Variations On An IRA Account

An IRA account is an Individual Retirement Account. More specifically, it is an account used by individuals that provides an opportunity for them to save for retirement. It also affords tax advantages for Americans.

An IRA account can come in one of several different forms. The very first of these was developed in 1974. Since that time, many variations have come about. The first of those is the Roth IRA. Post-tax assets are used to make contributions to the Roth IRA. None of the transactions in this type of IRA account have any tax impact. Withdrawals from the Roth IRA are tax-free in most instances.

The Traditional IRA is another variation. Contributions to the Traditional IRA are usually tax-deductible. This means that contributions are made with assets before they are taxed. When the funds from a Traditional IRA account are withdrawn at retirement, they are considered taxable income. Other names for the Traditional IRA include non-deductible IRA and deductible IRA.

For small business owners or self-employed individuals, the SEP IRA account allows an employer to contribute to retirement plans via a Traditional IRA that has been set up in the employee’s name. This is in place of contributing to a pension fund that is held in the company’s name.

Another variation on the IRA account is called a Simple IRA. This is an employee pension plan which allows employer contributions as well as contributions from the employee. This is similar to a 401(k), but the administration of a Simple IRA is less complicated and has lower contribution limits.

The Self-Directed IRA is another type of IRA account. This type of account affords the account holder the option of making investments on behalf of the retirement plan.

In addition to the above, there are two types of IRA accounts that have been made obsolete by current tax laws. Even though these accounts are considered obsolete, there are some individuals who still maintain them. These accounts are known as the Rollover IRA and the Conduit IRA.