What Is an IRA (Individual Retirement Account)? - Introduction, Contribution Limits, Early Withdrawal Penalties, Advantages/Disadvantages

(March 9th, 2008)

Also known as an Individual Retirement Arrangement, an IRA is a retirement savings plan available to anyone who receives taxable employment income or compensation in a given year. Examples of taxable income include wages, salaries, bonuses, taxable alimony, commissions, fees & tips. An individual can have multiple IRA accounts but the total contribution limits are outlined in the table below.
Note: An individual's IRA contribution is limited to the lesser of total taxable compensation, or the normal annual contribution limits, whichever is lower.

Beginning in 2009, annual IRA contribution limits will increase by $500 adjusted for inflation. All contributions to an IRA are tax-free until withdrawn at the age of 59 and 1/2. Any withdrawals made prior to that are subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty as well as income taxes owing. There are 8 exceptions to this, see the 8 exceptions below.

Traditional IRA contributions may or may not be tax deductible depending on the tax filing status of the investor. This also depends on the adjusted gross income (AGI) and eligibility to participate in a qualifed IRA retirement plan. Deductibility of contributions becomes zero if the IRA investor's income falls in between these adjusted gross incomes (AGIs).

A working spouse who is not enrolled in employer sponsored IRA can make a tax-deductible contribution of a maximum of $2000 to an IRA each year, even if the other spouse is enrolled in an employer sponsored IRA. When the couple's combined adjusted gross income reaches $150,000, tax deductibility for such contributions lowers. At an AGI of $160,000, it becomes $0!

8 Exceptions that Eliminate the 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty

There are 8 exceptions to the 10% early withdrawal penalty (i.e. withdrawals that are taken before the age of 59 and 1/2). They are for distributions that:

i) Are taken because of the IRA owner's disability

ii) Are taken because of the IRA owner's death

iii) Are a series of loan repayments made over the life expectancy of the IRA investor

iv) Are used to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of the adjusted gross income of the IRA owner

v) Are used to pay for medical insurance premiums if the IRA investor has been unemployed for more than 12 weeks

vi) Are used to pay for the purchase of a principal residence (maximum of $10,000 can be withdrawn). Also, the IRA investor must not have previously owned a home within the last 24 months.

vii) Are used to pay for higher education expenses of the IRA owner or eligible dependants/family

viii) Are used to pay back taxes of an IRS levy placed against the IRA

Disadvantages of Traditional IRA

i) Traditional IRAs require investors to take mandatory minimum required distributions (MRDs) when they reach the age of 70 and 1/2. This must be done by April 1st, of the given tax year. Failure to take minimum required distributions results in a 50% excise tax on amounts that are not distributed. Roth IRAs on the other hand have no such requirement.