Back Door IRA, The Conclusion

Posted on by in 401(k), 403(b), Educational Resources, Income Tax, Index Investing, IRAs, Life Insurance, Roth 401(k), Roth IRA, Roth IRA Conversions, Social Security, Traditional IRA and tagged , , , , , , .

Roth-IRA-conversions,James-LangeRecharacterizations

Disclaimer: Please note that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 removed the ability for taxpayers to do any “recharacterizations” of Roth IRA conversions after 12/31/2017. The material below was created and published prior the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. 

Converting to a Roth IRA also comes with another very unique advantage. The IRS allows you a one-time opportunity to recharacterize or “undo” this conversion by October 15th of the following tax year. IRS publication 590 states that, “a recharacterization allows you to ‘undo’ or ‘reverse’ a rollover or conversion to a Roth IRA. To recharacterize, you generally instruct the trustee of the financial institution holding your Roth IRA to transfer the amount back to a traditional IRA (in a trustee-to-trustee or within the same trustee). If you do this by the due date for your tax return (including extensions), you can treat the contribution as made to the traditional IRA for that year (effectively ignoring the Roth IRA contribution)”. In the case of a Backdoor Roth IRA, you probably won’t think about recharacterizing. However, if you want to explore this option, we are here to help assist you, because like many of the other rules involved this can be complicated.

Conclusion

While Backdoor Roth IRAs can be beneficial to many investors, they aren’t for everyone. They come with their limitations and complications. There are precautions that need to be taken to reap the full benefits of any financial decision. This is an area where a highly informed financial advisor can help you make an educated and calculated decision. You should always consult with your financial advisor and tax professional to help avoid tax ramifications.

As always, we are here to help and can look at your specific financial situation and chart the right path for you. If you are interested in learning more about whether or not a Backdoor Roth would be right for you and your specific situation, please call us and we would be happy to discuss this with you. As always, we enjoy the opportunity to assist you in addressing your financial matters.

Financial Check-Up

 

Complimentary Financial Check-up

If you are currently not a client of The Lange Financial Group, we would like to offer you a complimentary, one-hour, private consultation with one of our professionals at absolutely no cost or obligation to you.

To schedule your financial check-up, please call 412-521-2732 or fill out our Pre-Qualification Form here.

Thank you,
James Lange

 

 

This article is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice as individual situations will vary. For specific advice about your situation, please consult with a lawyer or financial professional.

The Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Withdrawals from the account may be tax free, as long as they are considered qualified. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Future tax laws can change at any time and may impact the benefits of Roth IRAs. Their tax treatment may change.

Roth IRA account owners should consider the potential tax ramifications, age and contribution deductibility limits in regard to executing a re-characterization of a Roth IRA to a Traditional IRA.

The views stated in this letter are not necessarily the opinion of The Lange Financial Group, LLC, and should not be construed, directly or indirectly, as an offer to buy or sell any securities mentioned herein. Investors should be aware that there are risks inherent in all investments, such as fluctuations in investment principal. With any investment vehicle, past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Material discussed herewith is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only, please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, the information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice. This material contains forward looking statements and projections. There are no guarantees that these results will be achieved. © Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors, 2014

 

Benefits of a Roth IRA

Posted on by in 401(k), Educational Resources, Income Tax, IRAs, Roth IRA, Roth IRA Conversions, Traditional IRA and tagged , , , , , , , .

Back Door IRA, James Lange, Pittsburgh, Retirement Planning

There are numerous benefits to converting to a Roth IRA. Please remember, it is important to review all of your retirement accounts before converting to a Roth IRA. Some benefits of a Roth IRA include;

• Required minimum distributions are not obligatory until the participant’s death.

• Withdrawals are tax free.

• They pass onto your heirs income tax-free.

• You can compound your investments in a tax-free fashion.

 

Am I a Candidate for a Backdoor Roth IRA?

Backdoor Roth IRAs can be appropriate for investors who:

  • Only have retirement account through their jobs (i.e. 401k’s) and want to increase their retirement savings in tax-advantaged accounts, but whose income is too high to qualify for standard Roth IRA contributions; and
  • Have the time and ability to wait for five years or until they are 59 ½ to avoid the 10% penalty on early withdrawals. (If you open and make contributions to a Roth IRA in the standard manner, i.e. not through conversion, you are not subject to this rule).

