Social Security and Supplementary Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries are receiving a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2012, the first time this has happened in several years. While this may sound like a good thing, it’s actually a “mixed bag” for a couple of reasons.
Employees with higher incomes will be eligible for a tax break if they save in a traditional IRA, can contribute to a Roth IRA, or qualify for the saver's credit. That's just one piece of good news from an IRS announcement late last week. Click to read the others.
October 17th is not the only important date this month for retirement account owners. This past Monday was a date circled on the calendar of many of you. For most of you, that was the final deadline to complete a timely Roth recharacterization of a 2010 Roth IRA conversion (the deadline is now October 31st for certain individuals affected by Hurricanes Irene and Lee, or the wildfires in Texas). Click to read more about why October 31st is also a key deadline to be aware of.
A final, final word on the Roth recharacterization topic. In an article posted here on October 11, 2011, we mentioned that the deadline for recharacterization in certain areas affected by Hurricanes Irene and Lee and the Texas wildfires had been extended to October 31, 2011. Since then, many readers have asked what states and counties were included in this extended deadline. So, as an accommodation to these folks, we’re providing some additional information.
October is almost here, and with the turning of the page comes some important IRA deadlines you should add to the calendar.
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.
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.
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.
What are the spousal IRA contribution rules? What benefits will a Roth conversion have for legacy planning? Can I use Social Security money to fund my wife and I's joint retirement account? We answer those questions in this week's Slott Report Mailbag.
