This website collects cookies to deliver better user experience. Cookie Policy
Accept
Sign In
The Wall Street Publication
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Reading: The Biggest Mistakes People Make With IRA Rollovers
Share
The Wall Street PublicationThe Wall Street Publication
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.
The Wall Street Publication > Blog > Markets > The Biggest Mistakes People Make With IRA Rollovers
Markets

The Biggest Mistakes People Make With IRA Rollovers

Editorial Board Published October 1, 2021
Share
The Biggest Mistakes People Make With IRA Rollovers
SHARE

With Covid-triggered changes in the economy and more people taking early retirement or changing jobs, there has been a surge in rollovers from 401(k)s to individual retirement accounts.

And mistakes that are commonly made with such transfers of money are rising, too.

These mistakes can be costly, potentially amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, since the funds in a workplace retirement plan like a 401(k) often represent one of the largest payouts an individual receives.

Rolling these funds directly into a traditional IRA offers flexibility and control without paying immediate taxes, along with the ability to select from a variety of investment options—such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, certificates of deposit and annuities. With a company plan, you are likely to have a limited number of choices, perhaps only a half-dozen or so.

“We’ve seen an increased frequency of rollovers recently,” says Sarah Brenner, director of retirement education at Ed Slott & Co., a tax consulting firm in Rockville Centre, N.Y. “And we’ve seen a lot of questions about how to avoid mistakes in these rollovers.”

Here are some of those mistakes.

1) Taking a lump-sum distribution of the 401(k) funds instead of moving them directly to the IRA custodian. In such cases, called indirect rollovers, you have only 60 days to deposit them in the IRA. If you miss the deadline, the amount is considered a distribution that will likely need to be included in your gross income for tax purposes. If you are younger than 59½, you also could be charged a 10% early-withdrawal penalty on the money received.

There is an exception, however, for employees who have highly appreciated stock of the company they are leaving in their 401(k). It’s called the net unrealized appreciation, or NUA, strategy.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

What advice would you give for those doing an IRA rollover? Join the conversation below.

Those employees can take the lump-sum distribution and will have to pay tax at the ordinary income-tax rate—but only on the cost basis, or the adjusted original value, of that stock. The difference between the cost basis and the current market value is the NUA, and they can defer the tax on that difference until they sell the stock.

For example, if you paid $30,000 for company stock and it is now worth $90,000, the NUA is $60,000. Even when it comes time to pay, the tax on this $60,000 appreciation will be at the long-term capital-gains rate.

2) Not realizing that when you do an indirect rollover, your workplace plan administrator will usually withhold 20% of your account and send it to the Internal Revenue Service as prepayment of federal-income tax on the distribution. This happens even if you plan to immediately deposit the money in an IRA. (When you file your tax return in April, you will get a refund from the IRS if too much tax was withheld.) So if you want to contribute the same amount that was in your 401(k) to your IRA, you must provide funds from other sources to make up for the amount withheld.

3) Rolling over funds from a 401(k) to an IRA before taking a required minimum distribution, or RMD. This mistake affects those who are required to take an RMD for the year that they are receiving the distribution from the 401(k)—individuals age 72 or older. Doing so would result in an excess contribution, which is subject to an annual 6% penalty until it is corrected.

4) Not realizing that rolling over funds from a 401(k) to a Roth IRA is considered a conversion and you must pay the tax immediately. However, if there are after-tax dollars in your 401(k) plan, you can make a tax-free distribution of those funds to a Roth IRA. You must hold funds in a Roth IRA account for at least five years before withdrawing any earnings or those earnings will be taxable and potentially subject to penalty. 

5) Not knowing there are limits when moving funds from one IRA to another IRA if you do a 60-day rollover. Generally, you are allowed to roll over just one distribution from an IRA to another IRA within a 12-month period, regardless of how many IRAs you have. If you make more than one distribution, it is considered taxable income. And if you are under 59½, there is an additional 10% penalty.

According to the IRS, “The limit will apply by aggregating all of an individual’s IRAs, including SEP and Simple IRAs, as well as traditional and Roth IRAs, effectively treating them as one IRA for purposes of the limit.”

To ensure a successful rollover, it may be useful to make a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer marked “for the benefit of” the IRA owner, rather than an indirect one. Then there will be no 60-day rule or once-a-year rule to worry about.

Mr. Sloane is a writer in New York. He can be reached at [email protected].

Copyright ©2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

TAGGED:MarketsPAIDWall Street Publication
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Americans’ Spending Tracks Covid-19 Once Again Americans’ Spending Tracks Covid-19 Once Again
Next Article Ready to Tap Your Retirement Fund? Here’s How to Get Started Ready to Tap Your Retirement Fund? Here’s How to Get Started

Editor's Pick

Alyssa Farah Griffin: ‘The View’ Co-Host is Pregnant With Child #1!

Alyssa Farah Griffin: ‘The View’ Co-Host is Pregnant With Child #1!

Studying Time: 3 minutes The View co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin is pregnant! On ‘The View,’ Alyssa Farah Griffin breaks the…

By Editorial Board 3 Min Read
Melissa Rycroft Admits to Actually “Struggling” in Wake of DUI Arrest
Melissa Rycroft Admits to Actually “Struggling” in Wake of DUI Arrest

Studying Time: 3 minutes Melissa Rycroft is in a darkish place proper…

4 Min Read
Man fatally shot throughout argument over lady at gathering at Tuscaloosa storage unit; suspect jailed
Man fatally shot throughout argument over lady at gathering at Tuscaloosa storage unit; suspect jailed

One individual was killed and a number of other others injured in…

2 Min Read

Oponion

Super Bowl ads go heavy on nostalgia and star power

Super Bowl ads go heavy on nostalgia and star power

NEW YORK — On the field, the Los Angeles Rams…

February 13, 2022

Google Scraps Plan to Offer Bank Accounts

Google is abandoning plans to pitch…

October 1, 2021

How to Move More Goods Through America’s Clogged Infrastructure? Robot Trains

Anyone who has spent Christmas morning…

October 9, 2021

10 Finest Leather-based Jackets for Males: Timeless Swagger in 2024 | Fashion

Few clothes are immune from style’s…

October 4, 2024

12 Inspiring Books That Are Quick Sufficient to Learn in One Sitting

We might obtain a portion of…

September 30, 2025

You Might Also Like

Jamie Dimon warns of main market threat in subsequent few years
Markets

Jamie Dimon warns of main market threat in subsequent few years

CPA and market analyst Dan Geltrude joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to interrupt down the record-setting rally fueled by synthetic intelligence,…

4 Min Read
Meme inventory mania 2.0
Markets

Meme inventory mania 2.0

Pacer ETFs President Sean O’Hara discusses the advantages of ETFs and lays out his favourite investments on ‘The Claman Countdown.’…

4 Min Read
Traders have fun Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ election win
Markets

Traders have fun Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ election win

Federated Hermes CIO Stephen Auth weighs in on Japan's first elected feminine prime minister and provides an concept on what…

3 Min Read
Tesla teases Tuesday announcement with social media movies
Markets

Tesla teases Tuesday announcement with social media movies

Niles Funding Administration founder and portfolio Dan Niles discusses Tesla’s potential $1 trillion compensation plan for Elon Musk on ‘The…

5 Min Read
The Wall Street Publication

About Us

The Wall Street Publication, a distinguished part of the Enspirers News Group, stands as a beacon of excellence in journalism. Committed to delivering unfiltered global news, we pride ourselves on our trusted coverage of Politics, Business, Technology, and more.

Company

  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability

Term of Use

  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices

© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?