5 Little-Known Roth IRA Tax Considerations
Is it better to save for retirement in a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA? Spend a little time researching this question, and you'll learn an interesting mathematical truth: If your tax rate is the same when you make contributions as it will be in retirement, there's no difference between a Roth and traditional IRA (or 401(k) for that matter).
This mathematical truth leads to a quandary: How can we possibly know today what the tax rates will be decades from now? We can't. Not only is the tax code likely to change, but our income levels are likely to change, too.
But let's not abandon all hope of figuring out the best way to save for retirement. Here are five things we can know or control, at least to a point, which can help us make this important retirement decision:
State and local income tax. Many people focus on federal income tax when it comes to retirement accounts. But state and local income tax rates are also important considerations. Those living in high income tax jurisdictions may benefit more from pre-tax retirement accounts, all other things being equal.
In addition, many people plan to live in low income tax states during retirement. For example, many retirees move to Florida, a state that has no income tax. Those living in high tax states who plan to retire in tax-friendly jurisdictions can make reasonable assumptions about tax rates in retirement in deciding which account type is best for them. Remember, we don't need to know our exact tax rate in retirement. We just need to make reasonable assumptions as to whether it will be higher or lower than our current rates.
Marginal versus effective tax rates. Comparing a Roth to a traditional retirement account requires some mental gymnastics. It's not enough to simply compare marginal tax rates at the time of the contributions with marginal rates in retirement. Here's why: When pre-tax contributions are made, they reduce taxable income at the margin. However, these contributions may move a taxpayer into a lower tax bracket. As a result, some thought must be given to the actual tax savings, which could straddle two tax brackets.
Likewise, withdrawals made in retirement may be taxed at multiple tax rates. This is particularly true where there is little other taxable income. In extreme cases, withdrawals from retirement accounts may be the only taxable income in some years, particularly before a retiree begins receiving Social Security benefits.
The key is to think beyond marginal tax rates. Taxes paid in retirement, even if the marginal rate is the same, may result in a lower actual tax rate if the withdrawals span multiple brackets.
Pensions and Social Security. It's important to consider whether you will have other taxable income beyond retirement account withdrawals. In years where there will be no other taxable income, total taxes on withdrawals will be equal to the retiree's effective tax rate.
Those who will receive significant taxable income from other sources will end up paying higher rates on retirement account withdrawals. But as the number of companies offering pensions declines, many retirees will be limited to Social Security as the only other source of income. The key is to assess how this other income, from whatever sources, will increase the tax rate applied to retirement account withdrawals.
The Roth conversion. The availability of Roth conversions offers significant flexibility in retirement planning. For example, many workers are in high tax brackets during their working years that make Roth contributions or conversions untenable. However, these same workers may find themselves in much lower tax brackets during their early years of retirement.
For example, retirees in their 60s may hold off on collecting Social Security and use taxable accounts to fund retirement. At the same time, required minimum distributions have yet to kick in. During these low tax years, a Roth IRA conversion of some pre-tax retirement savings may be beneficial. In addition to converting retirement accounts at lower tax rates, these retirees can further lower their taxes in later years by reducing the required minimum distribution from their remaining pre-tax retirement accounts.
Required minimum distributions. Reducing the required minimum distribution by converting pre-tax funds to a Roth account is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, a small RMD can lower a retiree's marginal and effective tax rates. At the same time, it can make earlier Roth IRA conversions less appealing for the very same reason.
Therefore, it is important to consult with a Roth IRA conversion specialist to understand the best strategy. They will often use sophisticated modeling software to help determine your best strategy.
Rob Berger is an attorney and founder of the popular personal finance and investing blog, doughroller.net. He is also the editor of the Dough Roller Weekly Newsletter, a free newsletter covering all aspects of personal finance and investing, and the Dough Roller Money Podcast.
