Tracking down my Roth IRA:

[Guest jread]

I started a Roth IRA about 8 years ago and only contributed to it for a little while, then stopped. As far as I know, I still have the IRA somewhere but I have no idea how to find it. I'd like to start contributing to it again but need to find a way to track it down. Does anyone have an idea of how to do this? I've moved cities and locations a few times since then so they have no way to mail me anything. I need to find it and give them my new address, start contributing again, etc.

Thanks!

[Guest Pensions in Paradise]

umm..... have you tried calling the financial institution at which you set up the IRA?

[Guest jread]

umm..... have you tried calling the financial institution at which you set up the IRA?

That's just it. They came to my workplace and did a presentation on the Roth IRA and we could sign up afterwards. It was 8-years ago so I have no clue who it was with.

[John G]

Roths started in 1998 - so it sounds like you are talking about something that occured in that first year.

Try contacting either your employer or anyone you can remember who worked at that firm and may have participated.

Custodians should have been sending you statements. If you held a mutual fund, they should have been sending you quarterly or annual information of their performance and holdings.

There is one other possibility - each state has escheat rules. I know about these rules primarily as they apply to bank accounts and other kinds of cash (tax refunds, cash credit at a utility). If the account is considered dormant, the funds may have been sent to the state where you lived when you first signed up for the account. You can find lots of references under "escheat" via a Google search. I can't tell you how these rules would apply to mutual funds or insurance companies.

There are billiions of dollars that are "lost" - floating around. You may want to also use your SSN to look into if you have forgotten any regular bank accounts.

Be prepared to prove who you are once you have found the funds.

[Guest jread]

Roths started in 1998 - so it sounds like you are talking about something that occured in that first year.

Try contacting either your employer or anyone you can remember who worked at that firm and may have participated.

Custodians should have been sending you statements. If you held a mutual fund, they should have been sending you quarterly or annual information of their performance and holdings.

There is one other possibility - each state has escheat rules. I know about these rules primarily as they apply to bank accounts and other kinds of cash (tax refunds, cash credit at a utility). If the account is considered dormant, the funds may have been sent to the state where you lived when you first signed up for the account. You can find lots of references under "escheat" via a Google search. I can't tell you how these rules would apply to mutual funds or insurance companies.

There are billiions of dollars that are "lost" - floating around. You may want to also use your SSN to look into if you have forgotten any regular bank accounts.

Be prepared to prove who you are once you have found the funds.

Thank you VERY much for the info!

[saabraa]

For $39, you can request a complete copy (you do not want a transcript) of your tax return. You have to fill out Form 4506. I would request the 2004 year and if possible, specifically mention that the 5498 is what you're looking for. The custodian/trustee of the IRA must send a copy of this form to IRS and to you each year. Even though you're not receiving your copy, presumably the IRS is getting theirs. The 5498 contains a summary of your IRA's activity for the year, including ending balance. (also includes name and address of custodian)

You might try to contact IRS to confirm that obtaining the 5498 is doable. I found one web site that said it is, but it wasn't an IRS site.

[txdd]

Yes, you need to track down your old account.

However, finding it has nothing to do with contributing now. You can open a new Roth account if you're eligible.