A Backdoor Roth IRA is probably not recommended if you:

  • Are over the age of 70½ and can no longer contribute to a traditional IRA.
  • Don’t want to contribute more than the maximum retirement limit through your workplace retirement account.
  • Already have money in a traditional IRA and because of the Pro Rata rule may end up in a non-tax advantageous position when converting to a Backdoor Roth IRA.
  • Plan or expect to withdraw the funds in the Roth IRA within the first five years of opening it. A Backdoor Roth is considered a conversion and not a contribution. Therefore, the funds will incur a 10% penalty if withdrawn within five years unless you are age 59 ½ or older.
  • Are in a high tax bracket now and expect to be in a lower tax bracket in the future.
  • Plan to relocate to a lower- or no- income tax state.

 

Stay tuned for my next blog post, Recharacterizations and the Conclusion!

Disclaimer: Please note that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 removed the ability for taxpayers to do any “recharacterizations” of Roth IRA conversions after 12/31/2017. The material below was created and published prior the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. 

Want to learn more? Give us a call at 412-521-2732.

– James Lange

 

Beware of the Pro Rata Rule for Roth Conversions

Posted on by in 401(k), Educational Resources, IRAs, IRS, Roth 401(k), Roth IRA, Roth IRA Conversions, Traditional IRA and tagged , , , , , , , .

What is the Pro Rata rule for Roth conversions?

The Pro Rata rule for Roth conversions states that if you have any other deductible IRAs (i.e. a previous 401k that you’ve rolled over), the conversion of any contributions becomes a taxable event that you’ll need to pay taxes on upfront.

The Pro Rata rule for Roth conversions determines whether or not your conversion will be taxable! For taxation purposes, the IRS will look at your entire IRA holdings (even if they are in different accounts), not just the traditional IRA you are converting to a Roth IRA, and will determine what your tax bill will be based upon a ratio of IRA assets that have already been taxed to those IRA assets in total.

The IRS determines the tax on this conversion based on the value of all of your IRA assets. For example Jane, a high income earner, already has $94,500 in an IRA account, all of which has never been taxed.  She decides on January 2nd to put $5,500 into a new traditional IRA. The next day she converts the new traditional non-deductible IRA to a Roth IRA.  Jane’s income is too high for her to make a direct contribution into a Roth IRA, but there’s no income limit on conversions.  Unlike Bill she has $94,500 in other IRAs (previously non-taxed), so her total IRA assets are now $100,000. When she converts $5,500 to a Roth IRA, the IRS pro-rates her tax basis on the previous taxation of her total IRA assets, therefore making this conversion 94.5% taxable ($94,500/100,000 = 94.5%).

So if you plan on using this backdoor IRA strategy, you want to be clear as to whether or not you have any other IRAs. As you can see, this can be a confusing area and this is where we can help.  If you are a high income earner we would be happy to review your situation to determine if this strategy is in your best interest.

Also, please remember that your spouse’s IRA is separate from yours.

Stay tuned for my next blog post, Benefits of a Roth IRA!

Want to learn more? Give us a call at 412-521-2732.

– James Lange

Important Tax Birthdays

Posted on by in Important Tax Dates, Income Tax, IRAs, Medicare, Social Security and tagged , , , .

The “Happy Birthday” song is traditionally sung to celebrate the anniversary of someone’s birth. In 1998, the Guinness Book of World Records proclaimed that very song as the most recognized song in the English language, followed by “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Its roots can be traced back to a song entitled, “Good Morning to All,” which was written and composed by American sisters and kindergarten teachers, Patty and Mildred Hill in 1893.

Throughout the years, many other versions and styles of the “Happy Birthday” song were created. One of the most famous versions of this song was sung by Marilyn Monroe to then U.S. President John F. Kennedy in May 1962. Another famous version of the song was sung by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They shifted the melody to a traditional rock song and increased its complexity and style on their unforgettable double album, “The Beatles” (commonly referred to as the “White Album”) in 1968.

Traditionally, birthdays are fun events, but when it comes to taxes, birthdays have a special place. From a tax standpoint, birthdays are not always “fun” and very often are different and not created the same.

