Making a decision about whether to convert a regular IRA to a Roth IRA can be extremely confusing. An often overlooked issue that adds to the confusion is the potential impact on whether future Social Security benefits might be subject to income tax.
One of the somewhat obscure tax traps that can hit Social Security (SS) recipients who have other income is the income tax on SS benefits. Depending on your income level and whether you are single (or are married and filing a joint return), you may have to include as much as 85% of your SS benefits in your taxable income.
So what does this have to do with a conversion of a regular IRA to a Roth IRA?
After making a conversion the income earned by the IRA and any distributions from the IRA would not be taxable. This could reduce the amount of SS benefits that is otherwise subject to income tax.
But bear in mind that the conversion results in adding the full amount of the IRA to your income over a two year period in 2010 and 2011. That is likely to push you into a top tax rate. For those already in or near the top rate, that might not make a difference. In any event, the government is eager to get more taxes now, rather than waiting until you retire and that's the main reason why this tax break was offered.
The conversion option is not available after this year.
For information on the income tax on SS benefits see http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10035.html
For some information about Roth conversions see
http://www.money-zine.com/Financial-Planning/Retirement/Disadvantages-of-Roth-Conversions/
Your IRA trustee may also be able to help you with this decision.
Vern
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Prospects for Real Tax Reform
The income tax and the inflation tax have provided the liberal politicians with the ability to extract an unlimited amount of money from the public. Most previous administrations and Congress's have exercised at least some restraint in using that ability. The current Congress and White House seem to have no regard for the consequences of their insane spending programs.
Many of my clients and some of my professional colleagues have concluded that the only way out for them is to give up their citizenship and to seek opportunity or retirement somewhere else. Although there are only a relative handful of people who are included on the government list of tax expatriates, my private sources tell me that there are long waiting lists at the embassies in major cities -- of Americans who want to renounce their citizenship now.
The U.S. has become a magnet for immigrants not because of freedom of opportunity, but because of our extremely generous social safety net. As we attract more poor people with limited education and skills, we are also beginning to lose our entrepreneurs and people with capital. Carry that forward five or ten years and then think about the impact on our economy. Then recall the incredible trillions of unfunded entitlements that will be demanded by millions of retiring baby boomers.
Can this madness be stopped? Perhaps, but I fear we have reached the "tipping point" or the point of no return where the number of people who are dependent on the federal government exceed the number who are not. Who will vote for radical change to restore the U.S. to the kind of representative democracy that is described by our Constitution rather than by the judges who have redefined it to permit the creation of a welfare state? We need to get rid of the income tax by repealing the 16th Amendment and generating federal revenues with some kind of consumption tax, and by either repealing the Federal Reserve Act or somehow restricting the ability of the Fed to create new money without limit.
I hate to be a pessimist but I believe we will need a LOT more pain before there are enough voters who are willing to return us to a land of opportunity and to give up the illusion of a land of free goodies.
Consequently, I anticipate that we will see a substantial increase in the number of U.S. citizens and green card holders who choose to move somewhere that is believed to be less hostile to those with capital or business talent.
Vern
See The Tax Reform Alternative
http://www.offshorepress.com/taxreform2010.html
Many of my clients and some of my professional colleagues have concluded that the only way out for them is to give up their citizenship and to seek opportunity or retirement somewhere else. Although there are only a relative handful of people who are included on the government list of tax expatriates, my private sources tell me that there are long waiting lists at the embassies in major cities -- of Americans who want to renounce their citizenship now.
The U.S. has become a magnet for immigrants not because of freedom of opportunity, but because of our extremely generous social safety net. As we attract more poor people with limited education and skills, we are also beginning to lose our entrepreneurs and people with capital. Carry that forward five or ten years and then think about the impact on our economy. Then recall the incredible trillions of unfunded entitlements that will be demanded by millions of retiring baby boomers.
