This week's Slott Report Mailbag discusses some complex, timely issues involving RMDs and what happens if someone who takes a Roth Conversion with the intent of spreading the tax over 2011 and 2012 dies suddenly.
This week's Slott Report Mailbag discusses some complex, timely issues involving social security benefits and required minimum distributions while working past age 70 1/2. As always, we stress the importance of working with a competent, educated financial advisor to keep your retirement nest egg safe and secure.
Can an IRA be levied by IRS?The bad news is that, yes, it can be subject to an IRS levy. The good news is that such a levy will not be subject to the 10% early distribution penalty if you are under age 59 ½ at the time of the levy. The amount taken by IRS will be reported as a distribution to you and you will owe income tax on the amount taken by IRS.
This week the Ed Slott IRA Discussion Forum featured a question on the recent Health Care Legislation. The new laws will impact IRAs in a number of ways, including a new 3.8% surtax. Curious as to how this new surtax could impact your IRA planning?
So you did your recharacterization from the Roth IRA back to the traditional IRA and now you are wondering how you put this on your tax return so you don’t have to pay tax on the conversion.You can find some guidance from IRS on the instructions for Form 8606 - which in most cases you don’t have to file when you do a recharacterization. You can find these instructions at www.irs.gov.
By a vote of 62-36, the Senate on March 10, 2010 passed the American Workers, State & Business Relief Act of 2010. The bill includes a combination of tax-extenders (items that expired in a previous year but are up for renewal in 2010), energy provisions and incentives for businesses.
There is no step-up in basis for inherited IRAs. This is always the case, regardless of the IRA's investments. If, though, the IRA owner had made after-tax contributions to the account during their life, there can be existing basis that would pass to you.
This week the Ed Slott IRA Discussion Forum featured a question about how inherited assets are taxed and treated. But are all inherited items the same? Does an IRA receive the same tax treatment as a taxable account? Keep reading to find out.
Life insurance is not only be the single biggest benefit in the tax code, but it is also the most cost-effective way to protect a large IRA. If set up correctly, life insurance proceeds (death benefits) could come into the estate sans estate and income tax.Life insurance premiums should be paid by the beneficiaries or by the trustee of an irrevocable life insurance trust so that life insurance proceeds will be estate and income tax free.
2010 is coming up fast with its new Roth conversion rules. In 2010 anyone can do a Roth conversion. The income and marital restrictions are permanently removed. In addition, the government is going to give you a deal on paying the taxes due on any conversions you do in 2010.
