You can’t contribute more than the lesser of the following amounts to each employee’s SEP-IRA each year: $61,000 in 2022 ($58,000 in 2021; $57,000 in 2020; and later years subject to annual cost-of-living increases). These limits apply to all defined contribution plans, including SEPs, that you design for your employees. Employee compensation of up to […]

Employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans must meet IRS rules in order to be tax-advantaged. 401(k)s, 403(b)s, SEPs, and SIMPLE IRAs are all examples of qualifying retirement plans. Traditional IRAs, while they offer many of the same tax benefits as 401(k) plans, are not eligible plans since they are not sponsored by employers. How much can I […]

If you expect to have a better income in retirement than you do today, a Roth IRA or 401(k) is the best option. A regular IRA or 401(k) is likely the better bet if you expect your income (and tax rate) to be lower in retirement than it is now. A typical IRA permits you […]

The primary distinction between a Roth IRA and a 401(k) is how they are taxed. You invest pretax cash in a 401(k), lowering your taxable income for the year. A Roth IRA, on the other hand, allows you to invest after-tax cash, which means your money will grow tax-free. Is anyone else feeling like they’ve […]

Because of their tax-free status and lack of required minimum distributions (RMDs) during the original owner’s lifetime, Roth IRAs are attractive accounts for investors to bequeath to their descendants. If you are at least 591/2 years old and have had a Roth IRA account for at least five years, you can make Roth contributions with […]

Contributions to a Roth IRA aren’t deductible, but gains grow tax-free, and eligible withdrawals are tax- and penalty-free. The requirements for withdrawing money from a Roth IRA and paying penalties vary based on your age, how long you’ve held the account, and other considerations. To avoid a 10% early withdrawal penalty, keep the following guidelines […]

If you’re wondering how Roth IRA contributions are taxed, keep reading. Here’s the solution… Although there is no tax deductible for Roth IRA contributions like there is for regular IRA contributions, Roth distributions are tax-free if certain conditions are met. You can withdraw your contributions (but not your gains) tax-free and penalty-free at any time […]

In many circumstances, a Roth IRA is a better option than a 401(k) retirement plan because it provides a more flexible investment vehicle with more tax advantages—especially if you expect to be in a higher tax band in the future. A 401(k) is hard to beat if your income is too high to contribute to […]

Qualified and non-qualified accounts are two types of savings or investment accounts. Qualified accounts receive special tax status to allow for tax-advantaged savings or growth. 401(k) accounts, SEP IRAs, conventional and Roth IRAs are all examples of qualified accounts. A non-qualified account is one that is not set up as a qualified account, such as […]

A qualified retirement plan is one that is supplied exclusively by an employer and qualifies for tax benefits. An IRA is not a qualified retirement plan by definition because it is not offered by employers, whereas 401(k)s are, making them qualified retirement plans. IRAs, on the other hand, have many of the same features and […]