Lesson

This section covers the tax implications of pension and retirement plan distributions and how they impact an individual's income tax.

Practice Question #1

Which of the following retirement accounts allows for tax-free withdrawals in retirement?

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Terms

Pension:
A regular payment made to a retired individual by an employer or the government, typically based on years of service and salary.
Retirement Plan:
A financial arrangement designed to provide an individual with income during retirement.
Distributions:
Payments from a pension or retirement plan to the participant or beneficiary.
Qualified Plan:
A retirement plan that meets specific IRS requirements and offers tax advantages.
Non-Qualified Plan:
A retirement plan that does not meet IRS requirements and does not offer the same tax advantages as a qualified plan.
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD):
The minimum amount must be withdrawn from a retirement account each year, starting at age 72.
Early Withdrawal Penalty:
A 10% penalty tax applied to withdrawals made from a qualified retirement plan before the age of 59.5.
Roth IRA:
A type of individual retirement account that allows for tax-free withdrawals in retirement, as contributions are made with after-tax dollars.
Traditional IRA:
A type of individual retirement account that allows for tax-deductible contributions and tax-deferred growth, with withdrawals taxed as ordinary income in retirement.
401(k):
A type of employer-sponsored retirement plan that allows employees to contribute pre-tax dollars, with taxes deferred until withdrawal in retirement.

Practice Question #2

At what age must an individual begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from their retirement accounts?

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Historical Example

In 1986, the Tax Reform Act introduced the concept of the Roth IRA, which allowed individuals to contribute after-tax dollars to a retirement account and withdraw funds tax-free in retirement. This tax law change significantly impacted how individuals planned for retirement and their tax strategies.

Practice Question #3

What is the penalty for withdrawing funds from a qualified retirement plan before the age of 59.5?

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Real-World Example

Jane, age 65, recently retired and began receiving distributions from her pension and 401(k) plan. She must include these distributions as part of her taxable income for the year and pay income tax on the amounts received. However, she also has a Roth IRA; any withdrawals from that account are tax-free.

Practice Question #4

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Thresholds to Remember

- Required Minimum Distribution (RMD): The minimum amount that must be withdrawn from a retirement account each year, starting at age 72 (previously 70.5 before the SECURE Act of 2019).

Practice Question #5

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Threshold Examples

- Age 72: The age at which RMDs must begin for most retirement accounts, such as traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. - April 1st: The deadline for taking the first RMD is April 1st, following the year the account owner turns 72. - December 31st: The deadline for taking subsequent RMDs is December 31st each year after the first RMD.

Practice Question #6

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Pitfalls to Remember

- Missed RMD Penalty:
Failing to take the RMD by the deadline can result in a 50% penalty on the amount that should have been withdrawn. SECURE 2.0 Act drops the excise tax rate to 25%, possibly 10%, if the RMD is timely corrected within two years.

Practice Question #7

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