What’s the Tax Deal on IRAs?

What’s the Tax Deal on IRAs? – IRAs — individual retirement arrangements — are among the most popular retirement savings vehicles. They can be used to reduce taxes on retirement savings, but how do they work?

If you create a traditional IRA, you may be able to deduct some or all of your contributions to the account from your income taxes. You also may be eligible for a tax credit equal to a percentage of your contribution. Amounts in your traditional IRA, including earnings, generally aren’t taxed until they are distributed to you. Typically, this happens during retirement, when you may be in a lower income bracket. After your death, any funds remaining in your IRA will be paid to your beneficiaries.

IRAs aren’t just for office workers. You can fund one with taxable compensation — wages, salaries, commissions, tips, bonuses or net income — from self-employment. Certain alimony and maintenance payments, money received to aid in graduate or postdoctoral studies, or even certain difficulty-of-care payments may be treated as compensation that can be used to contribute to an IRA. There is no longer an age limit to contribute to an IRA (it used to be 70 1/2).

Worksheets available from the IRS can help you figure allowable deductions. Go to Instructions for Form 1040-SR, or to Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), and claim your IRA deduction on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, attaching Schedule 1, Additional Income and Adjustments to Income. For nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA, attach Form 8606, Nondeductible IRAs.

See Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions and Do I Qualify for the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit? to determine whether you’re also eligible for a tax credit. Enter the amount of the credit on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR and attach Schedule 3, Additional Credits and Payments.

Distributions from a traditional IRA are fully or partially taxable in the year of distribution. Any money you take out before age 59 1/2 may be subject to an additional 10% tax. You also may owe an excise tax if you don’t begin to withdraw minimum distributions by April 1 of the year after the year you reach age 72 (this was raised from 70 1/2).

Roth IRAs — an important difference

A Roth IRA is the reverse of a traditional IRA in that contributions to such an account aren’t deductible and you don’t report the contributions on your tax return. However, you don’t pay taxes when you take distributions. To be a Roth IRA, an account must be designated as a Roth IRA when it’s set up. This type of account may be a good choice for someone who is in a low income bracket now but expects to be in a higher one later.

This is just an introduction to IRAs. There are other considerations as well, such as limits on how much you can contribute. If you have a work-related plan, such as a 401(k), that may also impact your IRA status. Be sure to work with a financial professional to ensure you are making the right decisions about your IRA management and retirement planning generally.

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William Hayes

As an attorney in private practice in Los Angeles County, California William Hayes provides extensive estate and tax planning services to individuals and businesses in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and surrounding communities. Attorney Hayes’ primary focus is to help clients avoid probate, protect their assets, and provide for the security of their loved ones with a well-crafted estate plan. He believes in giving each client the time needed to explain his or her needs and wishes and then dedicates his efforts toward making the client’s desires clear in their final estate plan.

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