by Mat Sorensen | Dec 28, 2016 | News
It’s the end of the year and many IRA investors are stressing about what they need to do by December 31, 2016. Here’s what you need to know for your IRA as it relates to year-end.
1. 2016 Contribution Deadline. First, the good news. You don’t have to make your 2016 contributions by year-end. You have until April 18, 2017 to make your traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or SEP IRA contributions for 2016. Check out the “IRS Year-End Reminders for IRAs” here for more details.
2. Roth Conversions. If you are planning to convert traditional IRA dollars to Roth for 2016, then you must make that conversion by December 31, 2016. If you convert in 2016 (by 12/31/16), then the amount you convert will get reported on your 2016 tax return. For those that have a down year or that simply want to start down the path of moving funds from traditional (tax-deferred funds) to Roth (tax-free), you’ve got to jump on this now. Your IRA custodian will typically have a Roth Conversion form that you complete and return to them. If you are converting cash, then the process is pretty simple as the value of the conversion is the cash amount. If you have a self-directed asset such as real estate or an LLC interest, you will need an appraisal or valuation of that asset in order to convert it to Roth. And lastly, if you’re on the fence about doing a Roth conversion because you’re worried about how much it will cause you in taxes, the IRS allows you to un-do the Roth conversion later in 2017, your funds go back to traditional funds, and you don’t have to pay the tax. This is one of the few things the IRS let’s you un-wind. Check out my prior article on Roth re-characterizations here.
3. The Over 70 1/2 Club. For those over 70 1/2 with traditional IRAs, you are required to take required minimum distributions (“RMD”) from your account each year. The deadline for 2016 RMDs is December 31, 2016. There is a 50% excise tax penalty for failure to take RMDs. In other words, if you don’t distribute the money to yourself from your IRA in time, the IRS will just take half of it to penalize you. Those with Roth IRAs need not worry as Roth IRAs are exempt from RMD. I’ve explained the facts and fiction on RMDs in a prior article you can find here.
So, if you’ve got a Roth conversion or RMD to take for 2016, you better get your “IRA” in gear. If you’re wondering about IRA contributions, don’t worry, you’ve got until April 18, 2017 to make them.
by Mat Sorensen | Oct 25, 2016 | News
The Retirement Improvements and Savings Enhancements Act (“RISE Act“) has drastic changes and provisions that effect self-directed IRA investors. From mandatory third-party valuations on all retirement account investment transactions to changing the 50% disqualified company rule to 10%, the bill has some significant changes that will negatively affect your ability to self-direct your account. There are some favorable provisions for IRA owners, however, the negatives greatly outweigh the positives.
Most Important Provisions
The bill sponsor is Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) who is the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation. Here’s a quick run-down of the most troublesome provisions that apply to self-directed IRA investors:
- Valuation Purchase/Sale Requirement. Mandatory Valuation Requirement for Private IRA (non-public stock market) Transactions: The new proposal seeks to require gifting valuation rules and standards for IRA transactions. This rule will force IRA owners to get a valuation before making any private investment. This valuation would include real estate, private company (e.g. LLC, LP, corporation), and note investments. The gifting valuation rules were created to value gifts where no value is set between a buyer and seller. mandating those same rules on actual transactions between an IRA and another unrelated party is unrealistic and unnecessary to establish actual fair market value.
- 50% Rule is Reduced to a New 10% Rule: Changes the 50% rule that states a company is a disqualified person to an IRA when it is owned 50% or more by disqualified persons (e.g. IRA owner and certain family). The new rule makes a company disqualified when owned 10% or more by disqualified persons.
- Roth IRAs Capped at $5M: Roth IRAs will be capped at $5M. Any amount over $5M must be distributed from the Roth IRA.
- Eliminate Roth Conversions: Traditional IRA funds cannot be converted to Roth IRA funds. Roth IRAs will be allowed only if the account owner makes initial Roth IRA contributions and only when they meet the Roth IRA contribution limits, which restricts high-income earners.
