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Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 06:30 PM
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#1
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Confused about dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1
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Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Some people are weighing the pros and cons of a Roth versus a regular IRA, and believing that they will be in a lower tax bracket after they retire, they might avoid investing in a Roth IRA.
However, consider this: even people on a modest income during retirement will have to pay taxes on an increasingly larger portion of their social security benefit for every dollar withrawn from taxable accounts (up to 85% of the SS benefit).
This may result in their "effective" federal income rate being 85% higher than what they might expect. In other words, that 15% rate might effectively be more like 27.75%!!!
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 06:32 PM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,860
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ravensthorpe
This may result in their "effective" federal income rate being 85% higher than what they might expect. In other words, that 15% rate might effectively be more like 27.75%!!!
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Welcome to the board, Raven, but I think that tax-bracket percentage might be a lot easier to understand if it had some real dollar numbers attached to it... and it might be a good bit lower than 27.75%, too, since those are marginal rates...
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 06:43 PM
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#3
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,252
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
This affect of income on social security benefits is often cited as a good reason to have a Roth 401(k). Here are my thoughts with respect to high income folks.
1. High income folks (HIFs) cannot have a Roth IRA anyways because their income is too high.
2. If HIFs choose to contribute to a Roth 401(k) instead of a traditional 401(k), they get hit with a large marginal income tax rate and lose other deductions as well.
3. In retirement, HIFs will get their social security taxed bigtime anyways, so it does not really matter.
4. Folks who retire early will not be drawing SS benefits for many years, so the taxes on SS bennies is moot during that time. They can convert traditional IRA to Roth IRA at a tax rate lower than the marginal tax rate they would've paid on a Roth IRA.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 06:53 PM
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#4
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Sorry if this is off the subject .Should I convert my traditional IRA to a Roth IRA .I have half my retirement money in taxable accounts that I would tap first so I probably would not even touch the IRA until the required distributions What would be the benefit of conversion to a Roth ?
Thanks !
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 06:58 PM
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#5
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 244
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Like most people on this board (those who don't have pensions anyway), I will rely on my investments during the period from when I RE until I am eligible for SS. That could be a good 15 years. In that timeframe I will likely sell some investments and pay minimum capital gains, convert IRAs to Roths or make outright withdrawals using 72t and/or at 59 1/2. Having no earned income will give me flexibility to manage my finances and taxes in a way that is difficult now, with relatively high federal rates including the dreaded AMT.
By the time I actually collect SS, and who know what the age cutoff will be then, taxes may be less of an issue. But OP is right that even in retirement taxes are an issue and rates have only one direction to move from where they are now.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 07:27 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,860
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moemg
Sorry if this is off the subject .Should I convert my traditional IRA to a Roth IRA .I have half my retirement money in taxable accounts that I would tap first so I probably would not even touch the IRA until the required distributions What would be the benefit of conversion to a Roth ?
Thanks !
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Do a little background reading first and see if any of these situations apply to you.
http://early-retirement.org/forums/i...action=search2
(Searches for Nords posts containing the words "IRA" and "conversion")
There's more unbiased info at Fairmark.com.
__________________
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Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."
I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 07:49 PM
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#7
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 331
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ravensthorpe
However, consider this: even people on a modest income during retirement will have to pay taxes on an increasingly larger portion of their social security benefit for every dollar withrawn from taxable accounts (up to 85% of the SS benefit).
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What does this mean?
And LOL hit the nail on the head. I am not eligible to contribute to a Roth. But I can't imagine I'd actually need to replace my current income in retirement anyway, so I'd expect to be in a lower tax bracket than I am now.
As for reasons not to do a Roth conversion, I am planning on marrying a Canadian, and we will probably move there at some point. As I understand it from my research, Canada does not recognize the Roth as a valid retirement vehicle, so they would tax me on it just as if it was a normal, after-tax investment account.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 08:19 PM
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#8
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 244
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaPigeon
But I can't imagine I'd actually need to replace my current income in retirement anyway, so I'd expect to be in a lower tax bracket than I am now.
