Roth IRAs, straight answers to your questions.

What is a Roth IRA?
The Roth IRA is a nondeductible account that features tax-free withdrawals for certain distribution reasons after a five-year holding period.

Am I eligible for a Roth IRA?
Basically, there are two requirements for eligibility to contribute to a Roth IRA: you and/or your spouse must have earned income and your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) cannot exceed certain limits.

How much can I contribute?
You may contribute any amount up to 100 percent of your earned income, or $4,000, (2005 – 2007) whichever is less, as long as your MAGI is within prescribed limits. These prescribed limits for contribution are:

Single MAGI Filers of:

• $95,000 or less - Full contribution

• Between $95,000 and $110,000 - Partial contribution

• $110,000 or more - No contribution

Married/Joint MAGI Filers of:

• $150,000 or less - Full contribution

• Between $150,000 and $160,000 - Partial contribution

• $160,000 or more - No contribution

It is important to note that $4,000 is the aggregate amount that you can contribute to any Roth and/or traditional IRA in a given year. For example, if you contribute $500 to a traditional IRA, you can only contribute $3,500 to a Roth IRA for that year.

To make up for lost retirement savings, EGTRRA also added "catch up" contribution ability for any individual who reaches 50 or older by the end of the tax year. For 2006 and after, the "catch up" contribution is $1,000.

Do I pay taxes on my earnings?
No (provided you take the earnings as part of a qualified distribution). That's the best part of a Roth IRA. Unlike a traditional IRA, you cannot take a tax deduction for any of the contributions that you make to a Roth IRA. However, when you're ready to take a withdrawal, you pay no taxes on any of the earnings that your money has generated.

What is a qualified distribution?
In order for earnings to be tax free, you must first meet a five-year holding period for your Roth IRA. This period begins with the tax year for which the first contribution is made. After that, any earnings you withdraw for a qualified distribution reason are tax-free and IRS penalty free. Qualified distributions include:

• Distributions made on or after the date on which you attain age 59 1/2,

• Distributions made to your beneficiary (or your estate) upon your death,

• Distributions attributable to your being disabled, and

• Qualified first-time home buyer distributions (up to$10,000)

Does the 10 percent IRS premature distribution apply if I withdraw my money before age 59 ½?

The 10 percent IRS penalty does not apply to earnings you withdraw when you take any of the qualified distributions listed above. In addition, the 10 percent penalty is also waived for certain other distributions reasons. But, for those distributions, taxes on any earnings will apply. Distributions that are subject to taxes (on any earnings withdrawn) but no penalty include:

• Substantially equal periodic payments,

• Eligible medical expenses in excess of 7.5 percent of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI),

• Medical insurance premiums for eligible unemployed individuals,

• Qualified education expenses, and

• Distributions taken for any reason other than a qualified reason or one of the reasons listed here are subject to both taxes and a 10 percent IRS penalty on any earnings withdrawn.

What if I need to access my money now?
A helpful feature of the Roth IRA is that, for non-qualified distributions, original contribution amounts are returned first. Contributions (as opposed to earnings) are not subject to taxation or the 10 percent IRS premature-distribution penalty when distributed. In other words, you can always get back your principal tax-free and IRS penalty free for any reason.

When do I have to start taking distributions from my Roth IRA?
You never have to take distributions from your Roth IRA. That's another benefit of the Roth IRA over traditional IRAs. Assets held in a Roth IRA are not subject to age 70 ½ required minimum distributions.

What happens in the event of my death?
Your named beneficiaries will receive the entire proceeds of your Roth IRA. The manner in which your beneficiary(ies) receives the funds is determined by the election made by your beneficiary(ies) within the guidelines of the law.

How do I move funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA?
The law only allows people (single or married) with a MAGI of $100,000 or less to convert their traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. For a conversion to a Roth IRA, the amount converted will be subject to full taxation. However, the funds will not be subject to a 10 percent premature-distribution penalty. Rollovers from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA are not subject to the one rollover per 12-months rule. Additionally, the law provides that for conversions to Roth IRAs completed in 1998 the taxes may be paid ratably over a four-year period. After 1998, such conversions are fully taxable in the year of the distribution.

When is the contribution deadline for funding a Roth IRA?
Roth IRAs for the taxable year can be opened and funded any time between January 1 and the date your tax return is due for the year, excluding extensions. This is normally April 15 of the following year.

How do I open a Roth IRA?
Simply see any of our IRA representatives. We will explain the nature of these accounts in more detail and help you complete the simple forms necessary to establish your Roth IRA.