Social Security

Social Security - Non-resident alien dependent

Asked Tuesday, October 24, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

You need to fill out Form SS-5-FS, which can be obtained either from your local CPA or from the Social Security Administration.
The SSA website is http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ In addition to using the SSA website, you can call SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.
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Retirement Planning

Who can I contact to assist me in getting my vested pension money from my past employer ?

Asked Tuesday, October 24, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

You should contact the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration of the Department of Labor (PWBA). To find out the location of your local office, call 202-219-8776 or write to the US Department of Labor, PWBA, Division of Technical Assistance and Inquires, Room N-5625, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W. , Washington, D.C. 20210.
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Social Security

Social Security - Correcting a Social Security Number

Asked Thursday, October 19, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

If your child's stock was sold through a custodial account and the tax information statement incorrectly reflects your Social Security number instead of your son's Social Security number, you should fill out IRS Form W-9 which is the Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification.
Circle your child's name and his Social Security number on the form. Submit the corrected form to the financial institution that issued the incorrect statement. Instruct them to correct the information on the account and reissue you a corrected tax information statement.
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Social Security

Social Security - 2012 COLA Increase

Asked Thursday, October 19, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

There was be no COLA in 2011. Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012.
The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2012.
Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011.
According to officials, the average monthly check for the elderly will increase $43 to $1,229. For the disabled, it will rise $39 to $1,111.
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Retirement Planning

What is the roll-over period for a pension distribution?

Asked Wednesday, October 18, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

A pension rollover must be completed by the 60th day following the day on which you received the pension distribution.
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Retirement Planning

What is an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) ?

Asked Wednesday, October 18, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

A IRA is a retirement account to which up to $5,500 (6,500 if you are 50 or older) can be contributed. The contribution may be deductable or non-deductable depending whether you are covered by your employer's retirement plan and income limitations. There are various types of IRAs; there are traditional, Roth, Simple, and SEP IRAs.
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Retirement Planning

Active participant - retirement plan designation

Asked Wednesday, October 18, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

On Form W-2, box 15 will have an X in the box "retirement plan".
You are an active participant in a retirement plan if contributions are made or allocated to your account for the plan year that ends within your tax year.
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Retirement Planning

Can I elect to use averaging on my current year lump-sum distribution?

Asked Wednesday, October 18, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

For taxpayers who were born after 1935, the lump-sum distribution 5 year averaging option previously reported on IRS Form 4972 is no longer available. For taxpayers born before 1935, the option to use the 10 year averaging on IRS Form 4972 will still be available.
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SIMPLE IRAs

Retirement plans - SIMPLE IRA plan

Asked Wednesday, October 18, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

A SIMPLE IRA, or "Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees Individual Retirement Account", is a type of tax-deferred employer-provided retirement plan in the United States that allows employees to set aside money and invest it to grow for later use.
Specifically, it is a type of Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that is set up to be an employer-provided plan. It is an employer sponsored plan, like more well-known plans such as the 401(k) (profit-sharing plans) and 403(b) (Tax Sheltered Annuity plans), but offers simpler and less costly administration rules.
Like a 401(k) plan, the SIMPLE IRA is funded by a pretax salary reduction. Like other salary reduction contributions, these deductions are subject to social security, medicare, and Federal Unemployment Tax Act taxes. Contribution limits for SIMPLE plans are lower than for most other types of employer-provided retirement plans: $12,000 for the current year with a $2,500 catch up contribution, as compared to $17,500 and a $5,500 catch up contribution for convention defined contribution plans (Section 402(g) limit) like 401(k), 401(a), and 403(b) plans.
In 2014 the limitation remains unchanged at $12,000.
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