Stock market investors experienced a roller coaster year in 2009. The market plunged in the first quarter and then surged 65% to finish out the year, one of the strongest market surges in recent history.  This market volatility may raise income tax questions for investors who made stock transactions in 2009.

If you are an investor who made stock transactions last year, especially in mutual funds or retirement plans, it makes sense to meet with your tax advisor to see if there are any income tax implications and/or a tax strategy to follow.

If you took a loss on your 2009 income tax return by selling a mutual fund in December 2009 (outside of a retirement plan), and you want to buy the same mutual fund in 2010, you must wait more than 30 days.  Failing to wait the 30 days violates the “wash sale” rule and you will not be able to use this tax benefit of the loss in 2009.  Contact your tax advisor for more details on this income tax question.

Another income tax question for your tax advisor is whether you should convert your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA.  Starting this year, anyone can convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Previously, taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $100,000 were prohibited from using this tax strategy.

Taxpayers who convert their traditional IRA to Roth IRA have to pay income tax on the amount converted to the Roth IRA.  However, any after-tax contributions that were made are excluded from the income tax.

There is some good news if you plan on converting your IRA to a Roth IRA in 2010. For conversion made in 2010 only, Congress has approved a rule to allow taxpayers to report the income from Roth IRA conversions over the next two years - half in 2011 and the half in 2012.   Potential Roth IRA converters need to be aware that future withdrawals from a Roth IRA, that includes earnings, are free from federal income tax only after you have reached 59 1/2 and the account has been opened for at least five years.

The Federal Income Tax form and IRS rules can get very complicated when it comes to stock transactions.  If you have made stock transactions or are considering converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, we advise talking to a tax advisor to answer your income tax questions and recommend a tax strategy.

source: valpolife.com

Are you one of the lucky ones who were able to contribute to your IRA in 2009? If so, you should be aware of the federal income tax changes as it pertains to traditional IRA contributions and Roth IRA contributions for 2009. They are as follows:

Modified AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) limit for traditional IRA contributions increased.
For 2009, if you are covered by a retirement plan at work, your deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA is reduced (phased out) if your modified AGI is:

• More than $89,000 but less than $109,000 for a married couple filing a joint return or a qualifying widow(er),
• More than $55,000 but less than $65,000 for a single individual or head of household, or
• Less than $10,000 for a married individual filing a separate return

If you either live with your spouse or file a joint return and your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, modified AGI is more than $166,000 but less than $176,000. If your modified AGI is $176,000 or more, you cannot take a deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA.

Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions increased.
For 2009, your Roth IRA contribution limit is reduced (phased out) in the following situations.

• Your filing status is married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) and your modified AGI is at least $166,000. You cannot make a Roth IRA contribution if your modified AGI is $176,000 or more.
• Your filing status is single, head of household, or married filing separately and you did not live with your spouse at any time in 2009 and your modified AGI is at least $105,000. You cannot make a Roth IRA contribution if your modified AGI is $120,000 or more.
• Your filing status is married filing separately, you lived with your spouse at any time during the year, and your modified AGI is more than -0-. You cannot make a Roth IRA contribution if your modified AGI is $10,000 or more.

  Modified AGI limit for retirement savings contributions
  For 2009, you may be able to claim the the retirement savings contributions credit if your modified AGI is not more than:

  • $55,500 if your filing status is married filing jointly,
  • $41,625 if your filing status is head of household, or
  • $27,750 if your filing status is single, married filing separately, or qualifying widow(er).

  Temporary Waiver of required minimum distribution rules.
  No minimum distribution is required from your traditional or Roth IRA for 2009

  source: irs.gov