Is spousal consent required for corrective distributions?

Spousal consent is not universally required for all corrective distributions from a qualified retirement plan, which is why the answer is that spousal consent is not necessary. Corrective distributions are made to fix errors, such as excess contributions that exceed limits imposed by the IRS. The IRS allows plan sponsors to correct certain mistakes without needing to obtain spousal consent, recognizing that these changes are primarily administrative in nature.

In general, the necessity for spousal consent usually arises in situations involving the distribution of benefits upon termination of employment, where the participant has a vested benefit and is married. The rules surrounding spousal rights are meant to protect a spouse's interest in the retirement plan, especially regarding benefits that could be significant upon the participant's death or divorce. However, since corrective distributions are focused on rectifying specific contribution errors and do not typically involve significant changes to the account balance or overall benefit structure, spousal consent is not mandated in these situations.

Additional nuances may apply in specific contexts or plans, which is why options suggesting spousal consent in all cases or only under certain circumstances would not align with the general principles governing corrective distributions.