News Archive

"The information on Form 5498 is submitted to the IRS by the trustee or issuer of your individual retirement arrangement (IRA) to report contributions, including any catch-up contributions, rollovers, repayments, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and the fair market value (FMV) of the account."  MORE >>

"If we want retirement savings to follow the worker, they shouldn't need a GPS, three passwords, and a tax advisor to get there.... Auto portability would work if it were solely within the employer plan ecosystem -- but as it's currently structured, the money must flow through an IRA. For pre-tax money? Not perfect, but manageable. For Roth money? Full stop.... A participant with both types of funds will see some money move. Other money gets stuck. Confusion increases."  MORE >>

"Employers may now allow employees to elect to have fully vested matching and nonelective contributions made to a designated Roth account under a qualified plan, or a Roth SEP IRA or Roth Simple IRA. For tax treatment and income tax purposes, the IRS treats these designated Roth employer contributions as if they were in-plan Roth rollovers ... Because of this reporting treatment, Form 1099-R must be issued for these contributions."  MORE >>

"When a transactional mistake is made with retirement plan or IRA assets, there is oftentimes a mechanism to correct the error.... [S]ome transactional mistakes have no corrective steps.... Such missteps can create massive tax bills and result in unintended penalties. Many of these 'fatal errors' involve rollovers.... [1] Non-spouse beneficiary rollovers.... [2] Spousal rollover.... [3] Exceeding the one-rollover-per-year rule. "  MORE >>

"The deadline was December 31, 2026, but [Notice 2026-9] has extended it to December 31, 2027.... This new extension does not apply to qualified plans, 403(b) plans, or 457(b) plans of state and local governments. The deadline for their amendments remain December 31, 2026, with certain exceptions for collectively bargained and governmental plans."  MORE >>

"The most extraordinary development in the U.S. private sector retirement system is not the shift away from old-fashioned defined benefit plans, which began around 1980 and is virtually complete today, but rather the movement away from 401(k) plans, which replaced the defined benefit plans, to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Total IRA assets now exceed the money in 401(k)s by $7 trillion."  MORE >>

"The extended deadline applies to IRAs under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 408(a), (b) and (h) as well as Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) arrangements and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs. It covers all amendments -- required or discretionary -- related to these laws and any associated regulations."  MORE >>

"IRS says [in Notice 2026-9] that it extended the deadline because it and the Treasury Department are still developing model language that may be IRA trustees, custodians, and issuers may use to amend an IRA for compliance with the SECURE 2.0 Act."  MORE >>

"This notice provides guidance relating to amendments under section 501 of ... the SECURE 2.0 Act ... for an individual retirement arrangement (IRAs) under section 408(a), (b), or (h) of the Internal Revenue Code, an employer's SEP arrangement under section 408(k), and an employer's SIMPLE IRA plan under section 408(p). This notice provides that the Department of the Treasury and the [IRS] have extended the deadline to make certain amendments for IRAs, SEP arrangements, and SIMPLE IRA plans to December 31, 2027."  MORE >>

71 pages; Jan. 21, 2026. "Reminders: [1] Excise tax relief for certain 2024 required minimum distributions (RMDs).... [2] Income on corrective distributions of excess contributions.... [3] Modification of required distribution rules for designated beneficiaries.... [4] Simplified employee pension (SEP) and SIMPLE plans.... [5] Deemed IRAs.... [6] Statement of required minimum distribution (RMD).... [7] IRA interest.... [8] Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)."  MORE >>

"Successor beneficiaries (the beneficiary of a beneficiary) do NOT get to use any of their own personal information or status to dictate the payout structure of an inherited IRA. It does NOT matter who the successor beneficiary is or what the successor's relationship to the first beneficiary is.... The successor simply 'steps into the shoes' of the previous beneficiary and follows the exact same payout program that applied to the original Roth IRA beneficiary, with one exception[.]"  MORE >>

"The number of individuals making QCDs might be affected by recent tax law changes. The FY2025 budget reconciliation act (PL 119-21) expanded and made permanent the standard deduction included in the 2017 tax law (PL 115-97). A higher standard deduction might reduce the tax incentive for individuals to make charitable donations." [IF11377, updated Jan. 15, 2026]  MORE >>

