Form 5498

Slott Report Mailbag: How Do These Roth IRA 5-Year Rules Work?

The Slott Report Mailbag is full of inquiries on one of our most discussed topics, the Roth IRA 5-year rules, as well as a question that came from our Wednesday article on where you report your 2013 Roth IRA contributions on your tax return (hint: nowhere!). Click for this week's Q&A with our IRA Technical Expert.

Retirement Account Asset Valuation Seeing Greater Scrutiny

Asset valuation is coming under greater scrutiny. It started with valuations used for calculating estate tax. IRS questioned valuation discounts used in many estates and was successful in many of these challenges.Then came the housing crash, the market crash and the mortgage security problems in 2006 and beyond. As a result, the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) is now looking harder at how illiquid investments in alternative funds are being valued.

Slott Report Mailbag: I Just Inherited an IRA or Roth IRA From My Spouse. What Do I Do Now?

This week's Slott Report Mailbag answers what we call some of the "nuts and bolts" of IRA planning. We received questions on required minimum distributions (RMDs) and inherited IRAs - two of our most popular topics, and also two of the topics where we see the most mistakes and disaster stories. Away we go with another Thursday mailbag!

IRA Statements You Will Receive in May

The end of May brings the Memorial Day holiday and the start of the summer season. It's also the time that you will receive information about your IRA from your financial institution.

Final Tax Time Tip: Triple Check Contributions and Forms 1099-R and 5498

Most tax returns are done, 1099-Rs have been received, 2011 contributions have been made, and 5498s will be out by the end of next month (May). What's left to be done? Only the double (and triple) checking. Did you make a contribution in 2012 for 2011? Double check now to be sure the IRA custodian coded it as a 2011 contribution. Also double check that it went into the correct account, IRA or Roth IRA, your account or your spouse’s account, IRA or non-IRA account. Now is the time to fix any mistakes, not next year.

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