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This week's Slott Report Mailbag includes questions about converting part of an active SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) to a Roth IRA and the recharacterization process as it concerns tax returns.

When many people think about the rules that govern IRAs, they see them as universal rules, applicable to everyone equally in all circumstances. While many rules do, in fact, apply to everyone equally, variations in state law can also create significant differences in how IRAs are treated in different states.

The topic of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) is one we have written about several times here in The Slott Report, most recently last December. Well, it’s time to write about it again as the legislation that allows QCDs is due to expire at the end of this year, absent an extension enacted by Congress. Thus, if you are or will be age 70 ½ or older by December 31, 2011, you definitely need to be aware of QCDs.

This week at The Slott Report, we will cover several important topics with upcoming deadlines. Below is the schedule of articles, and make sure to view our Instant IRA Success Roundtable Videos posted below and at our YouTube page.

I have a taxpayer that made contributions to his 2 minor children’s Education IRAs for tax years 2007, 2009, and...

I have a taxpayer that made contributions to his 2 minor children’s Education IRAs for tax years 2007, 2009, and...

What distributions can you take from an employer-based retirement plan? We get this question all the time and the answer is always the same.

Welcome to Ed Slott's 2-Day IRA Workshop, Instant IRA Success, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. We look forward to seeing all attendees tomorrow morning!

We have written many times on the importance of completing and filing a designated beneficiary form for all of your IRAs. If no designated beneficiary form is filed with your IRA custodian, or if one cannot be located, the identity of your beneficiary will be governed by default language contained in the IRA agreement, if any. Leaving to chance what may be the most critical aspect of your family’s financial future is not a smart planning move.

Can someone help confirm that I have this right: RMD’s for the year must be done before any rollovers, but...