8 of 10 Things You Must Know About Roth Accounts
The rules for determining the source of money coming out of a Roth work in the taxpayer’s favor. The first money out is considered contributed amounts, so it’s tax- and penalty-free. Once contributions are depleted, you dip into converted amounts (if any). This money is tax- and penalty-free for owners 59 1/2 and older or younger ones who have had the converted amount in a Roth for more than five years. Only after you have cashed out all converted amounts do you get to the earnings. Once the account owner is 59 1/2 and has had one Roth for at least five years, earnings, too, can be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free.
The ability to tap money in a Roth IRA without penalty before age 59 1/2 allows for flexibility to use the Roth IRA for other purposes. For example, the account could be used as a fallback for college savings.
Once you reach retirement, having a pot of tax-free income to draw upon may allow you to lower your tax bill. Roth money doesn’t count in the calculation for taxing Social Security benefits, for example, or in the calculation for the new tax on investment income.
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