IRA Withdrawal Rules and Options You Need To Understand

Age should not be the determining factor when thinking about the future and making retirement plans. A Traditional IRA account makes it easier for you to prepare for retirement. Individuals have the ability to put back a little money at a time for their retirement.

In order to begin contributing to your new Traditional IRA retirement plan you must meet a few requirements.

• If you are not under the age of 70 1/2 by the end of the calendar year you no longer have the option to contribute to a Traditional IRA.
• A Traditional IRA is designed so that all individuals must have a source of income in order to contribute.

It is important to remember that anyone who qualifies for a Traditional IRA also have the opportunity to take advantage of the great tax benefits. Contributions to a Traditional IRA are tax deferred. Those individuals who contribute to the fund do not have to pay taxes on their income. The portion of your income that is put into the Traditional IRA is tax free. The money is taxed only after you begin to withdraw it which can be no later than the age of 70 1/2. Generally you fall to a lower tax bracket and pay less tax on your income. Any money that you elect to put in a Traditional IRA during the year is deductible income on that year’s federal income tax return.

Depending on certain factors there is a limit to the amount of money that can be put into the account.

• The maximum contribution for 49 and younger is $5,000.

Those who are over 50 can put in $6,000. In order to deduct your contributions on your yearly income tax they must be made by the April 15 deadline of the tax return. You can make contributions during the next year and still count them on your income tax as long as they are by April 15.

• There is no set income limit for Traditional IRA plans.
• For those who expect to be in a lower tax bracket in their retirement years, they benefit by paying less tax on their money.
• Each person should sit back and consider the benefits of investing a Traditional or Roth IRA or a 401k plan.
• Your tax deduction benefits begin immediately. You can immediately see the benefits of your investment.

In some cases a Traditional IRA is not always the best plan type.

• At the age of 70 1/2 you must start pulling money out of your account or the IRS can seize a part of your contributions.
• 59 1/2 is the age that you can withdraw from a Traditional IRA and not be penalized.
• Even if you start a Traditional IRA, if your employer offers a retirement plan you may have trouble making your normal deductions.

There are various retirement options but is it is important to do a little research and choose a retirement plan that meets your specific needs. Some individuals might go with the Traditional IRA while others prefer to take advantage of all their options and split their money between a Roth IRA and a 401k plan.

Confused about the differnce between Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs? To find out about Roth IRA rules, go to: Roth IRA Information.