Please explain what is covered under the "Death" option for using money from a retirement account to lower my tax bill. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[BillM223]

I am assuming (which may or may not be what you are referring to) that you are asking about the Early Distribution penalty from an IRA or a qualified plan (like a 401(k)). Distributions from either an IRA, SEP, SIMPLE IRA* and SARSEP Plans or from a qualified plan like a 401(k) plan after death of the participant/IRA owner are excepted from the 10% early distribution penalty.

Please see this IRS webpage.

[dmertz]

"Death" means a distribution paid to a beneficiary after the IRA participant dies.  Unless you received this distribution as beneficiary of someone else who died, this penalty exception does not apply to you.