Retirement
The most frequently asked tax questions related to Retirement
What are some benefits of a Roth IRA?
Asked Wednesday, January 17, 2001 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
A Roth IRA is a special non-deductible IRA. Even though you contribute to the account with your after-tax dollars, all withdrawals are tax free if you meet the following conditions: you are at least 59 and a half and an account has been in existence for at least five years.
In other words, you will never pay any taxes on earnings that your IRA fund will generate after turning 59 and a half. There are no mandatory minimum distributions at age 70 and a half, as in the case of a traditional IRA plan.
This feature allows passing on more savings to your beneficiaries if you wish to do so. You can withdraw money from your Roth IRA at any time without paying taxes up to the amount of your contributions. Dipping into the earnings will have no tax consequences.
There is no age limit on contributions. Every person with earned income, within limits established by the IRS (in general, your modified adjusted gross income must be less than $110,000), is eligible to open a Roth IRA.
For this purpose, the IRS considers as earned income wages, salaries and money made from being self-employed. Other income is considered passive (dividends, interest, rental properties etc.) and cannot be used to fund a Roth Individual Retirement Account.
In other words, you will never pay any taxes on earnings that your IRA fund will generate after turning 59 and a half. There are no mandatory minimum distributions at age 70 and a half, as in the case of a traditional IRA plan.
This feature allows passing on more savings to your beneficiaries if you wish to do so. You can withdraw money from your Roth IRA at any time without paying taxes up to the amount of your contributions. Dipping into the earnings will have no tax consequences.
There is no age limit on contributions. Every person with earned income, within limits established by the IRS (in general, your modified adjusted gross income must be less than $110,000), is eligible to open a Roth IRA.
For this purpose, the IRS considers as earned income wages, salaries and money made from being self-employed. Other income is considered passive (dividends, interest, rental properties etc.) and cannot be used to fund a Roth Individual Retirement Account.
What are some benefits of a SIMPLE plan ?
Asked Wednesday, January 17, 2001 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
The biggest benefit for a business with a Simple IRA plan is that it provides a very easy way to provide an employee retirement option without all the technical complications of 401Ks and similar account plans. Second, the establishment and maintenance costs to run a Simple IRA plan are a big plus for the cost-conscious business. Additional benefits include No special plan-level tax reporting is required for the employer annually. No discrimination testing is necessary. There is no requirement on the employer to track vesting. All contributions are immediately 100% vested (at the point of deposit the employee owns the full amount in the retirement account without any time delay).
What are some benefits of a SIMPLE plan ?
Asked Wednesday, January 17, 2001 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
The biggest benefit for a business with a Simple IRA plan is that it provides a very easy way to provide an employee retirement option without all the technical complications of 401Ks and similar account plans. Second, the establishment and maintenance costs to run a Simple IRA plan are a big plus for the cost-conscious business. Additional benefits include No special plan-level tax reporting is required for the employer annually. No discrimination testing is necessary. There is no requirement on the employer to track vesting. All contributions are immediately 100% vested (at the point of deposit the employee owns the full amount in the retirement account without any time delay).
Is there a website with Roth IRA information and to calculate a Roth IRA ?
Asked Monday, January 08, 2001 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
Yes. www.rothira.com
Is there a website with Roth IRA information and to calculate a Roth IRA ?
Asked Monday, January 08, 2001 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
Yes. www.rothira.com
Will my retirement pension from my work reduce the amount of my Social Security benefit ?
Asked Friday, December 29, 2000 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
Generally, if your retirement pension is from work where you also paid Social Security taxes, it will not affect your Social Security benefit. Pensions based on work that is not covered by Social Security such as the federal civil service and some state, local, or foreign government systems probably will reduce the amount of your Social Security benefit. Speak to your local CPA or the Social Security Administration for more details.
Social Security - Retirement before age 62
Asked Friday, December 29, 2000 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
When the social security administration averaged out your 35 highest years of earnings to estimate your benefits on your social security Statement, it was assumed you would continue to work up to age 62, making the same earnings you made last year.
If, instead, you have zero earnings each year over the next 6 years, your average earnings will probably be less and so will your benefit.
You can use the Social Security Benefits Calculators to see how this will affect your monthly benefit amount. The Social Security Benefits Planner is located at http://www.ssa.gov. In addition to using the SSA website, you can call SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.
If, instead, you have zero earnings each year over the next 6 years, your average earnings will probably be less and so will your benefit.
You can use the Social Security Benefits Calculators to see how this will affect your monthly benefit amount. The Social Security Benefits Planner is located at http://www.ssa.gov. In addition to using the SSA website, you can call SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.
Social Security - Payment Website Planner
Asked Friday, December 29, 2000 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
For most current and future retirees, the social security administration will average your 35 highest years of earnings. Years in which you have low earnings or no earnings may be counted to bring the total years of earnings up to 35.
The Social Security administration has a Benefits Planner which is located at http://www.ssa.gov. The planner is divided into 4 sections including retirement, disability, survivors and calculators. Employees can determine their own social security benefit by using the calculate section.
The Social Security administration has a Benefits Planner which is located at http://www.ssa.gov. The planner is divided into 4 sections including retirement, disability, survivors and calculators. Employees can determine their own social security benefit by using the calculate section.
Social Security - Receiving payments and still working
Asked Friday, December 29, 2000 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
If you work in a job that is covered by Social Security, you and your employer must pay the Social Security and Medicare taxes on your earnings even if you are already receiving Social Security benefits.
The same is true if you are self-employed. You are still subject to the Social Security and Medicare taxes on your net profit.
The same is true if you are self-employed. You are still subject to the Social Security and Medicare taxes on your net profit.