- Require RMD for Roth IRAs: Roth IRAs are currently not subject to required minimum distribution (“RMD”) rules because the amounts distributed do not result in tax. This rule will change and RMD will apply to Roth IRAs when the account holder reaches age 70 ½.
These proposals will have drastic impacts on self-directed IRA investors. The valuation requirement is perhaps the most dramatic as it will require valuations before an IRA can buy an asset and before it can sell an asset. Not only will this cause administrative issues and increased costs, but it will undoubtedly replace the ability of an IRA buyer or an IRA seller from transacting their IRA at the price and value they determine to represent the actual current fair market value of their investments.
I have written a detailed analysis of the bill which I plan to share with the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation. I welcome your input as a self-directed IRA investor and plan to advocate for common-sense rules that help self-directed investors take control of their retirement. My draft bill analysis can be accessed at the link below. Please send your comments to [email protected].
draft-rise-act-2016-analysis-by-mat-sorensen
by Mat Sorensen | Sep 13, 2016 | Investing
The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the radio advertising that promotes an ability to store gold owned by a self-directed IRA at the IRA owner’s own home. Based on the Journal’s reporting and investigation, the IRS issued a statement warning against such storage. I’ve written about this topic on a number of occasions and our firm has always recommended against home storage for precious metals owned your IRA or your IRA/LLC.
The recent statement by the IRS against home storage is an important development and one that all self-directed IRA investors who own precious metals should be aware of. Keep in mind, there are two rules that apply to precious metals owned by an IRA.
Qualifying Metals
First, the precious metals owned by an IRA must qualify under IRC § 408(m)(3). In short, these rules approve certain specifically approved coins (e.g. American Eagles) and gold, silver, platinum, or palladium that meet certain fineness requirements. Check my prior article for more detail as not all precious metals qualify to be owned by an IRA. In addition, Chapter 12 of my book, The Self Directed IRA Handbook covers the subject in detail.
Storage Requirement
And second, qualifying metals must be stored in accordance with IRA rules. Precious metals must be stored with a “bank” (e.g. bank, credit union, or trust company). Personal storage of precious metals owned by an IRA is not allowed. A broker-dealer, third-party administrator, or any company not licensed as a bank, credit union, or trust company may not store precious metals owned by an IRA. Additionally, an IRA owned LLC (aka, IRA/LLC) is subject to the same storage rules and must store metals the LLC owns with a “bank”.
If an IRA purchases precious metals that do not meet the specific requirements of IRC § 408(m)(3), then the precious metals are deemed collectible items. As a result, they are considered distributed from the IRA at the time of purchase. IRC § 408(m)(1). Similarly, if the storage requirement is violated, then the precious metals are also deemed distributed as of the date of the storage violation. IRS Private Letter Ruling 20021705. The consequence of distribution is that the value of the amount involved is deemed distributed and is subject to the applicable taxes and penalty.
Given the warning against home storage from the IRS, self-directed IRA owners should think twice before storing precious metals owned by their IRA or their IRA/LLC in their home.
For a detailed legal analysis, please refer to our Whitepaper on the topic found at the link below.
white-paper_storage-requirements-of-precious-metals-in-ira-llc_070715.
by Mat Sorensen | Aug 23, 2016 | Prohibited Transactions
In the recent case of Thiessen v. Commissioner, 146 T.C. No. 7 (2016), the Tax Court considered how long the IRS has to allege a prohibited transaction against an IRA. In general, the IRS must allege a prohibited transaction against your IRA within three years after the return is filed. IRC 6501(a). However, that time-period may be extended another three years for a total of six years pursuant to IRC 6501(e)(1) when the taxpayer fails to report an amount that is in excess of 25% of the gross income stated in the return. For prohibited transaction rule violations, a failure to report occurs when you don’t disclose the prohibited transaction to the IRS or when you fail to claim the distribution that occurs from a prohibited transaction on your personal tax return. A prohibited transaction could be disclosed to the IRS though attachments to the return or other correspondence but the Tax Court first looks to see what was reported to the IRS on the IRA owner’s personal 1040 tax return for the years in question. In other words, if you don’t volunteer clear information of a prohibited transaction to the IRS then the limitation period can be extended up to a total of six years so long as the prohibited transaction would result in an gross income in excess of 25% of the taxpayer’s personal return. Note: IRS Form 5329 is used to declare a prohibited transaction on your personal return.
