IRA Information – Rules On Investing and Withdrawals

All adults should be considering what they need to do in order to be financially secure after retirement. Traditional IRA accounts give all individuals the ability to contribute to a retirement plan. Individuals have the ability to put back a little money at a time for their retirement.

Traditional IRA’s are an extremely popular retirement option and individuals must meet a few requirements to start one.

• All participants must be under the age of 70 1/2 at the end of the year in order to actively contribute to the IRA.
• Individuals who do not have a documented source of income, such as wages, bonuses or commissions cannot contribute to the retirement plan.

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. Typically any money that you contribute to a traditional IRA is tax deferred. The money that you put into a Traditional IRA is tax deferred. The point to remember is that you do not pay taxes on the money that you have set aside for the retirement fund. When individuals start withdrawing their money, which can be no later than 70 1/2, their contributions begin to be taxed. At this age most people’s income has decreased and they fall to a lower tax bracket. During tax time any money that was put into the Traditional IRA account is deductible.

There are sanctions in place that limit the amount you can contribute and deduct each year.

• Individuals 49 or younger can put in $5,000.

Those who are over 50 can put in $6,000. If you plan on deducting your IRA contributions you must make them by the April 15 income tax deadline. Even contributions made the following year can be applied to your income tax if you beat the tax deadline.

• You should think carefully about whether to invest your money in a Traditional or Roth IRA or even a 401k plan.
• You can also benefit by paying less tax on your money if you anticipate being in a lower tax bracket.
• Your total income is not a determining factor when trying to open a Traditional IRA.
• You can reap benefits such as the tax deduction right away.

It is important to note that choosing the Traditional IRA plan over other alternatives can lead to some disadvantages.

• 59 1/2 is the age that you can withdraw from a Traditional IRA and not be penalized.
• 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.
• If your employer offers you a retirement plan, this can affect the ability for you to make your tax deductions.

When you choose a retirement plan it is extremely important to look at the criteria in order to fit your specific needs. In some cases a Traditional IRA is the answer but some people may choose instead to split their money up between different retirement funds.

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