I appreciate it when reputable financial advisors fight for their clients. It is a pleasure to see a well-educated, experienced professional leave no stone unturned when it comes to helping someone through a problematic situation. Such conversations can be inspiring. “What if we try this? What if we tried that?” If a creative path to a desired outcome exists within the rules, I will diligently help the advisor map out a route while simultaneously pointing out the tripping hazards.
More and more 401(k) plans are making Roth employee contributions available, and employees leaving their jobs often want to roll over Roth 401(k) funds to a Roth IRA. What tax rules apply to distributions of amounts rolled over? Warning: The rules are complicated because they involve two five-year holding periods, one for the Roth 401(k) distribution and the other for the Roth IRA distribution.
I opened my first Roth IRA in 2017 and a second Roth IRA in December 2021. My current age is 71. I withdrew some funds from these accounts last year. For tax year 2024, I received a 2024 Form 1099-R for the 2017 Roth IRA account with a distribution code of Q and a 1099-R for the 2021 Roth IRA with a distribution code of T. That's where the confusion is - different distribution codes.
Why is it so important to know how the “once-per-year rollover rule” works? Well, that’s because trouble with the once-per year rule is the kind of trouble no one wants! If you violate this rule, you are looking at some serious tax consequences. Here is what you need to know about this rule that can cause big problems for those who do not know all its details and pitfalls.
Sometimes we get stuck in traffic, or a highway is closed, and we are forced to find an alternate route. I’m not talking about driving across someone’s front yard or going the wrong way on a one-way street. Think side roads and legal detours. While a main road may be blocked, that might not be the only way to reach your destination. The same holds true with certain IRA transactions. Here are a handful of creative “detours” that retirement account owners may be forced to take in order to reach their intended goal.
Question:
Dear Ed Slott and America’s IRA Experts,
I have a rollover traditional IRA that was set up when I left my last job. I am no longer employed, so I don’t have any earned income. My husband works full time, and our filing status is married filing jointly.
One important provision of the 2022 SECURE 2.0 law is the requirement that most new 401(k) and 403(b) plans must institute automatic enrollment. This rule is effective for plan years beginning after December 31, 2024. A “plan year” is the plan’s 12-month fiscal year and is usually January 1 – December 31. So, many new plans became subject to automatic enrollment on January 1, 2025. On January 9, 2025, the IRS issued proposed regulations on this rule.
Tax season is upon us! This is the time of year when many people consider making a contribution to an IRA. If you are thinking about doing so, here are 10 things you need to know.
Question:
I just inherited an IRA from my sister. She died at age 74 and I am age 78. Am I required to use the 10-year rule, or can I stretch distributions from the inherited account over my life expectancy? I am hearing conflicting information as to what my options are.
On January 21, Ichiro Suzuki was elected to Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. It takes 75% of the writer’s support to gain entry, and Ichiro was chosen on 393 out of 394 ballots.