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You may not need the income, but if I did not RE, I could see paying much higher taxes in retirement. By continuing to work, my portfolio would grow that much faster, and at 65 or whatever, between SS, eventual RMDs and dividends, taxable income could be very great.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-11-2007, 08:31 PM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Another thing to add: folks with a qualified plan at their job are not eligible for deductible traditional IRA anyways if they make any kind of salary (i.e. "modest income") at all. Thus, they have to go the Roth IRA route. If their salary is low enough that they can have a deductible traditional IRA, they are probably not paying taxes anyways and a Roth is the way to go.
In other words, I think it would be rare thing for someone to have to choose between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-12-2007, 09:03 AM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
By the time we retire, we'll have half in a roth and half in a traditional. However it works out taxwise we'll split the fence.
Now onto argue discuss whether it should be a 60/40, 70/30 or 80/20 split instead
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-12-2007, 09:37 AM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cute Fuzzy Bunny
By the time we retire, we'll have half in a roth and half in a traditional. However it works out taxwise we'll split the fence.
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That should work.
Quote:
Now onto argue discuss whether it should be a 60/40, 70/30 or 80/20 split instead
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I have my own theories. but they can wait for another day..........
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Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-12-2007, 09:55 AM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
No they cant.
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-12-2007, 10:12 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cute Fuzzy Bunny
No they cant.
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Well, I guess it depnds on what percentage is coming from a COLA pension and/or Social Security is it's still around.........
If I take SS out of the equation and figure no pension ( :P), then I'm going for 50% of my total liquid assets in ROTH, and 50% in taxable accounts, meaning all my qualified monies would be converted to ROTH before I retire.........
Sounds extreme, but oh well it's my plan...............
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-12-2007, 11:24 AM
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#14
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 897
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by FinanceDude
Well, I guess it depnds on what percentage is coming from a COLA pension and/or Social Security is it's still around.........
If I take SS out of the equation and figure no pension ( :P), then I'm going for 50% of my total liquid assets in ROTH, and 50% in taxable accounts, meaning all my qualified monies would be converted to ROTH before I retire.........
Sounds extreme, but oh well it's my plan...............
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Based on "The Coming Generational Storm" .pdf , everyones 401k in retirement is gonna get hammered as far as taxes...
Starting on page 232 of the electronic document (page 203 of the book), they go on a tirade about taxes and how all the debt and deficit spending we're in the midst of now, will cause the tax rate for a retiree to be WAY higher.
This is all just one set of assumptions.
I have a better feeling about having assets in a Roth, but we've already argued feverishly over this issue been down this path. I broke my crystal ball.
And what/who's to say "the gov't" can't increase the tax on my Roth directly or indirectly (sales tax) in the future.
-CC
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It means for every point you make, your level drops. Kinda like you're startin' from the top..." "Society" - Eddie Vedder
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-12-2007, 01:04 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by firewhen
You may not need the income, but if I did not RE, I could see paying much higher taxes in retirement. By continuing to work, my portfolio would grow that much faster, and at 65 or whatever, between SS, eventual RMDs and dividends, taxable income could be very great.
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OK - there are lots of great reasons to RE, but are you seriously REing so you can avoid paying more taxes in the future?
More taxes implies you have much more disposable income after retirement. This is not a bad thing.
Audrey
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Retired since summer 1999.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-13-2007, 03:17 AM
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#16
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 244
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Audrey,
My problem is just the opposite. Most folks have been trying to convince me to RE, or at least that I can. I was just saying that RE could help with my tax situation. It could help with many other things, like my mental well being. I am just saying that another added benefit of RE is more tax flexibility, although admittedly less total lifetime income. It is that last part that still has me shackled to the paycheck.
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
03-13-2007, 09:21 AM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Re: Roth IRA's and the hidden federal tax
Quote:
Originally Posted by audreyh1
OK - there are lots of great reasons to RE, but are you seriously REing so you can avoid paying more taxes in the future?
More taxes implies you have much more disposable income after retirement. This is not a bad thing.
Audrey
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Best quote I ever heard: "Capital Gains are the Tax you Pay for DOING WELL".......
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
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