Tax Benefits of an IRA

Tax Deductions for Traditional IRA Contributions

Tax deductibility for Traditional IRA contributions can help you reduce your taxable income significantly but the rules can be complex and may depend on several factors. If you aren't covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you can enjoy fully deductible contributions regardless of your income. If you or your spouse is covered by an employer-sponsored plan, deductibility is subject to income thresholds and phase-outs.

• If you're a single filer covered by an employer-sponsored plan, you can take a full IRA deduction—but only if your MAGI is $79,000 or less.The deduction begins to phase out between $79,000 and $89,000, and is completely phased out at $89,000.
• If you're married and filing jointly and only one of you is covered by a workplace plan then the phase-out range is between $236,000 to $246,000.

‍

Note: Be sure to check your filing status to make sure you're filing correctly!

Tax-Free Growth and Compound Interest

The potential for tax-free or tax-deferred growth is one of the most powerful tax benefits of an IRA, but the true benefit here is the potential for uninterrupted compound interest where your earnings generate their own earnings over time. This can help you end up with a much larger pile of cash once you hit retirement age than if you simply stored away savings in a traditional bank account.

Distribution Rules and Tax Implications

Traditional IRA Distributions

• Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): Once you turn 73 you'll be required to start taking annual withdrawals from your traditional IRA. The amount you have to take is calculated using your account balance and life expectancy.
• Taxation Of Withdrawals: Withdrawal rules state that distributions are taxed as ordinary income in the year you take them. This includes both original contributions and any earnings on your investments.

‍

Roth IRA Distributions

• Qualified Distribution Rules: Your account must be at least five years old and you must be at least 59½ years old to make tax-free withdrawals from your Roth IRA. These are known as "qualified distributions".
• Tax-Free Withdrawal Benefits: There are no taxes on qualified distributions from Roth IRAs (neither on the original contributions nor the investment earnings).

‍

Additional Tax Benefits

IRAs offer additional benefits besides their most prominent tax advantages. The Saver's Credit (also known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit) is available for eligible taxpayers and can reduce your tax bill by up to 50% of your IRA contributions (with a maximum tax credit of $1,000 for single filers or $2,000 for married couples filing together). Additionally, while early withdrawals from IRAs usually mean paying a 10% penalty to the federal government, you can enjoy penalty-free withdrawals from your IRA for certain qualifying expenses such as a first-time home purchase (up to $10,000), education expenses, or unreimbursed medical expenses.

Maximize Your Savings With a PensionBee IRA

IRAs can provide substantial tax benefits that can help you improve your savings strategy and reach your retirement goals. When choosing which IRA is right for you, consider factors such as what your income and tax bracket will look like during retirement, which providers can best serve you, and how much complexity you want to bring into your investment strategy. For a simple solution, consider working with PensionBee to rollover all of your old 401(k) accounts into an easy-to-manage PensionBee IRA that allows you to keep better track of your retirement savings without sacrificing tax benefits.