Individual Retirement Accounts - IRAs
Strategies for maximizing your Individual Retirement Account (IRA’s) Investments, Tax Savings and Timing of Required Minimum Distributions
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How to Calculate the Required Minimum Distribution
The required minimum distribution (RMD) rules limit the extent to which an individual can use the tax deferral of an IRA or other qualified retirement plan. The RMD rules dictate when distributions must be made from the retirement plans of certain taxpayers. The rationale behind the RMD rules is that Congress provided the tax benefits […]
When to Use an IRA To Fund Your Health Savings Account
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are the best retirement planning tool available, and there’s a little-known legal trick that can help fully fund an HSA. An HSA has three powerful tax benefits. Contributions to the account are tax deductible or excluded from gross income when an employer makes them. The account can be invested, and income […]
Tax Court Shows Risks in Self-Directed IRAs, Unconventional Investments
A self-direct-ed IRA is a good way to invest your retirement account in non-traditional investments. But a recent Tax Court decision shows the dangers of taking shortcuts and not setting up and operating the IRA the right way.In the case, the taxpayer had a SEP-IRA. The custodian was a national bank. The taxpayer set up […]
The Times When the Payoff from Converting to a Roth IRA Increases
Should I convert my traditional IRA or 401(k) to a Roth IRA? How much should I convert? These and related questions are being asked more frequently these days. That’s primarily because of a wide-spread belief that increases in income and estate taxes are likely to be enacted in the next year or two. Also, Stealth […]
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Congress Isn’t Finished Coming After Your Retirement Money
The Biden administration and Congress are planning major spending increases in 2021 and beyond. They are going to raise taxes to pay for some of that spending. A lot of the revenue to pay for the new spending is likely to come from retirement plans, according to several speakers at a recent American Bar Association […]
There’s Still Tax Magic from Making Charitable Contributions from Your IRA
The qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from an IRA is the best way for most people age 70½ and older to make charitable contributions. The QCD was a temporary innovation in 2006 but was made a regular part of the tax law in 2015. You should include the QCD in your tax planning if you’re charitably […]
Congress Extends One CARES Act Provision, Lets Another Expire
Some special tax and retirement plan rules were created in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress recently extended one of them with some modifications but let another expire. One provision gave taxpayers more than 60 days to roll over IRA distributions to the original IRA or to another qualified retirement plan. The provision […]
What You Need to Know About RMDs in 2021
Over the last few years, there have been a lot of changes in required mini-mum distributions (RMDs) for IRAs and other retirement plans. It is important to know the current rules, so you don’t pay more income taxes than you need to or incur the highest penalty in the tax code. The penalty for not […]
