When Must Taxes Be Paid on IRA and Employer-Sponsored Retirement Funds?

Traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans are tax-deferred accounts, which means they are typically funded with pre-tax or tax-deductible dollars. As a result, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn, generally in retirement.

Withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts are subject to income tax at your current tax rate. In addition, withdrawals taken prior to age 59½ are subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.

If you made nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA, you have what is called a “cost basis” in the IRA. Your cost basis is the total of the nondeductible contributions to the IRA minus any previous withdrawals or distributions of nondeductible contributions. The recovery of this basis is not seen as taxable income.

Exceptions are the Roth IRA and the Roth 401(k) and Roth 403(b). Roth accounts are funded with after-tax dollars; thus qualified distributions (after age 59½ and the five-year holding requirement has been met) are free of federal income tax.

Traditional IRAs, most employer-sponsored retirement plans, and Roth 401(k) and 403(b) plans are subject to annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) that must begin after the account owner reaches age 70½ (no later than April 1 of the year after the year in which the owner reaches age 70½). Failure to take RMDs triggers a 50% federal income tax penalty on the amount that should have been withdrawn. Roth IRA owners never have to take RMDs; however, Roth IRA beneficiaries do have to take RMDs.

When you begin taking distributions from your retirement accounts, make sure to note any required beginning dates and the appropriate distribution amount in order to avoid unnecessary penalties.

The information in this article is not intended to be tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2012 Emerald Connect, Inc.
New Century Financial Group
118 Wall Street • Princeton, NJ • 08540
Phone: (609) 924-2049 • Fax: (609) 924-0649
• roring@ncfg.com

 

New Century Financial Group, LLC ("NCFG") is a registered investment adviser with it’s principal place of business in the State of New Jersey. NCFG and its representatives are in compliance with the current registration requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which NCFG maintains clients. NCFG may only transact business in those states in which it is registered, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. This website is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to its investment advisery/management services. Any subsequent, direct communication by NCFG with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides. For information pertaining to the registration status of NCFG, please contact the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through New Century Financial Group, LLC a registered investment advisor not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.

This communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in all 50 States. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside the specific state(s) referenced. IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION A Broker/dealer, investment adviser, BD agent, or IA rep may only transact business in a state if first registered, or is excluded or exempt from state broker/dealer, investment adviser, BD agent, or IA registration requirements as appropriate. Follow-up, individualized responses to persons in a sate by such a firm or individual that involve either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made without first complying with appropriate registration requirements, or an applicable exemption or exclusion. For information concerning the licensing status or disciplinary history of a broker/dealer, investment, adviser, BD agent, or IA rep, a consumer should contact his or her state securities law administrator. 

For additional information about NCFG, including fees and services, send for our disclosure statement as set forth on Form ADV from NCFG using the contact information herein. Please read the disclosure statement carefully before you invest or send money.

SIPC / FINRA
 

PLEASE NOTE:The information being provided is strictly as a courtesy. When you link to any of the web sites provided here, you are leaving this web site. NCFG and Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these web sites. Nor are these companies liable for any direct or indirect technical or system issues or any consequences arising out of your access to or your use of third-party technologies, web sites, information and programs made available through this web site. When you access one of these web sites, you are leaving NCFG’s web site and assume total responsibility and risk for your use of the web sites you are linking to.