House Democrats proposed a rule to forbid Roth conversions for the wealthy as part of a broad package of tax increases on affluent Americans.
But there’s an irony in the proposal, according to tax experts.
Employers are increasingly offering a valuable retirement-saving tool to workers.In addition to traditional 401(k) plans, about 8 in 10 workplaces now let workers invest in a Roth 401(k), up from just 37% that offered the option in 2010, according to a recent survey from investing research firm Callan.
Advisers with clients who have large IRAs should be aware of congressional proposals targeting mega-IRAs — those holding more than $10 million — including a proposal for a mandatory 50% RMD of the amount over $10 million, Ed Slott says.
Congress has set its sights on mega-IRA balances, in large part due to the recent reports about Peter Thiel’s $5 billion Roth IRA. But some of these proposals will impact many other clients with smaller individual retirement accounts and Roth IRAs.
Many Americans are using a previously little-known tax method to boost their savings.Now, the government is trying to stop it.
The tax strategy at issue is the mega-backdoor Roth conversion and it has allowed some Americans to amass sizable balances in tax-free Roth retirement accounts
This week Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee voted to advance dozens of proposed tax changes.Some are tax increases that would raise more than $2 trillion of revenue to help fund the party’s priorities.
Also proposed is an outright ban on the “mega backdoor Roth” conversion using workplace retirement plans, which allowed high-income Americans to put $58,000 into a Roth account this year.If passed, that proposal would be effective next year.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal’s plan to usher in several changes to individual retirement accounts “will not likely see much pushback because most people will never have to worry about their IRA balances exceeding $20 million,” IRA and tax specialist Ed Slott of Ed Slott & Co.told ThinkAdvisor late Monday in an email
Christine Benz: Hi, I'm Christine Benz from Morningstar.The Secure Act ushered in new rules for inherited IRAs
Solo 401(k)s — in addition to company 401(k)s — can help clients save additional retirement money on an after-tax basis, even with the possibility of converting them to mega backdoor Roth IRAs, but there are rules, according to Ian Berger, an IRA analyst with Ed Slott & Co.
