A Roth IRA does not have to be used as just a retirement plan; it can also be a way to transfer assets tax-free to the next generation.
Unlike a traditional IRA, contributions to a Roth IRA are taxed, which means that the distributions are tax-free. Also, unlike a traditional IRA, you are also not required to take any distributions on a Roth IRA, regardless of your age. If you don’t need the money for retirement, you can leave all of it in the IRA to grow tax-free and eventually pass on to your heirs.
If your spouse is the beneficiary on your Roth IRA, after you pass away, your spouse can either acquire it as an inherited IRA or roll it over into as a new IRA in his or her name. The IRS will treat the IRA as if your spouse had always owned it. Just like you, your spouse does not need to take any distributions from the IRA if they are not needed.
The rules for a child or grandchild (or other non-spouse) who inherits an IRA are different than those for a spouse. They must withdraw all of the assets in the inherited account within 10 years. It was initially believed that the beneficiary of an inherited IRA was not required to take annual required minimum distributions during those 10 years. However, the IRS clarified that annual minimum distributions must in fact be taken.
Certain non-spouse beneficiaries are treated like spouses, which means they can treat the IRA as their own:
- Disabled or chronically ill individuals
- Individuals who are not more than 10 years younger than the account owner
- Minor children. Once the child reaches the age of majority, he or she has 10 years to withdraw the money from the account.
The benefit of a Roth IRA for your heirs is that the assets will be distributed tax-free. As long as you opened and began making contributions to the Roth IRA more than five years before you died, the distributions will not be taxed when the beneficiary takes distributions.
Another consideration is that money you leave your heirs in a Roth IRA does not go through the probate process. This can make it easier for your beneficiaries to access the funds quickly. But make sure that you name a beneficiary on your account. If no beneficiary is named, the account will go to your estate and therefore possibly need to be distributed sooner than over 10 years. Dionysios Pappas, an attorney with the law firm of Vasiliadis Pappas Associated cautions that you should regularly check that your beneficiary designations are up-to- date.
Leaving your heirs a tax-free Roth IRA may not always be the best plan. In figuring out the best type of IRA to leave to your beneficiaries, you need to consider whether your beneficiary’s tax rate will be higher or lower than your tax rate when you fund the IRA. In general, if your beneficiary’s tax rate is higher than your tax rate, then you should leave your beneficiary a Roth IRA. Because the funds in a Roth IRA are taxed before they are put into the IRA, it makes sense to fund it when your tax rate is lower. On the other hand, if your beneficiary’s tax rate is lower than your tax rate, a traditional IRA might make more sense. That way, you won’t pay the taxes at your higher rate; instead, your beneficiary will pay at their lower tax rate.
To determine if a Roth IRA should be a part of your estate plan, consult with the attorneys at Vasiliadis Pappas Associates.