A new law makes Roth 401(k) accounts more popular. 

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A new law makes Roth 401(k) accounts more popular. 

Starting in 2023, a participating employee who is 50 or older can contribute up to $30,000 or up to $22,500 in elective deferrals.

Numerous individuals are underestimating the existence of the Roth 401(k). It was introduced as an alternative to standard 40(k) plans around 20 years ago. However, public acceptance of this “new and innovative” strategy has been relatively slow. Following on from the initial SECURE Act of 2019, a new piece of legislation known as SECURE Act 2.0 may boost the Roth 401(k) option.

How it operates: A Roth 401(k) is a hybrid retirement plan that an employer can offer to its employees, as the name suggests. It combines Roth IRA features in designated accounts with a number of traditional 401(k) plan features.

Employees who are eligible can choose to defer a portion of their salary to a Roth account, subject to annual tax law limits, just like they would with a conventional 401(k) plan. Additionally, the employer may decide to match contributions up to a certain percentage of the salary. Contributions profit from the account’s tax-deferred growth.

A participating employee can make up to $22,500 in elective deferral contributions for 2023, or $30,000 if they are 50 or older. In contrast, contributions to a standard Roth IRA are restricted to $6,500 in 2023 or $7,500 for those over 50. Take note that high-income taxpayers cannot contribute to a Roth 401(k). Whereas this is not the case for a Roth IRA. 

However, in contrast to a conventional 401(k), contributions to an employee’s account are made using pre-tax funds. As a result, you lose a significant 401(k) tax benefit. Positively, unlike qualified distributions from a Roth IRA, “qualified distributions” are 100% exempt from federal income tax after a five-year initial period. 401(k) distributions, on the other hand, are subject to ordinary income tax at rates as high as 37%.

“Qualified distributions” include, for this purpose, those that are:

  • Made after the participant has reached the age of 59.5;
  • Made because of death or impairment; 
  • or utilized to cover “first-time homebuyer expenses” (up to a $ 10,000-lifetime limit).

As a result, you won’t have to worry about paying a hefty tax bill when withdrawing money from a traditional 401(k) plan because you can take a Roth 401(k) distribution in retirement after age 5912 and pay no tax on it.

Update on the new law: Beginning in 2024, employees who earn more than $145,000 per year must make designated Roth contributions. In order to make catch-up contributions to 401(k) plans under SECURE Act 2.0. Inflation will adjust for this number.

Additionally, Roth 401(k) account-required minimum distributions (RMDs) are no longer require by the new law. You must begin taking RMDs from qualified plans and IRAs once you reach a certain age, according to standard regulations. Beginning in 2023, SECURE Act 2.0 raises the age limit from 72 to 73. Roth 401(k) account holders will be exempt from this requirement for lifetime RMDs beginning in 2024. (The initial SECURE Act increased it from age 7012.) The RMD regulations did not apply to Roth IRA holders.)

Consider every one of the ramifications coming about because of the new regulation. You can get any advice you need from your tax and financial advisors.

The tax laws are very complex. Our short blog articles cannot fully cover all the rules and nuances. Your specific facts may hold various opportunities and possible risks that only trained, and highly qualified tax specialists can spot. We encourage you to find such help, rather than trying to figure it all out on your own. Consider giving this marketplace a try by posting your project and signing up here.

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[…] Starting in 2023, a participating employee who is 50 or older can contribute up to $30,000 or up to $22,500 in elective deferrals.  […]

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