Internal Revenue Service
Revenue Ruling
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smRev. Rul. 2002-62, 2002-42 I.R.B. 710
Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.)
Revenue Ruling
SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL PERIODIC PAYMENTS; PREMATURE DISTRIBUTIONS
Released: October 03, 2002
Published: October 21, 2002
Section 72.--Annuities; Certain Proceeds of Endowment and Life Insurance Contracts
Substantially equal periodic payments; premature distributions. This ruling provides that a change to the required minimum distribution method of calculating substantially equal periodic payments within the meaning of section 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) of the Code will not generate additional income tax under section 72(t)(1). Notice 89-25 modified.
Substantially equal periodic payments; premature distributions. This ruling provides that a change to the required minimum distribution method of calculating substantially equal periodic payments within the meaning of section 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) of the Code will not generate additional income tax under section 72(t)(1). Q&A-12 of Notice 89-25 modified.
SECTION 1. PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
.01 The purpose of this revenue ruling is to modify the provisions of Q&A-12 of Notice 89-25, 1989-1 C.B. 662, which provides guidance on what constitutes a series of substantially equal periodic payments within the meaning of § 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) of the Internal Revenue Code from an individual account under a qualified retirement plan. Section 72(t) provides for an additional income tax on early withdrawals from qualified retirement plans (as defined in § 4974(c)). Section 4974(c) provides, in part, that the term "qualified retirement plan" means (1) a plan described in § 401 (including a trust exempt from tax under § 501(a)), (2) an annuity plan described in § 403(a), (3) a tax-sheltered annuity arrangement described in § 403(b), (4) an individual retirement account described in § 408(a), or (5) an individual retirement annuity described in § 408(b).
.02 (a) Section 72(t)(1) provides that if an employee or IRA owner receives any amount from a qualified retirement plan before attaining age 59 1/2 , the employee's or IRA owner's income tax is increased by an amount equal to 10-percent of the amount that is includible in the gross income unless one of the exceptions in § 72(t)(2) applies.
(b) Section 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) provides, in part, that if distributions are part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy) of the employee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancy) of the employee and beneficiary, the tax described in § 72(t)(1) will not be applicable. Pursuant to § 72(t)(5), in the case of distributions from an IRA, the IRA owner is substituted for the employee for purposes of applying this exception.
(c) Section 72(t)(4) provides that if the series of substantially equal periodic payments that is otherwise excepted from the 10-percent tax is subsequently modified (other than by reason of death or disability) within a 5- year period beginning on the date of the first payment, or, if later, age 59 1/2 , the exception to the 10-percent tax does not apply, and the taxpayer's tax for the year of modification shall be increased by an amount which, but for the exception, would have been imposed, plus interest for the deferral period.
(d) Q&A-12 of Notice 89-25 sets forth three methods for determining whether payments to individuals from their IRAs or, if they have separated from service, from their qualified retirement plans constitute a series of substantially equal periodic payments for purposes of § 72(t)(2)(A)(iv).
(e) Final Income Tax Regulations that were published in the April 17, 2002, issue of the Federal Register (T.D. 8987, 2002-19 I.R.B. 852) under § 401(a)(9) provide new life expectancy tables for determining required minimum distributions.
SECTION 2. METHODS
.01 General rule. Payments are considered to be substantially equal periodic payments within the meaning of § 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) if they are made in accordance with one of the three calculations described in paragraphs (a) - (c) of this subsection (which is comprised of the three methods described in Q&A-12 of Notice 89-25).
(a) The required minimum distribution method. The annual payment for each year is determined by dividing the account balance for that year by the number from the chosen life expectancy table for that year. Under this method, the account balance, the number from the chosen life expectancy table and the resulting annual payments are redetermined for each year. If this method is chosen, there will not be deemed to be a modification in the series of substantially equal periodic payments, even if the amount of payments changes from year to year, provided there is not a change to another method of determining the payments.
(b) The fixed amortization method. The annual payment for each year is determined by amortizing in level amounts the account balance over a specified number of years determined using the chosen life expectancy table and the chosen interest rate. Under this method, the account balance, the number from the chosen life expectancy table and the resulting annual payment are determined once for the first distribution year and the annual payment is the same amount in each succeeding year.
(c) The fixed annuitization method. The annual payment for each year is determined by dividing the account balance by an annuity factor that is the present value of an annuity of $1 per year beginning at the taxpayer's age and continuing for the life of the taxpayer (or the joint lives of the individual and beneficiary). The annuity factor is derived using the mortality table in Appendix B and using the chosen interest rate. Under this method, the account balance, the annuity factor, the chosen interest rate and the resulting annual payment are determined once for the first distribution year and the annual payment is the same amount in each succeeding year.
.02 Other rules. The following rules apply for purposes of this section.
