Roth IRA: A Guide To The Benefits & Features

A Roth IRA, or Individual Retirement Account, has been a retirement savings vehicle for US taxpayers since 1998. It has many benefits and features you’ll want to be familiar with before entering one.

This guide will discuss the ins and outs of Roth IRAs in hopes that you can make an informed decision on whether or not it is right for you.

What Is A Roth IRA?

It is a type of individual retirement account (IRA) set up by a person or business on behalf of another individual or company.

Contributions are made after-tax, and distributions are tax-free if you meet certain conditions.

The funds go into an account managed by an investment firm, which handles the investments and investing decisions on behalf of each investor’s Roth IRA account.

Each year, the IRS sets contribution limits (for both traditional and Roth IRAs) that determine how much you can invest each year into your accounts before they apply taxes to your earnings.

These limits vary depending on your age and income level; if you’re interested in contributing more than the limits allow, there are ways to increase contributions beyond those caps.

For Roth IRAs, the contribution limits are much higher than those for traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. That is because they represent an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to save for retirement. 

That goes especially for those who do not have the means to contribute to a Roth IRA. That limit also applies to other retirement accounts.

How Does It Work?

A Roth IRA works like any other investment account.

You contribute money and then let it grow over time until you need it for retirement.

The main difference between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA is how much you earn goes toward earning interest on investments versus paying taxes on those earnings each year.

Roth IRA Contribution Limits

Roth IRA contribution limits vary depending on age, income, and whether you’re married or single.

In 2019, the maximum contribution limit for most people was $6,000 per year, although an additional catch-up contribution is allowed for those 50 years old or older.

If you’re married and filing jointly, the limit is $12,000. You can make contributions to your account at any point during the year; keep track of how much you’ve contributed so that you don’t exceed the maximum amount for that tax year.

You can also make partial contributions throughout the year. For example, if you want to contribute $2,000 in January and another $4,000 in July, that’s fine as long as your total contribution doesn’t exceed $6,000 ($7,000 if you’re 50 or older).

Contributions made after age 70½ are called “qualified distributions” and thus not subject to income tax or early withdrawal penalties (although they will be subject to regular income tax).

Required Minimum Distributions (RMD)

One of the essential features of a Roth IRA is that you don’t have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs).

You must withdraw these minimum amounts from your IRA or 401(k) account each year after age 70½ to avoid penalties.

With a traditional IRA or 401(k) account, you must start taking RMDs at age 70½, but with a Roth IRA, you can leave your money in history forever and never take out any money.

The only requirement is that if you’ve had your account open for at least five years and can withdraw up to $10,000 as a first-time homebuyer without paying taxes, you can use this rule once every two years during retirement.

This can be helpful if an unexpected expense arises or you need extra money for an emergency fund.

How To Open or Start A Roth IRA?

You open a Roth IRA with a financial institution, such as a bank or brokerage firm.

You can contribute up to $5,500 annually in 2019 (or $6,000 if you’re 50 or older), but income restrictions exist on who can contribute. 

Contributions may be made directly by the individual or through payroll deduction.

The earnings on your investments grow tax-free until distributions are taken during retirement.

Distributions are taxed as ordinary income at ordinary rates.

So if you contribute $5,500 each year for 40 years and earn 8 per cent per year (which is about average for stocks), your investments would total about $1 million by the time you retire.

If you withdraw that money at age 65, they will tax it as ordinary income at ordinary rates when withdrawn — which could be about half of what you invested.

What Type Of Money Can You Contribute?

The following are examples of what type of money you can contribute to a Roth IRA:

Earned income

This includes wages and salaries, net self-employment earnings, and farm income. It also includes alimony and child support payments if they are taxable to you.

Unearned income

This includes interest on savings accounts and certificates of deposit, dividends on stocks; rental income; capital gains from the sale of stocks or mutual funds; pension payments; Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, and other sources.

You must have earned income to contribute to a Roth IRA for the year you want to contribute (unless you are married and filing jointly).

When Can You Withdraw From A Roth IRA?

If you have a Roth account and want to get the money out of it penalty-free when you are older, you can do so under certain conditions.

For example, if you’re at least 59½ years old when you take money out of your Roth IRA or use the distribution to buy, build or rebuild your first home (up to a lifetime maximum of $10,000), there are no taxes on the amount distributed.

Also, after a disability prevents you from working for at least 60 days and continues for at least six months, you may be able to take out money without paying income taxes.

And finally, if someone inherits an inherited Roth IRA, they will get the money after that person dies.

If you have a retirement account, you must wait five years before withdrawing any of its funds.

If you withdraw the money before the five years, you will be subject to a 10% penalty on top of any applicable taxes.

If you are younger than 59½, you can avoid this penalty if you use the money to buy your first home or if you have a disability, die or use the withdrawal for qualified education expenses.

There are exceptions if you need to take money from your Roth account.

You can take out the money for medical bills that are more than 10% of what you make in a year without having to pay taxes or penalties on the money.

You might need to pay for medical insurance if you have lost your job.

You can also take out money for qualified higher-education expenses.

That would include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for enrollment or attendance.

Final Thoughts

The final decision to go with a Roth IRA remains up to you. However, the Roth IRA offers some tangible benefits that make it stand out from the rest in terms of compensation.

If your earnings are likely to be above average in a year or two, then Roth is probably a great choice.

Also, suppose you can avoid any nasty surprises that cause you to need access to your savings before retirement age. In that case, the Roth IRA has a significant advantage over other plans.