There are a few very important takeaways from the Tax Court’s ruling in Thiessen and from the IRS Internal Revenue Manual on Prohibited Transactions.
STATUTE OF LIMITATION TIPS
| PRACTICAL THREE YEAR PERIOD
|
According to the IRS Agent Manual, Internal Revenue Manual, 4.72.11.6, IRS agents are instructed and trained to only review for prohibited transactions within a three-year window. In order to pursue a prohibited transaction past three years, an agent must receive approval from IRS Area Counsel. So, for practical purposes, the IRS is examining prohibited transactions within a three-year window. |
| FAILURE TO DISCLOSE SIX YEAR PERIOD
|
As had occurred in Thiessen, if any IRA owner fails to disclose a prohibited transaction to the IRS, the IRS may pursue a prohibited transaction for up to six years. This six-year clock runs six years after you filed your return in question. So, if you filed a 2010 personal return on April 15, 2011, and if the return did not include disclosure of a prohibited transaction, the IRS could pursue a prohibited transaction up until April 15, 2017. Keep in mind, this failure to report though must be a prohibited transaction that exceeds 25% of the gross income of the taxpayer for the year in question. |
A final word to note is that the IRS may pursue prohibited transactions past six years and into an indefinite time-period when the prohibited transaction was fraudulent or a willful attempt to evade tax. IRC 6501(c)(1),(2),(3). I’m not aware of cases in this situation, nevertheless, don’t expect to be in safe waters if you fraudulently entered into a prohibited transaction as the statute of limitations never runs in those situations.
by Mat Sorensen | Aug 9, 2016 | News
I’ve consulted many clients over the years who used their IRA funds to buy an annuity investment. The most common questions I get are as follows.
- What is an annuity? Now mind you, these are persons who already own an annuity.
- Can I cancel it and get my money back to invest in something else, and is there a penalty?
Most of our clients who own an annuity with an IRA are seeking to use those retirement plan dollars in a new investment opportunity with the goal of increasing returns. However, “getting rid” of an annuity owned by your IRA isn’t as easy as selling a mutual fund or stock investment.
WHAT IS AN ANNUITY?
An annuity is a contract with an insurance company whereby the person invests a lump-sum (or a series of payments) with an insurance company and the insurance company agrees to pay certain sums to the owner over their life. There are many variations of annuities but the simple explanation is that you give up money now to an insurance company and they promise to pay you money later. The longer you wait to get paid the more they will pay you later on.
CAN I CANCEL MY ANNUITY?
You can cancel an annuity but you may be subject to a surrender penalty. Most annuities have a surrender penalty whereby the owner of the annuity is penalized for requesting a return of the investment within a certain period of years of the initial investment. This time period is known as the surrender period and on average will last from 5 to 10 years. The surrender penalty on a 10 year surrender time period is usually 10% and decreases by 1% each year thereafter until it goes to zero after 10 years.
So, if you invested a lump-sum of $100,000 into an annuity and one-year later (in years 2) you wanted to get the entire $100,000 back out, you would be subject to a 9% surrender penalty of $9,000. That would mean you could get back $91,000 but would forfeit the remainder. Some penalty schedules are more punitive and they all vary. The surrender schedule is in the annuity contract documents and can also be requested at any time from the company holding the annuity.
KEEP IT IN AN IRA TO AVOID TAXES
Once you cancel an annuity owned by your IRA, the funds need to stay within an IRA (e.g. self-directed IRA) in order to avoid taxes and penalties from the IRS. You can request the annuity company to transfer the IRA annuity cash balance over to a new IRA custodian of your choosing. Once you’ve taken these steps, you’re retirement plan funds will be in an IRA and available to invest in stock, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, private companies, precious metals, and all other investments available to IRAs.
It’s the end of the year and many IRA investors are stressing about what they need to do by December 31, 2016. Here’s what you need to know for your IRA as it relates to year-end.