(a) Life expectancy tables. The life expectancy tables that can be used to determine distribution periods are: (1) the uniform lifetime table in Appendix A, or (2) the single life expectancy table in § 1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-1 of the Income Tax Regulations or (3) the joint and last survivor table in § 1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-3. The number that is used for a distribution year is the number shown from the table for the employee's (or IRA owner's) age on his or her birthday in that year. If the joint and survivor table is being used, the age of the beneficiary on the beneficiary's birthday in the year is also used. In the case of the required minimum distribution method, the same life expectancy table that is used for the first distribution year must be used in each following year. Thus, if the taxpayer uses the single life expectancy table for the required minimum distribution method in the first distribution year, the same table must be used in subsequent distribution years.
(b) Beneficiary under joint tables. If the joint life and last survivor table in § 1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-3, is used, the survivor must be the actual beneficiary of the employee with respect to the account for the year of the distribution. If there is more than one beneficiary, the identity and age of the beneficiary used for purposes of each of the methods described in section 2.01 are determined under the rules for determining the designated beneficiary for purposes of § 401(a)(9). The beneficiary is determined for a year as of January 1 of the year, without regard to changes in the beneficiary in that year or beneficiary determinations in prior years. For example, if a taxpayer starts distributions from an IRA in 2003 at age 50 and a 25-year-old and 55-year-old are beneficiaries on January 1, the 55-year-old is the designated beneficiary and the number for the taxpayer from the joint and last survivor tables (age 50 and age 55) would be 38.3, even though later in 2003 the 55-year-old is eliminated as a beneficiary. However, if that beneficiary is eliminated or dies in 2003, under the required minimum distribution method, that individual would not be taken into account in future years. If, in any year there is no beneficiary, the single life expectancy table is used for that year.
(c) Interest rates. The interest rate that may be used is any interest rate that is not more than 120 percent of the federal mid-term rate (determined in accordance with § 1274(d) for either of the two months immediately preceding the month in which the distribution begins). The revenue rulings that contain the § 1274(d) federal mid-term rates may be found at www.irs.gov/taxpros/lists/0,,id=98042,00.html.
(d) Account balance. The account balance that is used to determine payments must be determined in a reasonable manner based on the facts and circumstances. For example, for an IRA with daily valuations that made its first distribution on July 15, 2003, it would be reasonable to determine the yearly account balance when using the required minimum distribution method based on the value of the IRA from December 31, 2002, to July 15, 2003. For subsequent years, under the required minimum distribution method, it would be reasonable to use the value either on December 31 of the prior year or on a date within a reasonable period before that year's distribution.
(e) Changes to account balance. Under all three methods, substantially equal periodic payments are calculated with respect to an account balance as of the first valuation date selected in paragraph (d) above. Thus, a modification to the series of payments will occur if, after such date, there is (i) any addition to the account balance other than gains or losses, (ii) any nontaxable transfer of a portion of the account balance to another retirement plan, or (iii) a rollover by the taxpayer of the amount received resulting in such amount not being taxable.
.03 Special rules. The special rules described below may be applicable.
(a) Complete depletion of assets. If, as a result of following an acceptable method of determining substantially equal periodic payments, an individual's assets in an individual account plan or an IRA are exhausted, the individual will not be subject to additional income tax under § 72(t)(1) as a result of not receiving substantially equal periodic payments and the resulting cessation of payments will not be treated as a modification of the series of payments.
(b) One-time change to required minimum distribution method. An individual who begins distributions in a year using either the fixed amortization method or the fixed annuitization method may in any subsequent year switch to the required minimum distribution method to determine the payment for the year of the switch and all subsequent years and the change in method will not be treated as a modification within the meaning of § 72(t)(4). Once a change is made under this paragraph, the required minimum distribution method must be followed in all subsequent years. Any subsequent change will be a modification for purposes of § 72(t)(4).
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TRANSITIONAL RULES
The guidance in this revenue ruling replaces the guidance in Q&A-12 of Notice 89-25 for any series of payments commencing on or after January 1, 2003, and may be used for distributions commencing in 2002. If a series of payments commenced in a year prior to 2003 that satisfied § 72(t)(2)(A)(iv), the method of calculating the payments in the series is permitted to be changed at any time to the required minimum distribution method described in section 2.01(a) of this guidance, including use of a different life expectancy table.
SECTION 4. EFFECT ON OTHER DOCUMENTS
Q&A-12 of Notice 89-25 is modified.
SECTION 5. REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
The Service and Treasury invite comments with respect to the guidance provided in this revenue ruling. Comments should reference Rev. Rul. 2002- 62.
Comments may be submitted to CC:ITA:RU (Rev. Rul. 2002-62, room 5226, Internal Revenue Service, POB 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Comments may be hand delivered between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday to: CC:ITA:RU (Rev. Rul. 2002-62), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via the Internet at Notice.Comments @irscounsel.treas.gov. All comments will be available for public inspection and copying.
Drafting Information
The principal author of this revenue ruling is Michael Rubin of the Employee Plans, Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division. For further information regarding this revenue ruling, please contact Mr. Rubin at 1-202-283-9888 (not a toll-free number).
