Tag Archives: tax

IRA Distributions Impact on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)

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Roth IRA distributions (after 59 1/2 for Roth IRAs in existence for 5 years) are tax free.

Before 59 1/2 Roth distributions of your contributions are income tax free, but if you have taken out all your contributions then you have to count them as income for tax purposes.

With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is very important. And while Roth IRA distributions may be tax free, does that necessarily mean they are not counted toward your MAGI? It does. And so are withdrawals of your contributions.

For ACA if IRA distributions are taxable they increase your MAGI if they are not taxable they do not. This is very important for those retiring before they reach medicare age as the costs of ACA in one’s early 60s are high if you do not qualify for a subsidy. The subsidy goes away if your MAGI is over 4 times the poverty rate.

From the healthcare.gov website (Oct 2019)

“Include both taxable and non-taxable Social Security income.”

“Donโ€™t include qualified distributions from a designated Roth account as income.”

Related: ACA Healthcare Subsidy โ€“ Why Earning $100 More Could Cost You $5,000 or More – Using Annuities as Part of a Retirement Plan – Health Insurance Considerations for Digital Nomads

USA Retirement Savings Contributions Tax Credit

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The USA offers a retirement savings contributions credit for those earning $63,000 or less in 2018 (in 2017 the maximum earning were $62,000). The retirement savings tax credit is not as widely know as it should be.

The income level is based on Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). So some deductions from your gross income are allowed; earnings would reduced for contributions to a Healthcare Savings Account or traditional IRA to calculate the AGI). It is also reduced by the deductible for the self employment (social security tax) and for investment losses (up to a maximum of $3,000). The AGI is the value on the bottom of the first page of the 1040.

The Credit can be taken for contributions to a traditional or Roth IRA; your 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, SARSEP, 403(b), 501(c)(18) or governmental 457(b) plan; and your voluntary after-tax employee contributions to your qualified retirement and 403(b) plans.

The amount of the credit is 50%, 20% or 10% of your retirement contributions up to $2,000 ($4,000 if married filing jointly). Learn more on the IRS website.

Chart of Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (2018)

From the IRS website.

Related: IRAs and 401(k)s are a Great Way to Save for Retirement – Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) and Location Independent Working – Save What You Can, Increase Savings as You Can Do So – Using Annuities as Part of a Retirement Plan – 401(k) Options, Seek Low Expenses