What are the options for an individual who inherits an IRA from their late spouse? This is the most flexible type of beneficiary of an IRA.
rmds
Remember Your RMD
It’s getting close to the end of the year and that means many individuals need to take their required minimum distributions (RMDs). It also means that there will be individuals who must begin taking their required minimum distributions as they will have reached the magic age of 70 ½. For those already taking RMDs, check with your advisor or asset custodian and find out the amount you need to take and how you can receive payments. In most cases, RMDs can be taken in an annual amount, or monthly via check or direct deposit. The specific RMD amount is based on the account balance as of December 31st the previous year and your age. You can use the RMD calculator found here to get an idea of your RMD amount. Additionally, be sure to account for any taxes you might owe. For 401k type plans, 20 percent will be withheld […]
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Remember Your 2016 RMD
It’s hard to believe that 2016 is coming closer to an end. For some individuals that are required to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their retirement plans, it may be a good idea to double check to make sure that happens. If it doesn’t the penalties are harsh. According to the IRS the penalty for not taking and RMD or not taking the full RMD is 50% of the amount not withdrawn. This can lead to significant losses to a retiree that must take RMDs. Generally, most financial planners and or custodians we’ll be able to help the individual and remind them that they have and RMD and how much that amount needs to be. If an individual finds themselves in the precarious position of having forgotten to take the RMD or did not take out enough, there is a remedy. The IRS allows an individual to file form […]
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Qualified Plan Rollovers
Combining and rolling over various retirement accounts is a decision that many individuals will face during their working career and in retirement. For individuals that are already retired, they may consider combining accounts to make required minimum distributions a bit easier (less paperwork, companies to deal with, etc.). Individuals that are still working may consider combining accounts as they switch jobs in an effort to consolidate plans from various employers to their IRA, Roth IRA or current employer plan. What follows are some considerations as well as a handy guide form the IRS regarding what rollovers and consolidations are allowed and specifics for each plan type. Be sure to check the fees of the plan you’re coming from to the plan you’re considering moving to. While consolidation may make sense, it may be a bad idea if the expenses of the plan and funds are higher in the plan you’re […]
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Qualified Charitable Distributions for 2016
Individuals needing to take their required minimum distributions (RMD) for 2016 may consider having all or part of their RMD distributed as a Qualified Charitable Contribution (QCD). In order to qualify, the following rules must be met. The individual taking the QCD must be age 70 ½. The maximum allowed QCD is $100,000 per individual, annually. The QCD must come from an IRA. QCDs from 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457(b)s, SEPs, SIMPLEs are not permitted. An individual may roll over an amount to their IRA and then made the QCD. The QCD is counted toward the individual’s RMD for the tax year. If the RMD was already taken, the QCD cannot be retroactively made. The QCD must be made directly to the charitable organization. Generally, the charity must be a public charity. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 made allowing QCDs from IRAs permanent. The tax benefit from […]
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An Exception to the RMD Rule
For many folks, attaining age 70 ½ means the beginning of required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their 401k, 403b as well as traditional IRAs. There are however, some individuals that will continue to work because they want to or (unfortunately) have to and still want to save some of their income. At age 70 ½ individuals can no longer make traditional IRA contributions. They are allowed to make contributions to a Roth IRA as long as they still have earned income. Earned income is generally W2 wages or self-employment income. It is not pension income, annuity income or RMD income.
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Special Treatment for an Older Spouse/Beneficiary of an IRA
Note: the situation described in this post was originally brought to my attention by Mr. Barry Picker, of Picker, Weinberg, & Auerback, CPAs, P.C. Mr. Picker is another of those “rock stars” in the world of retirement plan knowledge, up there with the best of them. Many thanks to Mr. Picker for sharing his wealth of knowledge. There is a special set of circumstances regarding inherited IRAs that only fits a few cases – but for those cases the rules can work out favorably and it is important to understand how this operates. The circumstances are that a younger spouse has died and left an IRA to the older, surviving spouse. In this case, if the decedent-spouse had already begun receiving Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from the IRA, the survivor-spouse, if sole beneficiary of the IRA, can make the distribution rules work in his or her favor. In any case, […]
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