Yes! You can use AI to fill out Retirement Benefit Choices Guide
Form RBC17-11, the Retirement Benefit Choices Guide from Principal®, provides plan participants with the necessary information and forms to decide the future of their retirement funds after leaving an employer. It outlines options such as rolling funds into an IRA, taking a cash distribution, or leaving the funds in the current plan. Making the correct choice is crucial for tax planning and long-term financial health, and today this form can be filled out quickly and accurately using AI-powered services like Instafill.ai, which can also convert non-fillable PDF versions into interactive fillable forms.
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Form specifications
| Form name: | Retirement Benefit Choices Guide |
| Number of pages: | 1 |
| Language: | English |
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How to Fill Out RBC17-11 Online for Free in 2026
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Follow these steps to fill out your RBC17-11 form online using Instafill.ai:
- 1 Navigate to Instafill.ai and upload or select the Retirement Benefit Choices Guide.
- 2 Use the AI assistant to fill in your personal information in Section 1, such as your name, address, and Social Security Number.
- 3 Review the different benefit choices and select the appropriate form for your decision (e.g., Direct Rollover, Cash Distribution, Stay in the Plan).
- 4 Complete the specific section for your chosen option, providing details like receiving financial institution information for a rollover or bank account details for a cash distribution.
- 5 Sign the form in the Participant's Signature section. If you are married, obtain your spouse's signature, which may require notarization.
- 6 Submit the form to your former employer's Plan Sponsor for them to complete their required section.
- 7 Review the fully completed document for accuracy before submitting it to Principal Financial Group as instructed.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Form RBC17-11
This guide explains your options for your retirement funds after leaving your employer. The enclosed forms allow you to request a direct rollover to an IRA or another plan, take a cash distribution, or choose another available option.
Any plan participant who has separated from their employer and needs to make a decision about what to do with their vested retirement account balance must complete one of the forms.
The 'Plan Sponsor Section' (e.g., Section 5 or 10) must be completed and signed by an authorized representative from your former employer's Human Resources department. You should have them complete their section before you submit the form to Principal.
Yes, if you are married, your spouse must sign the consent form in the presence of a Notary Public or a Plan Representative. This is required for most distribution options, such as cash payouts and rollovers.
A cash distribution is considered taxable income and is subject to a mandatory 20% federal tax withholding. If you are younger than 59 ½, you may also be subject to an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty.
A direct rollover moves your funds to another retirement account (like an IRA) without immediate tax consequences, allowing your money to remain tax-deferred. A cash distribution pays the money directly to you, which is a taxable event and may incur penalties.
Once all sections are complete, including the Plan Sponsor signature, you can mail the form to Principal at PO Box 9394, Des Moines, IA 50306-9394, or fax it to (866) 704-3481.
Federal law requires a 30-day waiting period after you receive the guide, but your signature on the form waives this. Your election becomes irrevocable once the request is processed, and it must be submitted within 180 days of receiving the guide.
Do not complete the 'IRA with Principal' form in the packet. Instead, call Principal directly at 1-800-247-8000, ext. 753, and they will assist you with the application over the phone.
Yes, the forms allow you to split your funds. You can specify a percentage or dollar amount for each contribution type (Pre-tax, Roth, After-tax) to be rolled over, taken as cash, or moved to different accounts.
Your outstanding loan balance will generally be treated as a taxable distribution and reported on your Form 1099-R. Your former employer will provide this information in the Plan Sponsor section of the form.
Yes, services like Instafill.ai use AI to accurately auto-fill form fields with your personal information. This can save you time and help reduce errors when completing the forms.
You can upload the PDF of the Retirement Benefit Choices Guide to the Instafill.ai platform. The service will make the document interactive, allowing you to type your information directly into the fields before downloading the completed form for signatures.
If you have a non-fillable or 'flat' PDF, you can use a tool like Instafill.ai to convert it into an interactive, fillable form. This allows you to easily type your information instead of printing and filling it out by hand.
