A Roth IRA is a tax-advantaged account designed specifically for retirement savings. Unlike traditional IRAs, which are typically funded with pretax dollars, a Roth IRA is designed to help you save for retirement with after-tax contributions that offer the potential for tax-free income in retirement.
Tax-free income
No required minimum distributions (RMDs)
Tax-free asset for heirs
If you’re eligible, you can contribute up to 100% of your taxable compensation or the annual contribution limit, whichever is lower. Contribution limits are set every year by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and are tied to cost-of-living adjustments.
Roth IRA Contribution Limits
If you’re 49 or younger $6,500 $6,000 and If you’re 50 or older $7,500 $7,000
To be eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA, you must have taxable compensation and your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be below a certain threshold. MAGI limits vary, depending on your tax filing status.
If your MAGI exceeds these limits, you may still be able to contribute to a Roth IRA through a backdoor Roth contribution.
IRA contributions must be made in cash and can be made at any time during the year up to the tax-filing deadline, not including extensions (generally April 15).
In addition to funding your own IRA, you can also fund an IRA on behalf of:
Your child or grandchild. You can fund a Roth IRA on behalf of someone else, including a minor, as long as the owner is eligible to contribute.
While Roth IRA contributions aren’t eligible for a tax deduction, eligible taxpayers can receive the Saver’s Credit for their Roth IRA contributions. The Saver’s Credit is a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $1,000 for single filers ($2,000 for joint filers) that can help lower your tax bill.
While there are no eligibility requirements for a Roth conversion, there are several factors to consider when determining whether a Roth conversion makes sense for you, including your current tax rate versus your expected tax rate in retirement, your ability to pay taxes on the conversion, when you need to access your funds, your current mix of pretax and after-tax assets, and your desire to leave a tax-free inheritance for your heirs. A financial advisor can help you determine whether a Roth conversion is a good option for you.
Which mean at any time for any reason, you can withdraw your contributions tax-free and penalty-free. Additionally, any earnings on your investments can also be withdrawn tax-free and penalty-free, provided you meet certain requirements.
Roth IRA offers tax-free withdrawals
With a Roth IRA, you get a future bonus: Every penny you withdraw in retirement stays in your pocket. As long as you have earned income (up to limits set by the IRS), you can contribute to a Roth IRA. Not sure how much to contribute? Use the Contribution Calculator offered by fidelity.
What are the benefits of a Roth IRA?
Once you open and fund a Roth IRA, you can invest your assets in a variety of investments, including stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and money market funds. These choices give you the opportunity to diversify your savings with an appropriate mix to help meet your retirement objectives.Roth IRAs have unique benefits that can help you save for your retirement goals. These benefits include:
Access
Although Roth IRAs are designed for retirement savings, you can access your contributions at any time without taxes or penalty.
Tax-free income
A Roth IRA generally provides tax-free income in retirement, giving you greater flexibility to manage your taxes in retirement.
No required minimum distributions (RMDs)
Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs do not have RMDs, allowing your assets more time to grow tax free.
Tax-free asset for heirs
A Roth IRA won't create a tax burden for your heirs.
How do Roth IRA contributions work?
Your contributions to a Roth IRA are made with after-tax dollars, since you can't deduct them from your income taxes. In exchange for paying taxes today, your future qualified withdrawals are tax free, giving you greater flexibility to manage your taxes in retirement.If you’re eligible, you can contribute up to 100% of your taxable compensation or the annual contribution limit, whichever is lower. Contribution limits are set every year by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and are tied to cost-of-living adjustments.
Keep in mind your total contribution can be no more than the limits shown below for all your traditional and Roth IRAs combined:
Roth IRA Contribution Limits
If you’re 49 or younger $6,500 $6,000 and If you’re 50 or older $7,500 $7,000
To be eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA, you must have taxable compensation and your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be below a certain threshold. MAGI limits vary, depending on your tax filing status.
If your MAGI exceeds these limits, you may still be able to contribute to a Roth IRA through a backdoor Roth contribution.
IRA contributions must be made in cash and can be made at any time during the year up to the tax-filing deadline, not including extensions (generally April 15).
In addition to funding your own IRA, you can also fund an IRA on behalf of:
Your spouse. If your spouse has no taxable compensation, you may be able to contribute up to the maximum IRS annual contribution limit for that account, too, as long as you file a joint tax return.
Your child or grandchild. You can fund a Roth IRA on behalf of someone else, including a minor, as long as the owner is eligible to contribute.
While Roth IRA contributions aren’t eligible for a tax deduction, eligible taxpayers can receive the Saver’s Credit for their Roth IRA contributions. The Saver’s Credit is a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $1,000 for single filers ($2,000 for joint filers) that can help lower your tax bill.
What’s a Roth conversion?
A Roth conversion is when you move funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. With a Roth conversion, you pay taxes now to have access to tax-free distributions in the future, as well as other benefits Roth IRAs offer. But, please be aware that once a traditional IRA is converted to a Roth IRA, you can’t undo this action.While there are no eligibility requirements for a Roth conversion, there are several factors to consider when determining whether a Roth conversion makes sense for you, including your current tax rate versus your expected tax rate in retirement, your ability to pay taxes on the conversion, when you need to access your funds, your current mix of pretax and after-tax assets, and your desire to leave a tax-free inheritance for your heirs. A financial advisor can help you determine whether a Roth conversion is a good option for you.
How are Roth IRA distributions taxed?
You can distribute the contributions you made at any time without taxes or penalties. If it’s been at least five years since you first funded a Roth IRA and you’re 59½ or older, you can also distribute your earnings tax- and penalty-free.However, if you don't meet both criteria, a distribution of earnings may be subject to taxes and or a 10% penalty (see next question for possible penalty exceptions).
