IRAs, or Individual Retirement Arrangements, provide tax incentives for you to make investments that can provide financial security for their retirement. To help you better understand this type of retirement savings account, here’s a basic overview of terms to know:
Contribution
This is the money that someone puts into their IRA. There are annual limits to contributions depending on their age and the type of IRA. Generally, taxpayers or their spouses must have earned income to contribute to an IRA.
Distribution
This is the amount that someone withdraws from their IRA.
Withdrawals
Taxpayers may face a 10% penalty and a tax bill if they withdraw money before age 59 ½ unless they qualify for an exception.
Required Distribution
There are requirements for withdrawing from an IRA:
- Someone generally must start taking withdrawals from their IRA when they reach age 70 1/2.
- Per the 2019 SECURE Act, if a person’s 70th birthday is on or after July 1, 2019, they do not have to take withdrawals until age 72.
- Special distribution rules apply for IRA beneficiaries.
Traditional IRA
This is an IRA where contributions may be tax-deductible. Generally, the amounts in a traditional IRA are not taxed until they are withdrawn.
Roth IRA
This type of IRA is subject to the same rules as a traditional IRA but with certain exceptions:
- A taxpayer cannot deduct contributions to a Roth IRA.
- Qualified distributions are tax-free.
- Roth IRAs do not require withdrawals until the owner dies.
Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees
This is commonly known as a SIMPLE IRA. Employees and employers may contribute to traditional IRAs set up for employees. It may work well as a start-up retirement savings plan for small employers.
Simplified Employee Pension
This is known as a SEP-IRA. An employer can contribute toward their own retirement and their employees’ retirement. The employee owns and controls a SEP.
Rollover IRA
This is when the IRA owner receives a payment from their retirement plan and deposits it into a different IRA within 60 days.
Questions?
Understanding the tax implications of your retirement planning choices is essential. If you haven’t started saving for retirement, contact us at the office of Lahrmer & Company LLC at (216) 393-1954 or office@lahrmercpa.com so we can help you figure out a plan that works for you.
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