, now fully in effect as of 2025, clarify the obligations for beneficiaries navigating the 10-year distribution requirement established by the SECURE Act.

It is based on legislative changes begun in 2019 by Congress that change the requirements for inherited retirement funds. After those modifications, the expectation that the inherited funds would be exhausted within a decade was applied to most non-spousal beneficiaries and the prior provision was replaced with a lifetime distribution. Under the finalized rules, non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit from account holders who had already begun RMDs must take annual distributions in years 1 through 9 and fully distribute the account by the end of year 10.

The IRS issued final regulations in 2024, providing comprehensive and enduring guidance on the 2019 retirement legislation. Beneficiaries must still liquidate their inherited accounts within the ten-year timeframe, with annual distributions required in years 1 through 9 when the original account holder had already begun RMDs.

Important for professionals at Phillips 66 is how to structure withdrawals that are good for ten years. Actually, they are evaluating whether annual disbursements are mandatory or if they can put off withdrawals until the tenth year. Waiting too long before withdrawing funds may provide big tax advantages. By using this strategy, beneficiaries may also facilitate greater tax-deferred growth and delay withdrawals until they may be in a lower income tax bracket. This is because the IRS taxes withdrawals from inherited retirement accounts as income.

While earlier IRS guidance provided temporary penalty relief for missed distributions, that relief period -- which covered distributions from 2021 through 2024 -- has now ended. Beginning with the 2025 distribution year, beneficiaries subject to annual RMD requirements must take those distributions or face a 25% excise tax.

Proposed regulations from the IRS the year before also complicate things for beneficiaries. These regulations required successors to make yearly withdrawals every ten years if the original account holders had already made RMDs. Despite that ambiguity, the IRS exempted these beneficiaries from penalties for failing to receive distributions from 2021 through 2024. That exemption has now ended, and full compliance with annual distribution requirements is mandatory beginning in 2025.

Failure to follow the RMD provisions generally carries a 25% penalty equal to the required withdrawal amount. Some taxpayers have questioned whether they will have to reimburse the withheld distributions when routine enforcement is reinstated. In response, Grayson, Georgia-based IRA consultant Denise Appleby says retroactive compliance is highly unlikely if you miss a distribution.

The rules regarding spouses and other specific beneficiaries - including chronically ill - remain the same. These individuals are generally required to make yearly withdrawals for the duration of their projected lives. Furthermore, for accounts inherited before 2020, the previous regulations apply - beneficiaries must continue to receive yearly distributions throughout expected lifetimes.

The law is critical to retirement accounts - a subject that excites both retired Phillips 66 employees and experienced professionals. According to recent research, an estimated 27 to 30% of Americans aged 55 and older have no dedicated retirement savings -- a significant share of the Baby Boom generation that is now at or approaching retirement age.

Since the IRS recently put off implementation of payout regulations for inherited IRAs, members of this demographic have a unique opportunity to craft retirement financial strategies that take full advantage of any possible tax deferrals and to consider the impact of inherited assets on comprehensive retirement plans. That event highlights the need to be informed about regulatory changes that may affect a person's retirement financial security.

Understanding recent IRS changes regarding inherited retirement accounts is like learning to handle unpredictable sea breezes. Just as adept sailors must quickly change their sails to stay on course and avoid capsize, so must Phillips 66 retirees and those approaching retirement be flexible enough to handle such regulatory shifts.

Putting off implementation of new payout regulations is like a sudden gust of wind that if applied correctly can blow a ship forward with great potential for tax-deferred accumulation and quick withdrawals - or misconstrued and ignored - can cause turbulent conditions and possible consequences. Keep up with a constantly changing 'financial climate' and understand the 'navigation rules' set by the IRS to help steer retirement vessels toward financial security - especially with inherited assets.

Added Fact:

Besides the IRS adjustments, Phillips 66 professionals approaching retirement should be aware of a less-publicized component of Secure Act 2.0, which would raise the age of required minimum distributions (RMDs) to 75 from 72. Such a change in retirement planning might alter plans to allow a longer growth period of retirement savings. For people turning 60, this could create new opportunities to optimize asset growth before mandatory distributions kick in - a strategy that could greatly improve retirement readiness. As legislative developments occur, this bill is one to watch closely for its direct impact on retirement strategies.

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Added Analogy:

Navigating new IRS rules on inheriting retirement accounts is like piloting a ship through the Panama Canal's tight turns. Like a captain who has to adjust to new lock sizes and water levels on a canal to keep the vessel safe on passage, Phillips 66 professionals approaching or retiring from work must do the same with retirement account regulations. The canal is an engineering marvel that requires precise timing and knowledge of ship capabilities - just as precise and strategic financial planning is needed to take full advantage of tax advantages and account growth under new legislation. As the canal allows ships passage between two oceans, the new IRS rules allow retirees to navigate between current financial security and the legacy of their retirement assets.

Sources:  

1. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  'Retirement Plan and IRA Required Minimum Distributions FAQs.'  Internal Revenue Service , 10 Dec. 2024,  www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-plan-and-ira-required-minimum-distributions-faqs .

2. Lankford, Kimberly. "SECURE 2.0 Act Summary: New Retirement Savings Changes to Know." Kiplinger, updated Sept. 2025. www.kiplinger.com/retirement/bipartisan-retirement-savings-package-in-massive-budget-bill.

3. Mercer.  'IRS Sets 2025 for Final RMD Rules; Extends 10-Year Rule Relief.'  Mercer , 25 May 2024,  www.mercer.com/insights/2025-IRS-rmd-rules-final-relief.html .

Choosing the right state for retirement means matching your income sources to local tax treatment -- and knowing exactly what Phillips 66 contributes in employer-funded retirement benefits shapes that calculation directly -- Phillips 66 offers a cash balance pension plan, which credits each participating employee's account with a pay credit and an interest credit each year. Unlike a traditional defined benefit plan, the cash balance lump sum option equals the account balance rather than a discounted present value of future annuity payments -- which means lump sum values are less sensitive to IRS segment rate fluctuations. The Retirement Group helps Phillips 66 employees understand how to coordinate the cash balance payout with 401(k) savings and Social Security for a complete income strategy.

On the healthcare side, Phillips 66 offers HDHP, PPO, Kaiser HMO for active employees. The HDHP qualifies you for a Health Savings Account; Phillips 66 seeds employee accounts with $500 (employee-only) or $1,000 (all other coverage levels) paid bi-annually (January and July). HSA contributions grow tax-free and can be invested for long-term healthcare expenses -- making the HSA a powerful supplemental savings vehicle alongside the 401(k). Phillips 66 also offers continued medical coverage for retirees, which can help bridge the gap between your last day of work and Medicare eligibility at 65 -- a cost that catches many employees off guard if it is not built into the retirement income plan. The Retirement Group works with Phillips 66 employees to project the full cost of healthcare coverage across the retirement timeline and integrate it into the income plan.