Compliance RBC17-11
Validation Checks by Instafill.ai
1
Validates Social Security Number Format
This check ensures that the Social Security Number/Taxpayer ID Number provided in Section 1 is a valid 9-digit number. It prevents data entry errors and ensures the participant's account can be correctly identified for processing and tax reporting. A failure would halt processing until a correctly formatted number is provided.
2
Ensures Mutually Exclusive Rollover Choice
On the Direct Rollover forms, this validation confirms that the participant has completed either Section 2-A (for a 100% rollover) or Section 2-B (for a split distribution), but not both. This is critical to prevent ambiguous or conflicting instructions for how the funds should be moved. If both sections are filled, the form is considered invalid and must be corrected by the participant.
3
Verifies Spousal Consent for Married Participants
This check confirms that if a participant indicates they are 'Married', the 'Spouse’s Signature' section is properly completed and witnessed or notarized. This is a legal requirement under federal retirement law to protect spousal rights to benefits. Failure to provide spousal consent when required will prevent the distribution from being processed.
4
Validates Consistency of Spouse and Witness Signature Dates
This check ensures the date of the spouse's signature matches the date of the signature for the witnessing Notary Public or Plan Representative. This consistency is required to confirm that the consent was properly witnessed at the time of signing. A mismatch in dates can invalidate the spousal consent and halt the transaction.
5
Validates Split Distribution Allocation Totals
For participants choosing a split distribution (Section 2-B on rollover forms), this check verifies that the sum of percentages or dollar amounts for each money type (Pre-Tax, Roth, After-Tax) does not exceed the total available balance. This prevents over-allocation of funds and ensures the distribution instructions are mathematically sound. An invalid allocation will require the participant to correct the amounts.
6
Enforces Legal Processing Window for Participant Signature
This validation verifies that the participant's signature date falls within the legally mandated time frame, which is not sooner than 30 days (unless waived) and no later than 180 days after the 'Date I received the Retirement Benefit Choices Guide'. This ensures compliance with IRS regulations for providing adequate consideration time. A signature outside this window requires the participant to receive a new guide and resubmit the form.
7
Validates Completeness of Direct Deposit Information
For cash distributions requested via Direct Deposit, this check ensures all required financial institution information is complete, including the routing number, account number, and account type. It specifically validates that the routing number is exactly 9 digits. Incomplete or invalid information would cause the electronic transfer to fail, delaying payment to the participant.
8
Ensures Plan Sponsor Section is Completed
This check verifies that the 'Plan Sponsor Section' has been fully completed by an authorized representative of the former employer. This includes critical information like the employment end date, the benefit event, and the sponsor's signature. This authorization is necessary for Principal to release the funds according to plan terms, and its absence will stop the distribution request.
9
Validates Annuity Payment Start Date Rules
On the 'Plan Annuity Options' form, this check validates that the 'Payment Starting Date' is a valid future date and is not the 29th, 30th, or 31st of the month, as specified in the instructions. This rule prevents payment scheduling issues for months that do not have those dates. An invalid date selection would require the participant to choose a new, compliant start date.
10
Verifies Beneficiary Allocation Percentages Sum to 100%
When beneficiaries are designated on the 'Plan Annuity Options' form, this validation ensures that the percentages assigned to all primary beneficiaries add up to exactly 100%. It performs the same check for any contingent beneficiaries listed. This prevents ambiguity and legal disputes over the distribution of remaining benefits after the participant's death.
11
Checks for U.S. Person Status Declaration
This validation ensures the participant has checked one of the boxes to declare their status as either a 'U.S. Person' or 'not a U.S. Person'. This declaration is mandatory for determining correct tax withholding and reporting obligations under IRS rules. If the status is not declared, the form is incomplete and cannot be processed.
12
Validates Partial Cash Distribution Specificity
On the 'Cash Distribution' form, if a partial payment is selected, this check verifies that either a dollar amount or a percentage is entered, but not both. It also confirms that the participant has specified whether the amount is a 'Gross Distribution' or 'Net of Taxes'. This clarity is essential for calculating the correct payment and tax withholding amounts.