What are the penalty exceptions for distributions before 59½?
Another difference is required withdrawals. If you have a traditional IRA, the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount each year when you reach 73, known as a required minimum distribution (RMD). A Roth IRA has no RMDs.
With a 401(k), your employer makes several decisions on your behalf where your account is held, when you’re eligible to contribute, what investment options and services are available to you, and when you can take distributions from your account, to name a few. 401(k) plans are generally less expensive than IRAs and can offer certain benefits that are unavailable to IRAs, such as employer matches, the ability to borrow against your assets, and the ability to take penalty-free withdrawals beginning at age 55 if you meet certain criteria. Unlike with Roth IRAs, there are no income limits for Roth 401(k) contributions, but you generally can’t access your contributions at any time like you can with a Roth IRA. You also have to take required minimum distribution (RMDs) from a Roth 401(k) when you turn 73, although this requirement will be eliminated in 2024 as a result of the SECURE 2.0 Act.
A Roth IRA is an individual account you contribute to and manage. It offers you more control and choice over where and how your contributions are invested as well as when you can access your funds. These accounts aren’t tied to your employer and are transferable between institutions at any time. If your 401(k) plan does not offer a Roth option, a Roth IRA can help you diversify the tax treatment of your assets, giving you greater flexibility to manage your taxes in retirement.
Additionally, if you want to maximize your retirement savings, you can contribute up to the annual limits for your 401(k) and a Roth IRA as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.
Certain distributions, such as required minimum distribution (RMDs) and hardship distributions, aren’t eligible.
What are the penalty exceptions for distributions before 59½?
- Per the IRS, the 10% penalty is waived for early IRA distributions if you:Inherited the IRA after the original account owner died.
- Are disabled or terminally ill.
- Take distributions in substantially equal payments over your life expectancy.
- Have unreimbursed medical expenses that are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.
- Use the distribution to pay for medical insurance premiums due to unemployment.
- Use the distribution for qualified higher education expenses.
- Use the distribution to build, buy or rebuild a first home (up to $10,000).
- Use the distribution to pay for expenses related to the birth or adoption of a child (up to $5,000 taken within one year following the event).
- Are a reservist called to active duty after Sept. 11, 2001.
- Use the distribution to satisfy an IRS levy.
- Are impacted by a qualified disaster and take the distribution within the required timeframe (up to $22,000 lifetime limit).
What’s the difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA?
One of the main differences is the way contributions and withdrawals are taxed. Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars and future, qualified withdrawals are tax free. Traditional IRA contributions are generally made with pretax dollars, earnings grow tax deferred, and future withdrawals are taxed like income.Another difference is required withdrawals. If you have a traditional IRA, the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount each year when you reach 73, known as a required minimum distribution (RMD). A Roth IRA has no RMDs.
What’s the difference between a Roth 401(k) and a Roth IRA?
A 401(k) plan through your employer is designed to allow you to contribute a percentage of your salary for retirement savings. Employer plans may offer a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k) for employees. Like an IRA, a traditional 401(k) is funded with pre-tax dollars and distributions are taxed as ordinary income, while a Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax dollars with the potential for tax free withdrawals in the future.With a 401(k), your employer makes several decisions on your behalf where your account is held, when you’re eligible to contribute, what investment options and services are available to you, and when you can take distributions from your account, to name a few. 401(k) plans are generally less expensive than IRAs and can offer certain benefits that are unavailable to IRAs, such as employer matches, the ability to borrow against your assets, and the ability to take penalty-free withdrawals beginning at age 55 if you meet certain criteria. Unlike with Roth IRAs, there are no income limits for Roth 401(k) contributions, but you generally can’t access your contributions at any time like you can with a Roth IRA. You also have to take required minimum distribution (RMDs) from a Roth 401(k) when you turn 73, although this requirement will be eliminated in 2024 as a result of the SECURE 2.0 Act.
A Roth IRA is an individual account you contribute to and manage. It offers you more control and choice over where and how your contributions are invested as well as when you can access your funds. These accounts aren’t tied to your employer and are transferable between institutions at any time. If your 401(k) plan does not offer a Roth option, a Roth IRA can help you diversify the tax treatment of your assets, giving you greater flexibility to manage your taxes in retirement.
Additionally, if you want to maximize your retirement savings, you can contribute up to the annual limits for your 401(k) and a Roth IRA as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.
Can I roll over my employer retirement plan to a Roth IRA?
You generally must meet two criteria to be able to roll over your employer retirement plan to an IRA:- Your plan must allow you to take a distribution.
- The distribution must be eligible to be rolled over.
Additionally, Roth 401(k) assets may only be rolled over to a Roth IRA. Pretax 401(k) assets can be rolled over to a traditional or a Roth IRA. But, if you roll over pre-tax 401(k) assets to a Roth IRA, it’s considered a Roth conversion, and the amount that’s rolled over will be taxed.
It’s also important to know that there are differences between employer plans and IRAs. Make sure you understand your options before rolling over. A financial advisor can also help you determine whether rolling over makes sense for you.
To move an existing IRA to another provider, you will need to contact a financial advisor to help you determine the method best suited to your needs.
It’s also important to know that there are differences between employer plans and IRAs. Make sure you understand your options before rolling over. A financial advisor can also help you determine whether rolling over makes sense for you.
Can I move my IRA to another provider?
Yes, you can transfer your IRA to another provider at any time without tax consequences or tax reporting as long as the assets move directly from your current IRA provider to your new IRA provider.To move an existing IRA to another provider, you will need to contact a financial advisor to help you determine the method best suited to your needs.
I hope you find this article helpful.
