An Inherited IRA, also known as a Beneficiary IRA, is an account you open to hold retirement assets you’ve inherited from someone else—such as from a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or 401k. Instead of taking a lump-sum payout, which could lead to a large tax bill, you can transfer the assets into an Inherited IRA and take distributions over time. You can’t make new contributions to the account, but it may offer tax advantages and more flexibility in how you manage the inherited funds. The required withdrawal rules vary based on your relationship to the original account holder and when they passed away. Recent IRS rule changes, especially those effective in 2025, have made distribution timelines more strict for many beneficiaries—so it’s important to follow the latest guidelines to avoid penalties.