Also, I’m starting to believe in your mind reading skills, PoF. It takes a few minutes each of two different days, and perhaps some time to research it to make sure you get it right. I don't know about you, but I've got better things to do with my time than do an extra 100 transactions that I didn't have to do. My dad emphasized that agents are looking to clear these forms quickly so encouraged me to keep the letter short and to the point. Plus, I know that I will behaviorally be less likely to change it if it’s already in process. You want this number to be zero. A cosmetic surgeon in L.A. could have a tax drag of about 0.75% with the same tax-efficient investments. If you do that, they reclassify it as a hobby and you don’t get the deductions. On average, most of us will fall somewhere in between. Hence, this backdoor Roth … Fair point, I agree tax-deferred accounts should be left to charity preferentially, but let’s honest, it’s a small percentage of our colleagues who are already investing for charity and anyone doing a Backdoor Roth should be maxing out a much larger tax-deferred account anyway they can use for that. This isn’t a huge benefit, but it can be hundreds of dollars per year in a six-figure taxable account. It looks like the program screwed up on problem #14 and I didn’t have the know-how to do issue #17 properly. That’s a little place called Kaleidoscope Canyon, shortly before the Grim Section where two BYU students died from exposure when unable to get out of a pothole years ago. I don’t know that doing a Roth IRA the very first time is as straight forward as outlined in your three steps. But first, a brief instruction on how to do it “right” in 2020. Either way, you need to check your work. Is this incorrect? Wow. Thank you. Good point, gals. There is some controversy over what level of business activity justifies obtaining an EIN and opening such an account. I have a big envelope full of receipts, but if it burns up, no big deal (except for the fire that may have just burned down my house). 70. I doubt the IRS would apply that issue to the ability to open a solo 401(k), but if you’re worried, go spend a weekend driving for Uber or better yet, moonlighting as a doc. Great post to put this all in perspective. They seem to cover everything in 8606 lines 6-12 plus a bit more and then direct you to transfer certain calculated numbers to lines 13, 15, and 18 of the 8606. That sounds like a big pain to keep track of basis. You can’t dine in the Roth Cafe and expect a free lunch. Should line 2a say 0? You are really leaning towards Etrade for that if you make a move in the future. POF, I really believe you need to amend your article to include such data because it is a big deal. You could also just “plop” $11k into your brokerage account on January 2nd. Your email address will not be published. I have no Roth products at all. It’s not a hobby. The Backdoor Roth IRA even includes a conversion step, so I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that people get confused. The Backdoor Roth Point / Counterpoint: A Must-Do or Meh? The funds in my taxable account kick out about 2% in dividends annually. These investments can be sold at any time and I’ll have cash in my bank account within a couple of business days. If you make enough money that you have to contribute to a Roth IRA through the backdoor, you make enough to make the contribution all in one lump sum. INDIVIDUAL Retirement Arrangement. The IRS put out a statement this year that said you didn’t have to wait between contribution and conversion. That’s a huge advantage if you plan to leave money to those you love. We (my wife and me) have being doing Backdoor Roth since 2012, although we have an idea about taxes, we use the services of an accountant and trust him. It’s just not nearly as beneficial as it otherwise would be. Should o do that with e trade? I would like to prepare a course (or courses). It’s true that a Roth IRA is a great account to inherit, but so is a taxable account, as the cost basis is stepped up to current cost when inherited. You pay income tax on the amount converted. Link? -be very weary of the qualifications of your tax preparer: could be giving the wrong advice. Now I’m wondering if we should start contributing the employee portion to a Roth 401k. Don't worry, if you do it right all you have to do next year is copy the previous year's form. Now myself and most people on this site would not think about spending money designated for retirement but it is nice to decrease the temptation. $6,000/$6,000 = 1. I ran in to several snags. There are many roads to Rome, don’t get hung up on which one you use. Good question (and good points). There’s enough material in the math for a separate post, particularly when trying to factor in capital gains taxes for those that expect to pay full fare. This article makes me feel better about not doing it. Follow the steps below in the order given, for the desired outcome. If you did your Backdoor Roth IRA the way I tell you to (contribution and conversion during the calendar year) you don't get to skip those lines. For most families earning a typical physician’s income, it will be between 15% and 23.8% plus state and local income tax). That’s part of my plan if I find myself in a position to do so before the current rates sunset (and are likely replaced with substantially higher tax rates). You check lines 15c and 18. In a number of ways, the benefit you see from taking advantage of the Backdoor Roth option is akin to the benefit of saving health care receipts and leaving money invested in an HSA. I buy funds that distribute mostly qualified dividends, which are taxed at a favorable long-term capital gains rate. Well then, you, my friend, must use the backdoor. Not only does that require little hassle, but it also makes your Roth IRA bigger. If they won't, no big deal, just fill out the 8606 right (there will be a few dollars on line 6) and convert it next