The SECURE Act raises the age for beginning required minimum distributions (RMDs) to 72 for all retirement accounts subject to RMDs. Any IRA owner who turned 70½ in 2019 or earlier is still bound by the old rules and cannot take advantage of the new age 72 rule.
IRA owners reaching age 70½ in 2020 or later (those born on or after July 1, 1949) fall under the SECURE Act and will not have to take their first RMD until age 72. As with previous guidelines, the first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after the account owner reaches age 72.