13
Requires Documentation for 'Legally Separated' Status
This check flags the submission for manual review if a participant selects 'Legally Separated' as their marital status. The form instructions state that a copy of the court order must be attached. This validation ensures that the required legal documentation is present to verify the marital status and determine if spousal consent is necessary.
14
Ensures Conditional Plan Number Entry
On the 'Direct Rollover' form, if a participant elects to roll funds to an 'Eligible employer sponsored retirement plan with Principal Life', this check ensures the corresponding 'Plan/Contract No.' field is filled. This number is essential for routing the funds to the correct destination account within Principal's system. A missing number would make the rollover instruction incomplete and un-executable.
Common Mistakes in Completing RBC17-11
The rollover forms instruct users to complete either Section 2-A (for a 100% rollover) OR Section 2-B (to split funds), but not both. Applicants often mistakenly fill out both sections, creating ambiguity that makes the form impossible to process. This results in an automatic rejection and significant delays in moving retirement funds. To avoid this, carefully decide if you are rolling over the entire balance or splitting it, and then complete only the single, corresponding section.
If a participant indicates they are married, their spouse's signature is required in a separate section, which must be witnessed by a plan representative or notarized. This is a leading cause of rejection, as participants either forget the signature entirely, or the signature is not properly witnessed or notarized. An invalid consent voids the request, so always ensure the spousal section is completed, signed, and witnessed or notarized on the same date as the signature.
Participants often overlook that the 'Plan Sponsor Section' must be completed and signed by an authorized representative from their former employer. They may submit the form directly, assuming it's not their responsibility. However, this section contains mandatory information like the official termination date, and without it, the distribution cannot be processed. Always forward the form to your former employer's HR department for completion before sending it to Principal.
When requesting a cash distribution or rollover, simple typos in the bank routing number, account number, or financial institution's address are very common. A single incorrect digit can cause the transaction to fail, be delayed for weeks, or in the worst case, be sent to the wrong account. To prevent this, double-check all numbers against a voided check. AI-powered tools like Instafill.ai can help validate routing numbers to ensure they are legitimate and correctly formatted.
This packet contains multiple, separate forms for different choices (e.g., 'Direct Rollover to an IRA outside of Principal', 'Cash Distribution', 'Plan Annuity'). A frequent mistake is filling out the wrong form for the intended transaction, causing processing errors and delays. Before you begin, carefully read the title at the top of each form to confirm you are using the one that precisely matches your retirement benefit choice.
Section 2-B on the rollover forms requires users to specify instructions for different money types, which have distinct tax rules. Many people are unsure of their account's composition and make incorrect elections, such as attempting to roll pre-tax funds into a Roth IRA without understanding the tax consequences of a conversion. This can lead to a failed rollover or an unexpected tax bill. Before completing this section, review your plan statements or consult a financial advisor.
The form instructions reference several other documents that may be required based on your situation, such as IRS Form W-4R for additional tax withholding or a court order for legal separation. Users often focus only on the main form and forget to include these necessary attachments. This results in an incomplete submission and halts processing until the missing paperwork is received. To avoid delays, carefully review all instructions to create a checklist of required attachments.
Forms filled out by hand are often prone to illegible handwriting, especially for critical data like a Social Security Number or Contract Number. A single misread digit can prevent the company from locating your account, causing the form to be rejected. As this form is a flat PDF, using a tool like Instafill.ai can convert it into a fillable version, allowing you to enter data with clean, legible text and auto-populate fields to prevent common data entry errors.
When requesting a partial cash-out, the form asks if the specified amount is 'Gross Distribution' (before taxes) or 'Net of Taxes' (the final check amount). If this is left blank, the default 'Gross' option is used, and the mandatory 20% tax withholding will make the final payment smaller than expected. This confusion can lead to receiving a different amount than anticipated. To avoid this, always explicitly select either 'Gross' or 'Net of Taxes' to ensure your instruction is clear.
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