Many investors invest in stocks to meet short- and medium-term money goals, which is why many hold them within an IRA account.
As soon as you reach age 73, required minimum distributions must begin from your IRA. If there are shares that you want to retain within it, an in-kind distribution may help avoid having to liquidate them.
1. When the Price is Low
When stocks suffer a dip, investors often feel the urge to sell. Unfortunately, selling at a loss reduces your shares that could benefit from market rebound.
Why does an IRA investor pay capital gains taxes when withdrawing stock? Because IRA investors don’t pay them when selling it in their account; only when withdrawing it. Tax burden for withdrawals depends on an investor’s income tax bracket at withdrawal time and stock’s cost basis.
When trying to avoid capital gains tax, consider donating or giving stock directly to low-income relatives who do not owe federal income taxes. Another method would be taking an in-kind distribution from an IRA and moving shares directly into a taxable investment account – following all necessary rules is often straightforward and will typically come complete with a handy spreadsheet to assist in this process. Speak with your IRA custodian regarding this procedure – they should offer assistance such as an RMD calculator spreadsheet to calculate RMD factors according to age as well as provide approximate figures regarding any in-kind transfers between accounts – simply follow their rules on doing it all for ease in doing this action and you should see where this process leaves your accounts before proceeding further with such transfers.
2. When the Price is High
Are You Engaged in Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)? Selling shares while their value is depressed could help avoid ordinary income tax liabilities; however, this might not always be in your best interests.
If you take an RMD in-kind, you will still owe tax on its original value–including any capital gains accumulated over time. To ensure you are reporting the correct cost basis for each share, refer to your brokerage firm’s website or hold onto any trade confirmations to determine how much each one cost you.
Harry is considering moving some of his traditional IRA investments to a Roth account to avoid capital gains taxes upon retirement. To determine his chances, he uses this calculator and finds there’s a 50-50 chance he can avoid this tax; either through charitable giving or passing it along to inheritors who will fall into lower tax brackets.
3. When the Company is in Trouble
Troubled companies may struggle to meet their financial obligations, and this can pose serious problems for shareholders. If the company struggles to pay its invoices or loan installments regularly, this may signal it is headed toward bankruptcy; thus it’s essential that shareholders monitor these things and remain alert for signs that the business may be struggling.
IRA investors should also be mindful of the tax implications when selling shares. When selling stocks in a taxable account, an investor can claim a tax loss against other gains and even regular income up to a certain limit; however if an IRA account holds such shares they forfeit this benefit.
Harry, for instance, would incur capital gain taxes upon selling shares he purchased years earlier for $80 each in his taxable account. To minimize these taxes and maximize his proceeds from their sale he could use the stocks for charitable donations or donate them to relatives whose long-term capital gains tax rate is zero – two options which could provide him with substantial tax relief.
4. When the Company is in a Strong Position
An established company will likely bounce back from even sharp drops in its stock, so it may be beneficial to sit tight and let your investment grow without trying to outwit the market with active trading.
As you near retirement age, minimum distributions from your IRA become mandatory. While not everyone wants to liquidate their shares, an in-kind distribution allows you to transfer shares without touching principal.
Harry decides to do just this and uses a calculator to estimate that there’s about a 50% chance he can avoid capital gains tax by either using his stock for charitable giving or leaving it to low-income relatives when he dies. That would put him ahead, but only by a slight margin – probably better off sticking with an IRA and forgoing all taxes altogether; you can then use your money towards other financial goals instead.
