Chapter 16 - Questions (Retirement) Flashcards
What are qualified retirement plans?
Plans that are eligible for favorable tax treatment because it meets the requirements of the IRC 401a and the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
What advantageous tax treatment is allowed for qualified retirement plans?
Employers may deduct the annual allowable contribution they make for each plan participant.
Contributions and earnings on contributions are tax-deferred until withdrawn for each participant.
In some cases, taxes may be deferred even longer through a rollover into an IRA.
What are nonqualified retirement plans?
Plans that do not meet the requirements of IRC 401(a) and ERISA, and do not qualify for favorable tax treatment.
What are nonqualified plans usually designed for?
Designed to meet specialized retirement needs of key executives and other select employees.
What are nonqualified plans exempt from?
The discriminatory and top-heavy testing to which qualified plans are subject.
What are the two kinds of qualified plans?
Defined benefit plan
Defined contribution plan
What is a defined benefit plan?
A plan where the employee receives a predetermined, formula-based benefit at retirement.
What is the most common known type of defined benefit plan?
A pension, where the retirement benefit is calculated by a formula based on number of years worked, age, and taxpayer’s history of earnings with employer.
What is an annuity?
A type of defined benefit plan that is a series of payments under a contract, made at regular intervals over a period of more than one year.
What is a defined contribution plan also known as?
A deferred compensation plan
What is a defined contribution plan?
A retirement plan in which the employee or employer makes pre-tax contributions into a retirement account, which grow tax-free until withdrawn.
What is the most commonly known type of defined contribution plan?
401(k)
What tax advantages does a 401(k) have?
Employee contributions are tax-deferred.
Earnings on the contributions are also tax-deferred until the taxpayer receives distributions.
How may an employer do a matching contribution?
They may make an additional contribution to the account on behalf of the employee.
They may offer a profit-sharing contribution to the plan.
What is a 403(b) plan?
A tax-advantaged retirement savings plan similar to a 401(k) but for public education, some nonprofit, and cooperative hospital service organizations.
Are 403(b) qualified plans?
Technically no. However, their main features are identical to qualified plans, so they are treated the same for our purposes.
What is a 457 plan?
Tax-advantaged, deferred-compensation retirement plans available to government employees.
Are 457 plans qualified plans?
No, but their primary features are identical and so they are treated the same for our purposes.
Are there contribution limits to deferred-compensation plans?
Yes, there is an annual maximum that is indexed for inflation.
What happens if a taxpayer contributes more than the allowed amount to a deferred-compensation plan?
They may be subject to penalties if the excess amount is not withdrawn for April 15 of the following tax year.
What benefit do taxpayers over the age of 50 have for deferred-compensation plans?
They are allowed an annual “catch up” contribution in addition to the maximum allowable contribution amount. For 2017 $18000 + $6000.
Where can a tax professional see contributions to a deferred compensation plan?
On the W-2 in box 12, coded to indicate.
What is an IRA?
An Individual Retirement Arrangement account is a personal savings plan that gives taxpayers tax advantages for saving moneyfor retrement.
What are two tax advantages of an IRA?
Money contributed may be fully or partially deductible.
Amounts in the IRA grow tax-free and are not taxed until withdrawn.
What are the two types of IRA accounts?
Traditional IRA.
Roth IRA.
What kind of money must be used to fund IRAs
Earned income (or, compensation). Wages, salaries, tips, commissions, professional fees, bonuses, net self-employment income, AND alimony payments.
If the W-2 shows any nonqualified plan distributions for 457 plan distribution in box 11, what happens?
The amount in box 11 must be subtracted from the taxpayer’s wages when determining their compensation for IRA purposes.
What type of income cannot be used to fund IRAs
Investment income, foreign earned income, business income where the taxpayer does not actively participate. Any foreign earned income, housing exclusion, or deduction the taxpayer is claiming must be subtracted to arrive at total compensation.
Is there a limit to IRA contributions?
Limited to the lesser of (2017):
$5500 ($6500 if 50+)
100% of the taxpayer’s compensation
Can a taxpayer contribute money to multiple IRAs in the same year?
Yes, but the limit is shared among them.
What are the restrictions on a taxpayer to establish and contribute to a traditional IRA?