The table below contains some important tax birthdays (after the age of 50) that can dramatically affect your income taxes:

It is very important that as you plan for or reach any of these milestone birthdays that you are working with a qualified financial advisor who can review your specific situation to determine what tax reduction strategies would be best for you.

Contact us today to discuss some of these strategies. If you are a Western Pennsylvania resident, schedule a free initial consultation with us by calling us at 412-521-2732.  Residents outside of Southwestern Pennsylvania should call for more information. Jim’s services are available via the phone or through the Internet. Send an e-mail to admin@paytaxeslater.com.

Important Tax Birthdays

Some things to consider about your Retirement Plan

Posted on by in 401(k), 403(b), IRAs, IRS, Medicare, Roth 401(k), Roth IRA, Roth IRA Conversions.

In 2013, the maximum 401(k) contribution is $17,500 (plus a $5,500 catch-up contribution for those 50 or older by the end of the year). If you are self-employed, you have other retirement savings options. We will review these alternatives with you when you come in for your appointment. One of my favorites for many one person self- employed businesses is the one person 401(k) plan.

In light of the new increased tax rates effective in 2013, plus the addition of the new Medicare surtax on Net Investment Income, higher income taxpayers may want to consider switching from Roth 403(b) and Roth 401(k) elective deferral contributions back to tax deductible contributions. The current savings may outweigh the benefits of tax-free growth on the Roth accounts. As mentioned earlier, the focus moving forward for higher income taxpayers is toward reducing adjusted gross income.

You can also contribute to an IRA for 2013 up through April 15, 2014. The maximum is $5,500 with a catch-up (for taxpayers 50 or older) provision of $1,000.

– Excerpt from Jim Lange’s 2013 Year-End Tax Report

retirement-james-lange-financial-group-ira-asset-management-savings

The Clear Advantage of IRA and Retirement Plan Savings during the Accumulation Stage

Posted on by in 401(k), Estate Tax, Income Tax, IRAs, Lange’s Cascading Beneficiary Plan, Roth 401(k), Roth IRA.

If you are working or self-employed, to the extent you can afford to, please contribute the maximum to your retirement plans.

Mr. Pay Taxes Later and Mr. Pay Taxes Now had identical salaries, investment choices, and spending patterns, but there was one big difference. Mr. Pay Taxes Later invested as much as he could afford in his tax-deferred retirement plans—even though his employer did not match his contributions. Mr. Pay Taxes Now contributed nothing to his retirement account at work but invested his “savings” in an account outside of his retirement plan.

Please look at Figure 1. Mr. Pay Taxes Later’s investment is represented by the black curve, and Mr. Pay Taxes Now’s, by the gray curve. Look at the dramatic difference in the accumulations over time—nearly $2 million.

There you have it. Two people in the same tax bracket who earn and spend an identical amount of money and have identical investment rates of return. But, based on the simple application of the “Pay Taxes Later” rule, the difference is poverty in old age versus affluence and a $2 million estate.

Can't see this image - go to https://paytaxeslater.com/ and download the book!

Retirement Assests, IRAs vs. After-Tax Accumulations

Retire Secure! Pay Taxes Later – The Key to Making Your Money Last, 2nd Edition, James Lange, page. xxxi  https://paytaxeslater.com/

Answers to The 70 1/2 Quiz!

Posted on by in 401(k), Income Tax, IRAs.

Yesterday we tested your knowledge of the tax laws surrounding Required Minimum Distributions…  Let’s see how you did! 

