Published April 2005
Three
tax-smart moves
for 2005 and beyond
Now
that tax season is coming to an end, you may want to review your returns
for opportunities to brighten your tax picture for next year. Specifically,
are you paying too heavy a load on your investment income?
If so, you may want
to explore some “tax smart” moves for 2005 and future years. Consider
these techniques: tax-deferred investing, tax-free investing and tax-efficient
investing. Let’s take a look at all three.
Tax-deferred investing
When you invest in a tax-deferred vehicle, you pay no taxes on your earnings
until you start taking withdrawals (withdrawals prior to 59 may be subject
to a 10 percent penalty), so your money can grow faster than it would
if placed in an investment where your earnings were taxed each year. You
have several tax-deferred options available, including the following:
- 401(k) —
It’s almost always a good idea to contribute as much as you can afford
to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. (In 2005,
you can put in up to $14,000 to your 401(k), or $18,000 if you’re 50
or older.) Your contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, so, the
more you put in, the more you’ll be able to reduce the tax liability
on your compensation. You get the benefit of tax-deferred earnings growth.
And, your employer may match part of your contributions.
- Traditional
IRA — In 2005, you can contribute up to $4,000 to a traditional
IRA, or $4,500 if you’re 50 or older. Depending on your income level,
your contributions may be tax deductible, and your earnings will grow
on a tax-deferred basis. Plus, you can hold a wide range of investment
types in your IRA, including stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit,
government securities and even annuities.
Tax-free investing
One way to help reduce your investment taxes is to avoid paying taxes
altogether. You can do that using municipal bonds and the Roth IRA.
- Municipal
bonds — When you invest in municipal bonds, your interest income
is exempt from federal taxation — and possibly state and local taxation
as well. (However, some municipal bonds are subject to the alternative
minimum tax.)
- Roth IRAs
— Your Roth IRA earnings grow tax-free as long as you’ve had your
account for at least five years and you don’t begin taking withdrawals
until you’re 59-1/2. Roth IRA contribution limits and investment types
are the same as those for the traditional IRA; however, certain income
restrictions may affect your eligibility to fund a Roth IRA.
Tax-efficient investing
Income taxes aren’t the only types of taxes associated with investing;
you also may have to pay capital gains taxes. That’s why it makes sense
to be a “buy and hold” investor. If you hold your stocks for more than
one year before selling them, then your gains will only be subject to
a maximum capital gains rate of 15 percent (effective through Dec. 31,
2008). But if you sell your stocks within a year of buying them, then
your gains will be taxed at your ordinary income tax rate.
To see if the ideas
mentioned above are suitable for your individual needs, consult with your
investment and tax advisers. But take action soon — the quicker you start
making tax-smart investments, the better your results will be.
Eric Cumley is a Certified
Financial Planner and investment representative with Edward Jones in south
Everett. He can be reached at 425-353-2322.
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