Can this madness be stopped? Perhaps, but I fear we have reached the "tipping point" or the point of no return where the number of people who are dependent on the federal government exceed the number who are not. Who will vote for radical change to restore the U.S. to the kind of representative democracy that is described by our Constitution rather than by the judges who have redefined it to permit the creation of a welfare state? We need to get rid of the income tax by repealing the 16th Amendment and generating federal revenues with some kind of consumption tax, and by either repealing the Federal Reserve Act or somehow restricting the ability of the Fed to create new money without limit.
I hate to be a pessimist but I believe we will need a LOT more pain before there are enough voters who are willing to return us to a land of opportunity and to give up the illusion of a land of free goodies.
Consequently, I anticipate that we will see a substantial increase in the number of U.S. citizens and green card holders who choose to move somewhere that is believed to be less hostile to those with capital or business talent.
Vern
See The Tax Reform Alternative
http://www.offshorepress.com/taxreform2010.html
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Taxation, Inflation or Expatriation
Many people have been trying to reform the U.S. tax laws for many decades, but without much success. With each attempt, the politicians add more complex provisions to the tax code and in a few years, they introduce new tax breaks for various supporters and interest groups.
Meanwhile, even if the income tax were eliminated, the government could generate unlimited money through the inflation tax. This is done by issuing Treasury notes to the Federal Reserve in exchange for new money. Combined with the fractional reserve banking rules whereby banks are allowed to loan out as much as 90% of their net deposits, the new money causes an increase in the money supply and in inflation.
For those who despair of being able to repeal the income tax and the ability of the Fed to create new money, there is the alternative of expatriation -- of giving up citizenship after acquiring dual citizenship in another country. New laws passed in June of 2008 impose a complex "exit tax" on the unrealized gains and deferred income of expatriates. But for those who have modest assets and are seriously concerned about the increasing degree of government control over the economy, there are other countries that offer lower taxes and less government intrusion.
I've just completed a new book called "The Tax Reform Alternative" that ties together these three issues. How can we reform the income tax? How can we limit the ability of the Fed to create new money? And if we can't do that, how can we escape from an America that is turning into a socialist state? It's available as an e-book (in a PDF Format) and is designed to be easy to read on a digital device like a computer, ipad or smart phone. The price is a a modest $15 and can be ordered at http://www.offshorepress.us/rismanforami.html
Copies are available at no extra cost to paid subscribers of my online library of e-books and my bi-monthly newsletter. Further details about The Tax Reform Alternative are available at http://www.offshorepress.com/vernonjacobs/taxreform2010.html
Vern
Meanwhile, even if the income tax were eliminated, the government could generate unlimited money through the inflation tax. This is done by issuing Treasury notes to the Federal Reserve in exchange for new money. Combined with the fractional reserve banking rules whereby banks are allowed to loan out as much as 90% of their net deposits, the new money causes an increase in the money supply and in inflation.
For those who despair of being able to repeal the income tax and the ability of the Fed to create new money, there is the alternative of expatriation -- of giving up citizenship after acquiring dual citizenship in another country. New laws passed in June of 2008 impose a complex "exit tax" on the unrealized gains and deferred income of expatriates. But for those who have modest assets and are seriously concerned about the increasing degree of government control over the economy, there are other countries that offer lower taxes and less government intrusion.
I've just completed a new book called "The Tax Reform Alternative" that ties together these three issues. How can we reform the income tax? How can we limit the ability of the Fed to create new money? And if we can't do that, how can we escape from an America that is turning into a socialist state? It's available as an e-book (in a PDF Format) and is designed to be easy to read on a digital device like a computer, ipad or smart phone. The price is a a modest $15 and can be ordered at http://www.offshorepress.us/rismanforami.html
Copies are available at no extra cost to paid subscribers of my online library of e-books and my bi-monthly newsletter. Further details about The Tax Reform Alternative are available at http://www.offshorepress.com/vernonjacobs/taxreform2010.html
Vern
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