If you're thinking about converting some or all of your IRAs to a Roth IRA, there are two ways to do it. The two ways are by taking an IRA distribution or by direct transfer. Regardless of which method you choose, it will be treated and reported as a distribution from your IRA and a conversion deposit into your Roth IRA. IRA-to-Roth IRA conversions are taxable to you as ordinary income, but no 10% penalty applies, even if you’re under age 59 ½. Click to learn more about the best way to convert your IRA to a Roth IRA.
This week's
Slott Report Mailbag includes a couple of detailed questions about the handling of retirement accounts after death. Click to read a Q&A with our IRA Technical Expert.
Whenever you move IRA money into another IRA at a different financial institution, it can be done in one of two ways. First, you could take a distribution from your IRA that is payable to you and roll over the money to another IRA. The second way is to transfer the funds directly from one IRA to another IRA. We recommend that you move IRA money using the direct transfer method to avoid problems. Click to find out why.
This week's
Slott Report Mailbag includes questions about the effects from contributions and rules on retirement plans. Click to read a Q&A with our IRA Technical Expert.
An issue we recently discussed with a financial advisor highlighted the rule that there are two separate parts to a SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) plan. If both parts of the SEP are not executed, then severe tax consequences can result to both the employer and any eligible employees. We detail the two parts of a SEP IRA below.
This week's
Slott Report Mailbag includes questions about retirement planning funds on the move, namely withdrawing funds and dealing with its tax consequences. Click to read this week's Q&A with our IRA Technical Expert.
If you're lucky enough to be getting an income tax refund from IRS for 2013, you might be wondering what you can do with that money. Certainly you can use it to pay some bills, or treat yourself to something you've wanted to buy for a while. But if you're thinking about using that refund to help save for retirement, you're in luck. The IRS allows you to have that refund check directly deposited into an IRA if you follow certain procedures when you file your federal income taxes for 2013.
This week's
Slott Report Mailbag focuses on a SEP IRA conversion to a Roth IRA. It's an interesting question (one we don't get often), so we decided to put a spotlight on the issue in this week's mailbag. Click to read a Q&A with our IRA Technical Expert.
As we approach the April 15, 2014 tax filing deadline, one of the things you have to report on your tax return is an IRA-to-IRA rollover. Whether you’ve already filed your taxes for 2013 or you’re waiting until the last minute, here is how to correctly report a tax-free IRA-to-IRA rollover. Don’t assume that because an IRA-to-IRA rollover is tax-free that it doesn’t need to be reported on your tax return; it has to be reported!
You can't just contribute to an IRA if you have extra money lying around and don't work. It's a fact that many Americans aren't aware of, and it's one that came up in this week's
Slott Report Mailbag. We also examine the ability to recharacterize part of a Roth conversion more than once and the process for establishing IRA annuities.
