A Traditional IRA account is a retirement savings vehicle for individuals to save money at a tax-deferred rate. Contributions made into a Traditional IRA are done at a pretax rate and may be tax-deductible. Earned interest, capital gains, or dividend income made from the IRA funds also grow at a tax-deferred rate and are only taxed upon withdrawal.    

A Traditional self-directed IRA with Accuplan allows the account holder to self-direct their retirement funds outside stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. The account holder ultimately dictates where their money is being invested. Assets can range from real estate, cryptocurrency, businesses, and more.  

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Contribution Limits  

For 2024, the annual contribution limit is $7,000 for savers under the age of 50. If the account holder is over 50, they can contribute an extra $1,000, or $8,000 in total contributions annually. This contribution limit applies across all IRA accounts. So, if the same individual owns multiple IRAs, then the annual limit is spread across all IRAs.

Taking Distributions 

The IRA owner can start withdrawing from their Traditional IRA starting at age 59½. Funds withdrawn from a traditional IRA before reaching 59½ will be subject to penalty fees and taxes.   

Are there exceptions to the early distribution penalty tax?  

Yes, there are several exceptions to this penalty tax. A few of the major exceptions to the early distribution penalty tax are:  

• Death   
• Disability   
• Qualified higher-education expenses   
• Unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income
• Medical insurance premiums   
• Costs associated with buying or building a first home  

Once you reach age 59½, you can withdraw funds from your Traditional IRA without restrictions or penalties. Keep in mind that your deductible contributions and earnings (including dividends, interest, and capital gains) will be taxed as ordinary income. 

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Tax Benefits

There are two significant benefits to a traditional IRA. First, funds grow at a tax-deferred rate and are only taxed upon withdrawal. Second, contributions generally lower your taxable income in the contribution year. This affects your AGI (adjusted gross income), which may help you qualify for more tax incentives that you otherwise wouldn’t have been eligible for without the lowering of your taxable income from your contributions to your traditional IRA. 

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Required Minimum Distributions 

An RMD is a minimum amount that the Internal Revenue Service requires an IRA owner to withdraw from their IRA. Once the owners of a Traditional IRA reach age 72, RMD takes effect. An RMD is an annual distribution each year once they have reached a certain age. 

Adversely, if IRA owners take distributions too early, those funds could be subject to early withdrawal penalties.  

The deadline for taking RMDs is December 31 each year. You can delay taking your first RMD (and only your first) until April 1 of the year after turning 72. If you waited to take your first RMD, you’d be required to take your first and second RMD in the same year. If you don’t make withdrawals, you’ll have to pay a 50% penalty on the amount you should have withdrawn.  

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How Does Accuplan Improve the Traditional IRA?  

Accuplan allows you to do more with a Traditional IRA. Most retirement accounts, be it a Roth, Traditional, or 401K, rely on stocks and bonds as the investment option. The IRS allows many more asset types than simply stocks and bonds. 

 
With Accuplan Benefits Services, you can set up a self-directed Traditional IRA and invest in tangible assets like real estate or gold or paper assets like private equity or loans. A self-directed retirement account allows you to take control of your retirement account and invest in what you want. With Accuplan, the possibilities are endless. 

To learn about a Roth IRA Click Here

Frequently Asked Questions