Must have taxable compensation and must not have reached the age of 70.5 by the end of the tax year. (6 months after their 70th birthday).
Where are contributions to traditional IRAs deducted on the tax form?
1040A line 17, 1040 line 32.
If IRA money is withdrawn before the taxpayer reaches age 59.5, what happens?
They are subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty, as well as their marginal tax rate.
Are there different rules that concern the deductibility of traditional IRA contributions?
Different rules for:
Taxpayers who are active participants in employer-maintained retirement plans at any time during the year.
Taxpayers who are not active participants, including joint filers whose spouses are not active participants.
Joint filers who are not active participants, but whose spouses are active participants.
Who is considered an active participant in a employer-maintained retirement plan?
someone how participates at any time during the year in any of the following:
A qualified retirement, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan.
A qualified annuity plan
A 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity plan
A SIMPLE plan
A government plan (other than a 457)
Certain pension plans funded solely by employee contributions
A plan established by a self-employed taxpayer (e.g. SEP)
How does a tax professional know if the taxpayer is an active participant in an employer-maintained retirement plan?
W-2 Box 13 Retirement Plan box will be checked.
Is someone with coverage under social security or railroad retirement considered an active participant in an employer-maintained retirement plan?
No
Is a person receiving retirement benefits from a former-employer’s plan treated as an active participant?
No, unless they are covered under a current employer’s plan.
Are IRA contributions made by taxpayers who are not active participants (or where spouses are not active participants) deductible?
Yes, fully deductible up to the maximum allowable contribution amount.
If both spouses have compensation, can they each establish and IRA?
Yes, and they may contribute, and deduct an amount within the limits.
Do community property laws impact IRA contributions and handling?
No. Contributions are computed separately, without regard to community property laws.
Can a married taxpayer establish a spousal IRA, even if their spouse has received little or no compensation for the tax year?
Yes
If a couple has a spousal IRA, how must they file?
Must file a joint return.
When may IRA be established and contributions made?
Up until the due date of the tax return for the year.
Does the contribution amount limit differ based on MAGI for active participants?
No, it is the same as it is for nonparticipants.
What may be limited for IRAs for active participants?
The amount that is deductible may be limited, this is based on the MAGI.
How is MAGI determined for traditional IRA purposes?
AGI plus any of the following:
Student loan interest deduction
Tuition and Fees deduction
Excludible employer-provided adoption benefits
Excludible US Savings bond interest
Domestic production activity deduction
Certain excludible foreign and US possession income.
For full deduction on the traditional IRA for active participants, what must the MAGI be?
For Single, HOH: $62000 or less
For MFJ, QW: $99000 or less
For MFS: No full deduction
When is the IRA deduction reduced for active participants in terms of MAGI?
Single, HOH: $62001-$71999
MFJ, QW: $99001-$118999
MFS: $1-$9999
When is the IRA deduction eliminated for active participants in terms of MAGI?
Single, HOH: $72000 or more
MFJ, QW: $119000 or more
MFS: $10000 or more
What are nonparticipating spouses?
Married taxpayers who are not active participants in employer-maintained retirement plans, but who are filing joint returns with spouses who are active participants in such plans.
Is there an age limitation for Roth IRA contributions?
No, taxpayers can make contributions after age of 70.5, which is restricted for traditional IRA contributions.
Are distributions required for Roth IRAs?
No, they do not have required distributions, the taxpayer can leave contributions in the account as long as they wish.
What rules for traditional IRAs are the same as for Roth IRAs?
Taxpayer must receive compensation during the year.
Contributions may be made by the due date of the return (not including extensions).
Contributions for each spouse are limited (2017) to $5500/$6500 for age 50+ or total compensation.
Taxpayers can make contributions for themselves and a nonworking or lower-income spouse if they file a joint return.
Are contributions to a Roth IRA deductible?
No. Contributions are never deductible.
Are distributions form a Roth IRA taxable?
No.
Are Roth contributions reported on the tax return?
No. Taxpayers should keep records of them.
Is there a phaseout for the allowable Roth IRA contribution?
Yes, based on MAGI. Applies whether or not the taxpayer or spouse is an active participant.
What is the MAGI limit for full contribution to Roth IRA?
S, HOH: Under $118000
MFJ, QS: Under $186000
MFS: $0