Are you looking to reduce your taxable income in retirement? If so, you’re not alone! Many retirees are looking for ways to minimize the money they must pay in taxes. Fortunately, there are several strategies that you can use to reduce your taxable income. This guide will discuss some of the best ways to do just that!
Retirement Taxes Overview
Retirement Savings Tax Treatments
There are generally three categories of tax treatment for your retirement savings.
- Taxable: You pay taxes every year on your earnings,
- Tax-deferred: You don’t pay taxes until you withdraw money.
- Tax-free: You do not pay taxes on your earnings at distribution.
Each category has different rules, different tax treatments, and different advantages and disadvantages.
Ordinary Income Tax vs. Capital Gains Tax
Ordinary Income
Interest-bearing instruments such as corporate bonds, savings accounts, money markets, and certificates of deposits are all taxed as ordinary income. Thus, interest, whether received or delayed, is recognized in the year it is earned.
Remember that bonds or any instrument sold on the secondary market can also be subject to capital gains tax on any appreciation the taxpayer may experience from the sale.
Capital Gains
Capital gains tax can take the form of either long-term or short-term gains. Such assets will be subject to capital gains treatment when the asset is sold.
Whether the asset will receive favorable long-term capital gain treatment will be determined by whether it was held for the requisite time period, currently 12 months.
Long-term capital gain rates begin at 0% and can be as high as 20%.
If an asset was held for less than the requisite period, the gain will be treated as a short-term gain and taxed at ordinary income tax rates. It should also be noted that certain vehicles, such as mutual funds, can generate capital gains even if the taxpayer has not sold the mutual fund shares.
Internal trading of the mutual fund can result in gains independent of whether the taxpayer took any action. The capital gain treatment, either long-term or short-term gain, will determine how long the mutual fund owned the sold asset.
Retirement Income Plans and Taxes
Taxable Retirement Income
| Income Type | How Is It Taxed? |
|---|---|
| Investments | Capital gains or ordinary income tax |
| Social Security Income (A Portion) | Ordinary income tax |
Tax-Deferred Retirement Income
The taxable portion of all these retirement vehicles is treated as ordinary income, subject to ordinary income tax rates.
| Income Type | How Is It Taxed? |
|---|---|
| Pensions | Ordinary income tax |
| Qualified Retirement Plans (Except Roth) | Ordinary income tax |
| Annuities | Ordinary income tax |
Tax-Free Retirement Income
Income generated from these retirement vehicles is generally tax-free, thus reducing the effective overall tax rate and allowing more after-tax spending.
| Income Type | How Is It Taxed? |
|---|---|
| Roth Retirement Plans | Not taxed |
| Life Insurance Cash Value | Not taxed |
| Roth Annuities | Not taxed |
| Municipal Bonds | Not taxed |
| Social Security (A Portion) | Not taxed |
Next Steps
Have you considered using life insurance cash value or a Roth IRA annuity to provide tax-free income in retirement? If not, now may be the time to look into these options. Each has benefits that can make them appealing depending on your unique financial situation. Please request a quote today to find out more and see if one of these products is right for you. We would be happy to help you explore your options and find the best way to secure your future retirement income.
The Annuity Expert can help you understand how various insurance products can help you achieve a tax allocation strategy and how different retirement savings vehicles can work together to benefit your income needs in retirement.
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