IRA Rollover Rules and Tax Implications

<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;">IRA Rollover Rules and Tax Implications<p>Understanding the short- and long-term tax implications of rollovers from employer-sponsored <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/blog/ira-rollover/ira-rollover-tax-rules#" id="KonaLink0" style="color:#009600;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;font-family:verdana;border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:transparent;border-right-color:transparent;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-left-color:transparent;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;text-transform:none;font-variant:normal;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">retirement </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">plans</span></a>  is a critical component of retirement planning.</p><p>That’s because while employer-sponsored retirement plans and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/blog/ira-rollover/ira-rollover-tax-rules#" id="KonaLink1" style="color:#009600;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;font-family:verdana;border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:transparent;border-right-color:transparent;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-left-color:transparent;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;text-transform:none;font-variant:normal;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">IRAs</span></a>  are designed to help you to build a <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/blog/ira-rollover/ira-rollover-tax-rules#" id="KonaLink2" style="color:#009600;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;font-family:verdana;border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:transparent;border-right-color:transparent;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-left-color:transparent;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;text-transform:none;font-variant:normal;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">retirement</span></a>  nest egg, not understanding rollover regulations can lead to unintended tax consequences that chip away at retirement savings.</p><p>Information on this site can answer basic rollover questions such as<br>• When are rollovers permitted from employer-sponsored plans<br>• How to properly manage eligible rollover distributions<br>• What are the rules covering rolling one IRA to another</p><p>Also available is more detailed information including<br>• <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/blog/ira-rollover/ira-rollover-tax-rules#" id="KonaLink4" style="color:#009600;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;font-family:verdana;border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:transparent;border-right-color:transparent;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-left-color:transparent;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;text-transform:none;font-variant:normal;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">IRA </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">distribution</span></a>  rules<br>• Dividends and capital gains tax rates<br>• Required minimum distribution regulations</p><p>Use this site to educate yourself about how you can effectively manage your rollover funds and contact your financial representative and tax accountant to talk about the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/blog/ira-rollover/ira-rollover-tax-rules#" id="KonaLink5" style="color:#009600;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;font-family:verdana;border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:transparent;border-right-color:transparent;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-left-color:transparent;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;text-transform:none;font-variant:normal;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">IRA </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">rollover</span></a>  approach that suits your financial situation.</p> Frequently Asked Questions<h3>What is an IRA Rollover?</h3><p>An IRA Rollover is a tax-free transfer of funds from a tax-deferred plan, such as a 401(k) plan, to a traditional IRA. An IRA Rollover occurs when an employee changes jobs and is entitled to a distribution from the old employer’s 401(k) plan. By doing an IRA Rollover, the funds can be transferred tax-free to the employee’s own IRA. This means the funds can continue to grow on a tax-deferred basis inside the IRA. It also means that the funds are under the control of the employee with respect to investment decisions and future distributions.</p><p>The term “IRA Rollover” can also be applied to a transfer of funds from one IRA to another IRA. This too can be done on tax-free basis under a different set of rules that apply to IRA-to-IRA rollovers. Those rules are covered separately.</p><p><strong>Please visit our site for more Retirement, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/blog/ira-rollover/ira-rollover-tax-rules#" id="KonaLink6" style="font-family:verdana;border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:transparent;border-right-color:transparent;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-left-color:transparent;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;text-transform:none;font-variant:normal;color:blue;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">401k</span></a> , and Insurance information:</strong><br><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;">www.erollover.com</a></p><h3>IRA Rollovers from Employer-Sponsored Plans</h3><p>When is an IRA Rollover permitted for distributions from an employer-sponsored plan?<br>An IRA Rollover is permitted for any “eligible rollover distribution” from an employer-sponsored plan. This includes distributions from 401(k) plans when an employee changes jobs or retires, but also includes eligible rollover distributions from other employer-sponsored plans, such a qualified pension and profit-sharing plans, defined benefit plans, 403(a) annuity plans, 403(b) annuity contracts and governmental 457 plans.</p><h3>What is an “eligible rollover distribution” from an employer-sponsored plan?</h3><p>Any distribution, whether all or less than all of the employee’s account, is an eligible rollover distribution, except for the following:<br>• Any distribution which is part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments;<br>• Any required minimum distributions;<br>• Any distribution which is made upon hardship of the employee;<br>• Certain returns of elective 401(k) contributions, corrective distributions, loans treated as distributions, and similar items.</p><p>When are distributions permitted to an employee from a 401(k) plan or other employer-sponsored plan?<br>Distributions from a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plans are governed by IRS rules as well as the terms of the plan. In general, plan distributions require a triggering event, such as:</p><p>• Termination of employment<br>• Attainment of the plan’s normal retirement age<br>• Death</p><p>Check with the plan administrator to be sure that the employee is entitled to a distribution under IRS rules and the terms of the plan and to determine what procedures are used to request such a distribution.</p><h3>How are IRA Rollovers from employer-sponsored plans accomplished?</h3><p>The employee usually has a choice of two methods to accomplish the IRA Rollover - the direct rollover or the indirect rollover.</p><h3>Direct Rollover</h3><p>In a direct rollover, which is also sometimes called a “plan-to-plan transfer,” the eligible rollover distribution that is transferred directly by the employer-sponsored plan to the employee’s IRA. The funds are never actually transferred to the employee individually.</p><h3>Indirect Rollover</h3><p>Under the indirect rollover method, the employer-sponsored plan writes a distribution check to the employee, who then deposits the check in his or her own account. The employee then has 60 days to transfer all or a portion of the amount received in the distribution to an IRA. The distribution is not taxable to the employee if the transfer occurs within 60 days.</p><p><strong>Please visit our site for more Retirement, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/blog/ira-rollover/ira-rollover-tax-rules#" id="KonaLink6" style="color:#009600;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;font-family:verdana;border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:transparent;border-right-color:transparent;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-left-color:transparent;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;text-transform:none;font-variant:normal;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;border-top-width:0px !important;border-top-style:none;border-top-color:initial;border-left-width:0px !important;border-left-style:none;border-left-color:initial;border-right-width:0px !important;border-right-style:none;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:initial;color:#009600;background-image:none;background-color:transparent;width:auto !important;">401k</span></a> , and Insurance information:</strong><br><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.erollover.com/" style="color:#cc0000;text-decoration:none;">www.erollover.com</a></p></span>