Roth IRAs

Definition

A Roth individual retirement account (IRA) is a personal savings plan that offers tax benefits to encourage retirement savings. You can contribute up to the lesser of $7,000 in 2024 (up from $6,500 in 2023), or 100% of your taxable compensation to a Roth IRA. In addition, individuals age 50 or older can make an extra "catch-up" contribution of up to $1,000 in 2024. Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible, but the funds grow tax deferred and distributions are tax free under certain conditions.

Prerequisites

• You have taxable compensation (i.e., wages, self-employment income) during the year of the contribution
• Your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) for 2024 must be:
• 1. $146,000 or less for a full contribution if your tax filing status is single or head of household (partial contribution allowed, up to MAGI of $161,000)
  2. $230,000 or less for a full contribution if your tax filing status is married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) (partial contribution allowed, up to MAGI of $240,000)
  3. $10,000 or less for a partial contribution if your tax filing status is married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time during the year (full contribution not allowed)

Note: These income ranges are for the 2024 tax year, and are indexed for inflation.

Key strengths

• Qualified distributions are tax free (and penalty free)
• You have flexibility in withdrawing your funds prior to retirement
• You are not required to take any distributions while you are alive
• Contributions can be made even if you are covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan
• IRAs offer a wide range of investment choices
• $1,512,350 of IRA assets may be protected in the event of bankruptcy under federal law [SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and amounts rolled over to an IRA from an employer qualified plan or 403(b) plan, plus any earnings on the rollover, aren't subject to this dollar cap and are fully protected under federal law if you declare bankruptcy]¹

Key tradeoffs

• You receive no tax deduction when you make a contribution
• If a withdrawal does not qualify for tax-free status, the portion that represents earnings is subject to federal income tax (and perhaps an early withdrawal penalty if under age 59½)
• Special penalty provisions may apply to withdrawals of Roth IRA funds that were converted or rolled over from a traditional IRA, SEP IRA, or SIMPLE IRA
• There is always the possibility that the law will change in the future

Variations from state to state

• States vary in their protection of Roth IRAs from creditors
• States may differ in their tax treatment of Roth IRAs

How is it implemented?

• Open a Roth IRA with a bank, financial institution, mutual fund company, life insurance company, or stockbroker
• Select types of investments to fund the Roth IRA (e.g., CDs, mutual funds, annuities)
• Make contributions up to the due date of your federal income tax return for that year (usually April 15 of the following year), not including extensions