Retirement

Help to file taxes

Asked Tuesday, September 15, 2026 by June

Personal trust and simple 1040 taxes need to be filed.

Quick Answer:

To ensure compliance, you must distinguish between the trust's reporting requirements and your individual filing. **1. The Trust (Form 1041):** A "Simple Trust" is required to distribute all its acco...

Retirement

How do I maximize my 2026 standard deduction?

Asked Wednesday, June 10, 2026 by G

I am 69 and my husband is 75. In 2025, I worked full time and had plenty of taxable income to apply against our $46,000 standard deduction. This year, I am retired. I have postponed receiving social security and will have no W-2 income. We expect our '26 taxable income to be only around 6K. We want to use all of the standard deduction. What are the tax implications of a $40K distribution from my taxable retirement acct? Is there a better strategy to use all the standard deduction?

Quick Answer:

Taking a $40,000 distribution from a traditional (taxable) IRA or 401(k) in a year where your other income is only $6,000 is a highly effective strategy known as "bracket topping." **Tax Implications...

Retirement

Roth IRA Withdrawal

Asked Thursday, May 28, 2026 by Sarah Ellen

I’m 47, live in CA, and make $80k a year. What will my federal tax, state tax, and penalties be on an unqualified $125k Roth IRA withdrawal?

Quick Answer:

Because you are under age 59½, an unqualified Roth IRA withdrawal is subject to the "ordering rules." Your **contributions** come out first (tax and penalty-free). Your **earnings** come out last and...

Retirement

Application of IRS §72(t)(2)(A)(v) does it apply to All 401(k) plans

Asked Friday, April 10, 2026 by Jeremy

My plans SPD states ARTICLE VII BENEFITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT When can I get money out of the Plan? You may receive a distribution of the vested portion of some or all of your accounts in the Plan for the following reasons: • termination of employment for reasons other than death, disability or retirement • etc. Does this mean that if my employment is terminated in the year I turn 55 I am not subject to any extra penalties on withdrawals

Quick Answer:

Based on the information provided, if your employment terminates in the year you attain age 55 or later, distributions from this Plan due to that separation from service are generally exempt from the...

Retirement

Tax obligation

Asked Thursday, February 05, 2026 by Josh

Someone wants to withdraw a chunk of his retirement from his union job. He wants to buy a piece of farm equipment and right it off. The farm is a family business I told him he needs to pay tax on his retirement no matter what he spends the money on. Does he need to pay taxes on funds withdrawn from his annuity.

Quick Answer:

Funds withdrawn from an annuity, particularly those accumulated through a union retirement plan, are generally subject to federal income tax. This is because contributions to such plans, and the earni...

Retirement

How to fix an excess contribution to a SEP IRA

Asked Thursday, August 28, 2025 by Lisa

In '25, I contributed too much to my personal SEP IRA for '24. I had part of the excess recharacterized as a trad. IRA contrib for '25 and am using a form to withdraw the remaining excess. All seems clear except I have to choose a correction method- IRC404(h) or EPCRS. Which do I choose? What happens if I choose incorrectly? Will there be other documents or forms required later depending on my choice? (I filed for an extension for '24 taxes. I will not have any self-employment income in '25.)

Quick Answer:

Since you're correcting an excess SEP IRA contribution for a prior tax year (2024), and you have no 2025 self-employment income, IRC Section 404(h) is not applicable. This section deals with correct...

Retirement

Backdoor IRA

Asked Friday, November 19, 2021 by Dmitry

Hello, I am from CA state. I have 401k from the job. roth IRA income limits do not allow me to contribute directly to the roth IRA. Is it ok for me to open Traditional IRA, contribute after-tax money ($6000 limit) into it and transfer them to the Roth IRA. I do not have any other IRA accounts. only 401K and company RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN (not contribution from me into this account).

CPA Answer:

Yes the backdoor IRA strategy will work for you. One note of caution is that there is potential this strategy will be limited if the version of the Build Back Better Act that is about to go to the Senate for a vote passes. Consider making the move soon as some of those provisions will take effect Jan of 2022.

Additionally note that there is a possibility of the side door Roth if your plan at work allows non deductible 401k Contributions. Reach out if you want to discuss further

Answer Provided by: personimage David Huff

Social Security

2018- Social Security

Asked Monday, December 24, 2018 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

For 2018, the tax rate on the employee portion of Social Security is 6.2% on wages up to $128,400, so Social Security tax withholdings should not exceed $7,960.80. Medicare tax of 1.45% is withheld from all wages regardless of amount.

On Schedule SE for 2018, self-employment tax of 15.3% applies to earnings of up to $128,400 after the earnings are reduced by 7.65%. The 15.3% rate equals 12.4% for Social Security (6.2% employee share and 6.2% employer share) plus 2.9% for Medicare.

If net earnings exceed $128,400, the 2.9% Medicare rate applies to the entire amount. One half of the self-employment tax may be claimed as an above-the-line deduction on Schedule 1 of Form 1040.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Social Security

Earnings limit for T/P's under full retirement age

Asked Monday, October 31, 2016 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Recipients under the full retirement age can earn up to $15,720 between the ages of 62 and 65. people who turn 66 in 2016 will not loose any benefits if they earn $41,880 or less before they reach that age.
Recipients under the full retirement age can earn up to $16,920 between the ages of 62 and 65. people who turn 66 in 2017 will not loose any benefits if they earn $44,880 or less before they reach that age.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory