Tax Time! IRA Basics and Surprising Facts
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIf you have started saving for retirement, then the chances are good that you’ve heard of Traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). With the tax deadline approaching, important information about IRAs may save you more than a few dollars!
Both types of IRAs, Traditional and Roth, are great ways to save for retirement outside of an employer-sponsored plan, such as a 401(k), and are accessible to almost everyone. IRAs may seem pretty straight-forward on the surface, but how much do you really know about them? Let’s refresh your memory of IRA basics and explore some surprising facts.
Refresher on Traditional IRAs
For tax years 2019 and 2020, an individual under the age of 50 can contribute up to $6,000 into his/her IRA. If you are age 50 or over, then you can contribute an additional $1,000. Contributions to the account grow tax-deferred for as long as the money is in the account. In some cases, these contributions are tax-deductible—which means your taxable income will be reduced by the amount you contribute to your IRA.
Sounds pretty straight-forward, right? This is where it gets a little tricky. There are a couple of factors that determine if you can deduct some or all of those traditional IRA contributions, including whether or not you are covered by a retirement plan at work and how much money you make based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). It is important to speak with a tax professional if you are unsure about your situation.
Once you reach age 59 ½, you can take distributions from the account penalty-free. You will pay ordinary income tax on the amount of your withdrawals. Finally, at age 72, the IRS makes you take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) each year. Initially, this amount is about 4%, but increases each year gradually.
Refresher on Roth IRAs
For tax years 2019 and 2020, contribution limits to Roth IRAs are the same as Traditional IRAs. However, unlike Traditional IRAs, contributions are made with after-tax money and grow completely tax-free.
Again, it sounds pretty straight-forward. However, there are Roth IRA phase-out’s regarding contributions. This means if your MAGI is over a certain threshold, which varies depending on your filing status, then you may not be eligible to contribute the full amount – or anything at all – to your Roth IRA. Once again, if you are unsure of your financial situation, it is crucial to speak to a professional.
Once you reach age 59 ½, you can take distributions from the account penalty-free. Unlike Traditional IRAs, you will not have to pay any tax on the money you withdraw, nor are there any Required Minimum Distributions at any point in your life.
Lesser Known Facts
Since we have covered some of the basics of Traditional and Roth IRAs, let’s explore some of the lesser-known facts that may impact you.
- To contribute to either type of IRA, you need earned income. However, did you know that if you qualify, your spouse without earned income can still contribute to an IRA. If you are married and filing your taxes jointly, then only one spouse needs to have earned income to make contributions for both spouses’ IRAs.
- IRAs cannot be jointly owned in any circumstance. Hence the name, Individual Retirement Account.
- Minors can have IRAs too! This is a great way to teach your child/grandchild to start saving at a young age. The minor must have earned income, and the contributions into the account must not exceed the total amount of the child’s earned income. For example, if the child’s earnings were $2,000, then no more than $2,000 can be contributed to the IRA. The account is structured with the adult as the custodian and the child as the beneficiary. Good news! Even if the adult serves as the custodian, it does not affect their ability to contribute to their own IRA. Typically, Custodial Roth IRAs are favored over Custodial Traditional IRAs, because minors generally are in a lower tax bracket.
- You can contribute to someone else’s IRA. If a family member or friend has an IRA, but does not have the financial resources to make the contribution, then you can make contributions to their account as long as they have earned income. Remember, this contribution to another’s IRA is considered a gift and may be subject to the gift transfer rules.
- You can have more than one IRA. The most common reason is that you have a Traditional IRA with pre-tax money and a Roth IRA with after-tax money – you aren’t allowed to co-mingle these dollars. Other individuals might have two or three IRAs that they want to keep separate because they have different beneficiaries listed for each account.
- There is no minimum IRA contribution requirement. Younger individuals may delay opening an IRA because they think opening the account would require depositing thousands of dollars all at once. There are a variety of financial institutions that are very accommodating, allowing you to open an IRA with only $1 and make small contributions throughout the year.
- Traditional IRA, Contributory IRA, and Rollover IRA are all the same type of account for tax purposes – they all contain pre-tax dollars. Don’t let the names confuse you!
Summary
IRAs are great investment accounts to save for retirement because of the tax benefits they offer. However, not everything about them is necessarily clear-cut. If you have questions about your Traditional or Roth IRA, it is always a good idea to consult with a financial professional to get the most benefit out of your retirement savings.
Austin Stagman, CIMA, is an Investment Advisor with Bedel Financial Consulting, Inc., a wealth management firm located in Indianapolis. For more information, visit their website or email Austin.