IRA contribution

Be Careful How You Mail Tax Return and IRA Contributions

Have you ever been to the post office on April 15th? If not, I wouldn't recommend it. It's a zoo. Chances are that if you ever make such a trip, the lines will be long and the wait even longer. Why? Because all the last-minute procrastinators are there to send out their tax returns. Click to find out how to avoid this rush.

Your 2014 Retirement Planning Building Blocks

It's never too late (or early) to get started on your 2014 retirement planning. There are certain building blocks that Ed Slott, America's IRA Expert, believes are the foundational keys to a successful long-term retirement plan. He goes through them in considerable detail in the IRAtv video below (click here to watch in browser), and here's a quick-hitting list of the key building blocks.

New Version of IRS Publication 590 for IRAs

The new version of IRS Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) for use in preparing 2013 tax returns, has been released by the IRS. It’s used by taxpayers and tax preparers when filing 2013 federal income tax returns.

Early Year IRA Contribution Question-and-Answer

Last week I posted a video discussing the importance of contributing to your retirement account early in the year. Without putting any more money into your account over the long run, by simply making your IRA contribution early in the year, as opposed to year-end (or even by April 15 of the following year), you can easily wind up with tens of thousands more in your retirement account to spend during your golden years. In response to the video, as well as the time of year in general, we've received a number of questions. Here are some of the most common ones, along with their answers.

Reinvesting Your Required Minimum Distribution

You have inherited an IRA or you have turned age 70 ½ and now have to take required distributions (RMDs). But you don't need (a relative term of course) the money and you would rather not pay the tax on money you don't need. So what can you do? Click to find out.

Contributing to an IRA When You Are Married Filing Separately

If you are married, you can choose between filing your federal income tax return as a joint return or as a separate return. In general, the married-filing separately (MFS) status typically gives you fewer tax benefits than filing jointly. We explain in detail below.

Retirement-Related Tax Breaks for Military Members

With Veteran's Day quickly approaching, Ed Slott and Company IRA Technical Consultant Jeffrey Levine detailed 3 retirement-related tax breaks members of the United States armed forces can take advantage of before year-end.

Simple Questions to Make Sure You Are Eligible to Make a 2013 IRA or Roth IRA Contribution

If you put money into an IRA or Roth IRA earlier this year for 2013 or plan to do so before the April 15, 2014 contribution deadline, it’s important to double check and make sure you are actually able to do so. Any amount you contribute to an IRA/Roth IRA that isn’t allowed to be there will cost you a 6% penalty if it is not timely removed by October 15, 2014. Worse yet, that 6% penalty is not a one-time penalty. Every year the errant contribution remains in the account, the 6% penalty is assessed.

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