Opening an individual retirement account is an excellent step in retirement planning. However, you’ll face a choice when doing so: will you pick a Roth or traditional IRA? Your contributions to one count towards the total annual limit for both account types, so your choice is crucial. A Roth IRA carries numerous benefits for your tax circumstances. Here are the primary benefits of Roth IRAs that you may not know. You can also work with a financial advisor to help you find the right retirement account for your situation.
Што е тоа РОТ ИРА?
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account that uses government-taxed money. For example, say you receive a $2,000 paycheck from your employer every two weeks. This money comes to you after taxes are taken out. You deposit $200 of each paycheck to your Roth IRA. When you retire, you won’t pay taxes on your Roth IRA distributions because you paid them while working. This scenario is the opposite of a traditional IRA, which gives you an income tax reduction while you work and incurs taxes in retirement.
Top Benefits of Roth IRAs
Roth IRAs are distinct from traditional IRAs and can help your tax situation in the following ways:
Tax-Advantaged Returns
Retirement accounts generally incur income or capital gains taxes when their investments earn money. However, you won’t owe taxes when your Roth IRA grows. This aspect increases your income during retirement and minimizes the account’s fees.
Withdrawal Flexibility
Roth IRAs also allow you to withdraw money before retirement. Specifically, you can withdraw contributions at any age without incurring a penalty. However, you must have had the account for at least five years before accessing your contributions without paying a penalty. Likewise, you’ll draw a financial penalty when withdrawing under the age of 59.5.
That said, several exceptions allow you to skirt the penalty fees. For example, first-time home buyers can withdraw $10,000 from the account anytime to help with the down payment. In addition, you can cover qualified expenses for education, medical expenses, adoption or birth. Lastly, your funds are accessible if you pass away or suffer a disability.
Remember, the five-year rule applies after you turn 59.5. So, withdrawals after that age from an account you’ve held for less than five years will incur taxes on earnings. However, once you pass the generation and five-year milestones, your funds are completely accessible without taxes or fees. Therefore, you can withdraw as much money as you want per year without changing your tax situation.
No RMDs
Required minimum distribution (RMD) laws enforce mandatory withdrawals from many types of retirement accounts. In short, the laws make retirees take money from their retirement accounts at age 72, even if they don’t need it. Fortunately, Roth IRAs are exempt from this rule, meaning your funds will sit in your account, earning returns until you need a distribution.
No Tax Burden for Beneficiaries
Your Roth IRA funds are equally untaxable if you pass away and leave your account to your designated beneficiaries. In addition, the IRS allows penalty-free withdrawals from inherited IRAs for beneficiaries under the age of 59.5. However, RMD rules still apply, meaning the loved one who receives the IRA must eventually withdraw all the money from the account.
Reduced Income Taxes
Because Roth IRA distributions don’t have tax implications, they are helpful if you expect substantial income during retirement. For example, if you make less than $89,450 and file your taxes jointly with your spouse, you’ll stay in the 12% tax bracket. Doing so with a Roth IRA means paying this low rate while you work. Then, you’ll receive tax-free distributions in retirement, helping you stay in the 10% tax bracket, the lowest possible rate you can obtain.
Pairing with Other Account Types
Your Roth IRA provides tax diversification when you contribute to another retirement account. For instance, if your employer offers a 401(k) plan, you can make pre-tax contributions there and post-tax contributions to your Roth IRA. This option spreads your tax burden across your working years and retirement, reducing financial strain in both stages of life.
Disadvantages of a Roth IRA
While Roth IRAs offer a host of benefits, they come with several drawbacks:
Income Level Prevents Accessibility
IRS regulations prohibit Roth IRAs for those with too high of a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Specifically, if you’re married and filing jointly, you can contribute to a Roth IRA with a MAGI of $218,000 or lower. A MAGI of less than $228,000 reduces how much you can contribute, while an income over this limit means you can’t contribute a single dollar to a Roth IRA.
Filing single or as head of household brings similar limits. Specifically, the income limit for these tax situations is $138,000. Those with a MAGI between $138,000 and $153,000 can contribute a lower amount to a Roth IRA while passing the upper limit prevents you from contributing. Conversely, traditional IRAs have no income limits, meaning anyone can contribute to one.
Limited Deposit Maximums
Another downside of IRAs is their low annual contribution limit. Specifically, you can contribute $6,500 to the account in 2023. If you’re 50 or older, you can contribute $7,500. As a result, you might have to open an additional retirement account, such as a 401(k) or 403(b), to save enough for retirement.
No Pre-Tax Options
A Roth IRA can’t use pre-tax dollars. As a result, you can’t lower your income taxes with a Roth IRA during your working years. This aspect can hurt your tax situation if you expect your income to be significantly higher in your career than in retirement. For example, if you make $95,000 this year, you’ll pay 22% on your income before depositing it into your Roth IRA. On the other hand, placing pre-tax dollars in a traditional IRA and planning on $44,000 of annual retirement income means paying a 12% income tax rate on your contributions.
Conversion Limitations
Because income can limit your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA, conversions are a popular option for high-income individuals to obtain this account type. Specifically, you can open a traditional IRA, contribute to it, then convert it to a Roth IRA. Doing so requires you to pay the owed income taxes on contributions. In addition, the downside here is that you can’t convert back to a traditional IRA once it becomes a Roth. So, it’s best to only perform a conversion with a detailed plan in place.
Alternative Retirement Accounts
Because your tax situation or income level might make the Roth IRA subpar or unviable, you can branch out into other retirement-saving options. Consider the following:
Традиционална ИРА: A traditional IRA has no income limits, meaning your annual payments won’t prevent you from contributing to the account. However, the annual contribution limit of $6,500 still applies.
Брокерска сметка: You can also open a taxable brokerage account if you want more accessibility to your funds, with the tradeoff being capital gains taxes on your returns.
Планови спонзорирани од работодавачот: Accounts such as 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, are excellent options. You can receive matching contributions from your employer and contribute up to $22,500 per year. Plus, those over age 50 can deposit an additional $7,500.
Во крајна линија
Roth IRAs offer unique tax benefits and withdrawal options for account holders. Specifically, you won’t pay income taxes in retirement with the account and can withdraw funds earlier from your contribution amount. Plus, they’re accessible to anyone under the income limit, meaning you won’t depend on an employer or job type to contribute to the account.
That said, the Roth IRA’s biggest tax advantage can also be its downfall. If you would rather save pre-tax dollars and pay taxes in retirement, it’s best to contribute to a traditional IRA. In addition, the low annual contribution limit may force you to look elsewhere to save money for retirement. As a result, evaluating your retirement plan and tax circumstances is necessary to know if a Roth IRA makes sense.
Tips for Having a Roth IRA
Understanding whether pre- or post-tax retirement contributions are optimal can be difficult. Your financial situation is unique and you’ll need to account for every aspect of your circumstances to understand if a Roth IRA is best for you. Fortunately, a financial advisor can help you make sense of your options. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool ве совпаѓа со најмногу тројца проверени финансиски советници кои служат во вашата област и можете да ги интервјуирате натпреварите со вашите советници без трошоци за да одлучите кој е вистинскиот за вас. Ако сте подготвени да најдете советник кој може да ви помогне да ги постигнете вашите финансиски цели, започнете сега.
As mentioned, the Roth IRA is just one of many retirement plans available. You can read more about the best retirement plan types to pick one that suits you.
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Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-underrated-benefits-roth-iras-130002158.html