62 pages; Jan. 15, 2026. "What's New for 2025: [1] IRA contribution limit for 2025.... [2] Trump account and new Form 4547.... [3] Modified AGI limit for traditional IRA contributions.... [4] Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions.... What's New for 2026: [1] IRA contribution limit increased for 2026.... [2] Modified AGI limit for traditional IRA contributions increased.... [3] Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions increased. "  MORE >>

"[T]he maximum annual elective deferral cap of $20,000 applicable to a Puerto Rico resident employee participating in a dual qualified retirement plan is increased to $22,000 for 2025 and $22,500 for 2026.... Puerto Rico employees participating in a retirement plan qualified only under the PRIRC continue to be subject to the annual elective deferrals limit of $15,000[.]"  MORE >>

Dec. 10, 2025. "What's New: [1] Definitions for IRAs.... [2] Clarification on nondeductible contributions.... [3] References to 2025 Form 8915-F.... [4] Modified adjusted gross income (AGI) limit for traditional IRA contributions increased.... [5] Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions increased." [Also available: 2025 IRS Form 8606: Nondeductible IRAs]  MORE >>

Dec. 10, 2025. "What's New: [1] Definitions for IRAs.... [2] Clarification on nondeductible contributions.... [3] References to 2025 Form 8915-F.... [4] Modified adjusted gross income (AGI) limit for traditional IRA contributions increased.... [5] Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions increased. " [Also available:  2025 IRS Form 8606: Nondeductible IRAs]  MORE >>

"This report provides [IRS] data on contributions to IRAs in 2022. Congress has an interest in contribution data because tax expenditures for retirement plans (estimated to be $35.1 billion for IRAs and $152.2 billion for DC plans in FY2025) are one of the largest categories of revenue losses attributable to provisions in the tax code." [R48051 updated Dec. 3, 2025]  MORE >>

"Made a mistake? The IRS might be more lenient if you relied on the right professional.... IRS says: you cannot claim advisor error when you are the administrator.... A favorable PLR might come down to who administers the account.... Be careful when relying on articles, even from industry experts.... Can you rely on artificial intelligence for IRA guidance? ... IRA rules are complex, and solutions often depend on facts unique to each case."  MORE >>

2-page chart includes 2026 limits for qualified retirement plans, IRAs, PBGC, Social Security, and health and fringe benefit plans, along with corresponding limits for 2025 and 2024.  MORE >>

"Schwab has asked clients to reset their login credentials, a request coming shortly after Fidelity took similar action to limit third-party vendor access to 401(k) and other customer accounts. Like Fidelity, Schwab has cited protecting client data in their attempts to limit credential sharing of a client's username and password. Third party fintech firms such as Pontera have adopted credential-sharing technology to connect selected outside advisors with held-away assets such as 401(k) accounts from retirement plan providers."  MORE >>

"Here are five situations where it may be better NOT to name the spouse directly as the IRA beneficiary. [1] Sufficient assets.... [2] Vulnerable beneficiaries.... [3] Remarriage concerns ... [4] Blended families ... [5] Special needs beneficiaries."  MORE >>

"Reasons to roll over ... [1] Your plan has high-cost investments.... [2] You have a trail of 401(k) accounts.... [3] You need more bond funds.... [4] You want flexibility for withdrawals.... Stick with the 401(k)? ... [1] You plan to retire early…or late.... [2] You want to invest in a Roth IRA, but you earn too much to contribute.... [3] You worry about the loss of Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA).... [4] You're worried about lawsuits."  MORE >>

72 pages; Nov. 3, 2025. "Reminders: [1] Excise tax relief for certain 2024 required minimum distributions (RMDs).... [2] Income on corrective distributions of excess contributions.... [3] Modification of required distribution rules for designated beneficiaries.... [4] Simplified employee pension (SEP) and SIMPLE plans.... [5] Deemed IRAs.... [6] Statement of required minimum distribution (RMD).... [7] IRA interest.... [8] Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). "  MORE >>

"[T]he key point is that the INDB Strategy can potentially extend the distribution period by up to 50%, giving heirs more time and flexibility in managing cash flow and taxes. And because the strategy's success depends on understanding the IRS timing and rule constraints, financial advisors can play a critical role in both determining when it's appropriate and helping clients implement it effectively!"  MORE >>

"The fact that some of the people are not related to John does not disqualify them from being an EDB. Yes, the 'random guy on the train' would be an EDB on John's IRA simply because he is not more than 10 years younger than John. Being older qualifies. That's why John's father and his mailman are also EDBs."  MORE >>