  • 1 D: April 1, after the year that you turn 70 1/2. For example, if you turn 70 1/2. in the year 2005, the required beginning date would be April 1, 2006.
  • 2 Usually not.Let me explain. The year that you turn age 70 ? is often referred to as your required beginning year. You must take out a distribution for this year, but the government says that you have until April 1 of the following year before you need to actually take the money out.. Taking your beginning year distribution in the following year does not relieve you of the obligation to take a required distribution in that year, however. Thus, by waiting you will have to take two distributions in the following year-a delayed distribution from the beginning year and another for the current year!Why is this bad? Let us assume that your minimum distribution for the year 2005 was $15,000 and that you wait until March 31, 2006 to actually take out this amount. The $15,000 is treated as a distribution for the 2006 tax year.However, you also must take a minimum distribution for the year 2006, for which the deadline is December 31, 2006. If we assume that your minimum distribution for the year 2006 is $18,000, then your total distribution would be $33,000 in one calendar year! This might push you up into a higher tax bracket for 2006. Thus, in most cases it is best to take your minimum distribution during the year that you turn age 70 ?, rather than waiting until April 1 of the following year. It is best to prepare a tax projection in order to determine which way is best for you, depending on your circumstances.
  • 3 C: A 50% penalty. For example, if your minimum distribution was $20,000 and you only took out $8,000, then the difference would be $12,000. The penalty would be 50% of $12,000, which equals $6,000! Talk about a penalty!
  • 4 E: You can name almost anything or anyone. For example, you can name your spouse, children, grandchildren, a trust, a charity, your estate, or even your dog!
  • 5 A: YES! Under prior law, if you designated a charity as a partial beneficiary, this would prohibit your spouse from rolling over the rest of the proceeds or any of the other beneficiaries from electing to take IRA distributions over their lifetime. However, under the new laws, the spouse would have the right to roll it over into her IRA even though the charity was one of the primary beneficiaries, as long as the charity took out its distributions.
  • 6 No.?The final regulations no longer take the beneficiary into consideration.! It makes no difference even if there is no beneficiary because the individual would still take out a minimum distribution based upon the new table. There is an exception, of course, if a spouse is the primary beneficiary and he or she is more than 10 years younger than the IRA owner. In such a case you can use a different table that has longer life expectancies. However, in this example, this is not an issue.
  • 7 Yes!?If the spouse is the primary beneficiary of the living trust and the trust is the primary beneficiary of the IRA, and the other conditions listed below are also satisfied, then the IRS allows you to “look through” the trust and treat the spouse as being the primary beneficiary of the IRA. The spouse then has the right to roll it over into his or her own IRA.The required conditions are as follows:?
    1. The beneficiary designation must be valid under applicable state law.
    2. It must be irrevocable or become irrevocable at your death. Revocable trusts become irrevocable when you pass away and therefore a revocable trust can now be the beneficiary.
    3. All beneficiaries of the trust must be individuals.
    4. The beneficiaries must be identifiable from the trust document.
    5. A copy of the trust or trust certification that identifies the beneficiaries in any subsequent revisions must be given to the plan administrator no later than December 31st of the year after the?person passes away.
  • 8 D:The child would have the right to use any of these options; however, the best choice in most cases would be to take the distributions over his or her lifetime. The election must be made no later than December 31 of the year following the year of death. This is usually by far the best option for most non-spouse beneficiaries because it permits the maximum deferral for taxpayers who do not really need the money, while providing an option to receive the full amount in one year or over a five-year period if desired…Unfortunately, many IRA custodians default to taking out the distribution over a shorter period of time unless an election is made to extend it. Many beneficiaries (and their advisors!) are not aware of this rule and forget to make any election, and therefore are subject to the default provisions that the IRA custodian has. It is extremely important to review your custodian’s language in order to determine what options that they allow after you die.
  • 9 E: It doesn’t matter anymore! There used to be a number of factors to take into consideration before making your choice on calculating your Required Minimum Distribution such as selecting life expectancy, the recalculation method, single vs. joint, hybrid, term certain, etc. There is now one uniform table that most people will use. This table generally assumes that the beneficiary is 10 years younger than the IRA owner. The only exception is a situation in which the beneficiary is a surviving spouse who is more than 10 years younger than the IRA owner. Under the facts of this question, the spouse is 67 years old. Although this is only three years younger than the IRA owner, you can still calculate your minimum distribution assuming he or she is 10 years younger.
  • 10 C:?You might be depleting your IRA principal, but the IRS does not require this. The IRS merely requires that you take out a minimum distribution based on the new table and whether IRA principal decreases in a given year depends on whether the required distribution exceeds the growth in asset value for that year.For example, let us assume that your spouse is your primary beneficiary and both of you are 70 years old. According to the IRS tables, you have a life expectancy of 26.2 years. Therefore, if you have $100,000 in your IRA at the end of the prior year, you would have to take a minimum distribution of $3,817, which is about 4% of the IRA balance. If your investments inside of your IRA earn more than 4% , then your IRA will actually grow! The following chart illustrates what happens to your IRA balance if IRA investments earned a 10% return.