Appendix A Uniform Lifetime Table
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Taxpayer's Age Life Expectancy Taxpayer's Age Life Expectancy
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10 86.2 63 33.9
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11 85.2 64 33.0
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12 84.2 65 32.0
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13 83.2 66 31.1
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14 82.2 67 30.2
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15 81.2 68 29.2
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16 80.2 69 28.3
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17 79.2 70 27.4
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18 78.2 71 26.5
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19 77.3 72 25.6
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20 76.3 73 24.7
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21 75.3 74 23.8
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22 74.3 75 22.9
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23 73.3 76 22.0
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24 72.3 77 21.2
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25 71.3 78 20.3
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26 70.3 79 19.5
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27 69.3 80 18.7
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28 68.3 81 17.9
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29 67.3 82 17.1
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30 66.3 83 16.3
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31 65.3 84 15.5
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32 64.3 85 14.8
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33 63.3 86 14.1
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34 62.3 87 13.4
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35 61.4 88 12.7
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36 60.4 89 12.0
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37 59.4 90 11.4
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38 58.4 91 10.8
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39 57.4 92 10.2
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40 56.4 93 9.6
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41 55.4 94 9.1
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42 54.4 95 8.6
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43 53.4 96 8.1
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44 52.4 97 7.6
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45 51.5 98 7.1
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46 50.5 99 6.7
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47 49.5 100 6.3
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48 48.5 101 5.9
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49 47.5 102 5.5
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50 46.5 103 5.2
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51 45.5 104 4.9
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52 44.6 105 4.5
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53 43.6 106 4.2
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54 42.6 107 3.9
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55 41.6 108 3.7
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56 40.7 109 3.4
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57 39.7 110 3.1
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58 38.7 111 2.9
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59 37.8 112 2.6
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60 36.8 113 2.4
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61 35.8 114 2.1
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62 34.9 115 1.9
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Appendix B Mortality Table Used to Formulate the Single Life Table in §
1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-1
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age q subx l subx age q subx l subx
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0 0.001982 1000000 58 0.004736 941078
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1 0.000802 998018 59 0.005101 936621
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2 0.000433 997218 60 0.005509 931843
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3 0.000337 996786 61 0.005975 926709
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4 0.000284 996450 62 0.006512 921172
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5 0.000248 996167 63 0.007137 915173
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6 0.000221 995920 64 0.007854 908641
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7 0.000201 995700 65 0.008670 901505
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8 0.000222 995500 66 0.009591 893689
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9 0.000241 995279 67 0.010620 885118
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10 0.000259 995039 68 0.011778 875718
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11 0.000277 994781 69 0.013072 865404
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12 0.000292 994505 70 0.014519 854091
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13 0.000306 994215 71 0.016139 841690
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14 0.000318 993911 72 0.017950 828106
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15 0.000331 993595 73 0.019958 813241
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16 0.000344 993266 74 0.022198 797010
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17 0.000359 992924 75 0.024699 779318
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18 0.000375 992568 76 0.027484 760070
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19 0.000392 992196 77 0.030582 739180
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20 0.000411 991807 78 0.034010 716574
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21 0.000432 991399 79 0.037807 692203
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22 0.000454 990971 80 0.042010 666033
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23 0.000476 990521 81 0.046652 638053
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24 0.000501 990050 82 0.051766 608287
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25 0.000524 989554 83 0.057392 576798
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26 0.000547 989035 84 0.063583 543694
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27 0.000567 988494 85 0.070397 509124
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28 0.000584 987934 86 0.077892 473283
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29 0.000598 987357 87 0.086124 436418
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30 0.000608 986767 88 0.095238 398832
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31 0.000615 986167 89 0.105068 360848
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32 0.000619 985561 90 0.115518 322934
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33 0.000622 984951 91 0.126487 285629
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34 0.000625 984338 92 0.137876 249501
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35 0.000629 983723 93 0.149419 215101
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36 0.000636 983104 94 0.161176 182961
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37 0.000657 982479 95 0.173067 153472
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38 0.000696 981834 96 0.185008 126911
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39 0.000749 981151 97 0.196920 103431
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40 0.000818 980416 98 0.210337 83063.4
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41 0.000904 979614 99 0.224861 65592.1
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42 0.001007 978728 100 0.241017 50843.0
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43 0.00113 977742 101 0.259334 38589.0
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44 0.00127 976637 102 0.280356 28581.6
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45 0.001426 975397 103 0.303142 20568.6
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46 0.001597 974006 104 0.329482 14333.4
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47 0.001783 972451 105 0.359886 9610.80
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48 0.001979 970717 106 0.394865 6152.01
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49 0.002187 968796 107 0.434933 3722.80
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50 0.002409 966677 108 0.480599 2103.63
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51 0.002646 964348 109 0.532376 1092.63
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52 0.002896 961796 110 0.590774 510.940
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53 0.003167 959011 111 0.656307 209.090
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54 0.003453 955974 112 0.729484 71.8628
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55 0.003754 952673 113 0.810817 19.4400
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56 0.004069 949097 114 0.900819 3.67772
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57 0.004398 945235 115 1.000000 0.364760
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Rev. Rul. 2002-62, 2002-42 I.R.B. 710