year with your next Backdoor Roth IRA (and do it right this time so the amount left behind is < $0.50). He then checked and said, “yes, this is legal”. Neither is a particularly great thing or even a no-brainer, like a Backdoor Roth IRA is. Don't confuse the two. I was FI at age 50 and retired from medicine at age 54. What about QRPs? Thanks, WCI. I was also getting ready to get my ducks in a row for a backdoor Roth conversion and you put out a great write up for both the HSA and backdoor Roth. I don’t believe a CPA would make that mistake. Perfect timing for me! 3 years ago who would have expected lower tax rates in 2018? I plan to convert to a backdoor Roth, assuming I'm understanding everything correctly and I am allowed to do this, given our other existing investment accounts. Please confirm if my plan sounds good. Can you do step 3 first? $400-$1000 per year every year. Give up on the back door roth and just convert a portion. And the accountant acted like the error wasn’t even a big deal. They both have the word Roth in them. So even if you don’t keep a single receipt I think it would be easy to just use it from day the first day you are 65 and figure I would have enough qualified ongoing expenses (medication, co-pay, Medicare premiums, etc) to use it all up without digging for decades old receipts. Thank you. A defined benefit plan is not an option. Is this correct? 3. International investments in a Roth account do not benefit from the Foreign Tax Credit. If you hold a separate $6,000 tax-deferred IRA, 50% of the attempted Backdoor Roth will be subject to income tax at your marginal tax rate. Doctors are highly-educated and extensively trained at making difficult diagnoses and performing life saving procedures. When you do the conversion in the Backdoor Roth IRA process, there is no tax cost. For purposes of this exercise, the invested money will grow at … BEFORE you import forms from your brokerage document the IRA contribution in the contribution section (If you go step by step you’ll see the investment section comes before the IRA contribution section). It’s one reason that I chose to become debt-free by forty. After paying state income tax and the 3.8% NIIT (but not the final 5% as I’m not in the top federal income tax bracket), those dividends are subject to about a 25% tax. Honestly, if you’re in a position to consider it, and you know why it may or may not be the best idea, you’re likely going to be just fine no matter what choice you make. Here's a tip. Roth Iras offer a great way for your heirs to get the option for a stretch Roth Ira which allows them to continue to have a tax protected account grow while only subject to the RMD (which if given to someone young like a grandchild can extend the tax favored compounding by decades). Bottom line, better to roll it into a 401(k). The difference is whether I leave all the money in the HSA or take out the $4,000 to cover medical expenses now. When you say “you have no regular IRA”, you mean that I do not have a traditional IRA that I have already funded and reported to the IRS in previous years that has reduced my taxable income? At any rate, just this year Congress clarified that I was right, so consider this my victory lap. Think of it as contributing an extra $40K to retirement accounts that year and it’ll be less painful. I know you say it is a mistake(-ish) to contribute less than annually, but it will make budgeting much easier for us. That gave us enough Aadvantage Miles to fly our family of four to Honduras and back. If you have significant taxable income in retirement and you sell shares from the taxable account to fund your lifestyle, you can expect to pay the same taxes on those gains (the difference between the price you paid for the asset and the price you sold) at the relatively favorable tax rates outlined above. The conversion advice has gotten mixed up in the basic personal finance advice and this post provides clarity on the real dollar value and by doing so emphasizes that it is really for the early retirement folks who need that bridge. Do your Roth IRA in January, your spouse's in February, and then move on to the 401(k) or 529s or whatever in later months. One is the tax on dividends. If you have $6,000 on either of those lines, you're going to be paying tax twice on the same money and you're throwing away a couple thousand bucks. Good point, I guess I learned this lesson just in time. You and your wife can expect to spend $300K on medical care in your dotage sohaving a pile of tax free money available that is 50% compounded from years of growing isn’t a bad deal. I did this for a while. That’s why I wrote a post on that specifici topic (doing a Roth IRA at Vanguard for the first time). I agree. I don’t have the level of certainty about the future, economy, tax rates etc that you seem to have. The traditional vs Roth 401(k) question is totally separate. The stuff that advisors won’t really help you with. 2. Since the Backdoor Roth is a tool used only by high-income households, I believe in first maxing out all other tax-advantaged space available to you (perhaps with the exception of a non-governmental 457(b) in a facility with financial troubles or poor investment or withdrawal options). The problem is that people learn about the Backdoor Roth IRA and realize it's already past the new year and they want to do a contribution for the previous year. A self-directed IRA. I disagree with him. Husband has all Roth since we backdoored and converted smaller traditional ones he had long ago. Is my logic flawed though???? What do I do? If you're opening an individual 401(k) mostly or partially in order to rollover a tax-deferred IRA to allow you to do Backdoor Roth IRAs, DON'T DO IT AT VANGUARD. It lasts conversion would be adequate version, though, smooth sailing conversion both. Exactly as past WCI tutorials lay out decision of either not doing it pain... 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