    IRA beginning balance:?$100,000

    Earnings during year:?10,000

    Less required minimum distribution -3,817

    Ending IRA Balance?$106,183

    Obviously, if your minimum distribution is greater than the earnings on your IRA, however, then you will start depleting your principal.

Take the 70 1/2 Quiz!

Posted on by in Income Tax, IRAs.

Many individuals with large IRAs understand that 70 1/2 is the magic age at which they have to start taking required minimum distributions. Unfortunately, these people often underestimate the complexity of the tax laws regarding this issue. Therefore, please take a few minutes to complete this 70 1/2 Quiz!

  1. At what date must you begin taking minimum distributions from your IRA?
    1. 70
    2. 70 1/2
    3. April 1 of the year you turn age 70 1/2
    4. April 1 of the year after you turn age 70 1/2
  2. Should you usually wait until this date before you take out your first minimum distribution?
    1. YES
    2. NO
  3. What is the penalty if you do not take out enough?
    1. 10%
    2. 25%
    3. 50%
    4. 75%
  4. Who can you name as beneficiaries to your retirement account?
    1. Spouse
    2. Children
    3. Grandchildren
    4. Pets
    5. Any or all of the above
  5. If I name my wife as 50% beneficiary, my son as 25% beneficiary, and a charity as 25% beneficiary, can my wife still roll over her interest into her own IRA after I am gone?
    1. Yes
    2. No, because the charity disqualifies the other beneficiaries from electing a rollover or an Inherited IRA.
  6. If I name my revocable trust as the primary beneficiary, am I required to take out my minimum distributions based on my single life expectancy?
    1. YES
    2. NO
    3. MAYBE
  7. If I name my trust as my primary beneficiary and my spouse is the primary beneficiary of my trust, will my spouse be allowed to roll over the proceeds into his or her IRA? [consistency]
    1. YES
    2. NO
  8. If I name a child as the primary beneficiary of the IRA, what options does he or she have with respect to minimum distributions after I die?
    1. within 1 year?
    2. within 5 years?
    3. over his/her lifetime?
    4. A, B or C
  9. I just turned age 70 1/2, am married and my spouse (age 67) is my beneficiary. What is my best choice for calculating my required minimum distributions?
    1. Recalculation?
    2. Term Certain?
    3. Hybrid
    4. Depends on circumstances
    5. Doesn’t matter
  10. Once I turn age 70 1/2, must I start depleting my IRA?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Maybe

How do you think you did? On the average, most people get less than half correct!  Check in tomorrow for all the right answers!

To get the right answers for you, call us and schedule a Free Second Opinion with Jim Lange! 412-521-2732.

 

Quiz from MD Producer

Blog Series: How to Take Money Out of Your IRA Tax-Free!

Posted on by in Income Tax, IRAs.

Did you know there are several ways to take money out of your IRA tax-free? Remember, just because you CAN, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

The first thing you should do is consult your tax/legal/financial advisor(s) and determine if taking money out of your IRA is the right step for you!

Option 7: Oil and gas investments.

Many people forget that some investments in an oil and gas investment generate an ordinary loss, which also can be utilized to offset distributions from an IRA.

Everyone’s situation is different! Make sure to consult your trusted advisors to determine what is appropriate for you!

 

Information gathered from MD Producer article for professionals

Blog Series: How to Take Money Out of Your IRA Tax-Free!

Posted on by in Income Tax, IRAs.

Did you know there are several ways to take money out of your IRA tax-free? Remember, just because you CAN, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

The first thing you should do is consult your tax/legal/financial advisor(s) and determine if taking money out of your IRA is the right step for you!

Option 6: Income tax credits.

There are some investments that might generate a tax credit. If you give $3,000 away to a charity, this is a deduction and would save some taxpayers about $1,000 in taxes. On the other hand, the tax credit reduces your taxes dollar for dollar.

In the event that you can make $3,000 in tax credits, you would reduce your income taxes by $3,000. Therefore, tax credits are usually much more valuable than a tax deduction. Many investments can generate a tax credit. Have your advisor review the alternatives, as well as make sure that the overall investment return from the tax credit generator is a good one. Don’t just invest based on tax credit benefits. It is important that you always review the overall investment return with your advisor carefully.

Everyone’s situation is different! Make sure to consult your trusted advisors to determine what is appropriate for you!

 

Information gathered from MD Producer article for professionals