如何利用年金中不同账户余额的差价来做Roth转换?

Roth 转换（Roth Conversion）是指将传统退休账户如 Traditional IRA 或 401(k)，403(b)中的资金转入 Roth IRA 的过程。传统退休账户是延税账户，放进去的资金可以抵税先投资，以后拿出来的时候，本金和增值部分再按当时的税率交所得税。而Roth IRA则是税后账户，资金先交税再投资，换取以后用的时候本金和增值都不用再缴税。

Roth IRA是在1997年以Delaware州议员William Roth的姓氏而命名。 IRA是Individual Retirement Account的缩写，目的是给美国大众提供另一种有别于传统退休账户的储蓄方式。

由于传统退休账户和Roth退休账户用钱的时候完全不同的税负规定  –  前者每一分钱都要交普通收入税，后者只要按照税法规定提取，就完全免税； 因此在从传统退休账户转换成Roth IRA 的时候，转换的部分必须在转换发生当年全额纳税。

Roth Conversion金额的控制： 跟Roth IRA contribution不同， Roth Conversion不受收入的限制，也没有金额的限制。这种灵活性为税务规划提供了方便，但也增加了难度。因为美国的个人所得税采取累进制，税级随着收入的增加而提高；也就是说，税级提高，最后一块钱缴税的比例也相应提高。Roth Conversion的金额如果不控制在合理范围内，导致税率高于正常税级，就没有达到预期省税的目的。联邦税税率是从10%到37%有七个等级，新泽西州税率从1.4%到10.75%有八个等级。如果Roth Conversion的金额过高，不仅会导致普通收入税率从低级跳到高级，还可能使长期资本利得税率跳级，触动3.8% NIIT（Net Investment Income Tax）, 而且可能会失去各种税收抵免的资格。 一个毫无规划的Roth Conversion  会让你意外地多缴本来不需交的税。

Roth Conversion时间节点的掌握： Roth Conversion会增加当年的收入，因此适合于低收入年份转换； 或者是退休后，拿RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) 前分批逐年转换。如果传统退休账户投资在股票基金上，在市场下跌，账户暂时缩水的时候转换比股市高点的时候更能省税。

利用年金中不同账户余额的差价来做Roth Conversion：能够拿终身收入的年金通常都有两个平行的账户，用完全不同的计算方法来追踪记录账户余额的增长。虽然不同公司和不同的产品叫的名字不同，但基本上分为Contract Account 和 Income Account. Income Account是你与保险公司签合同时答应里面的钱不能一次拿走，必须按照合同规定，每年拿一部分， 直到人过世为止。Contract Account则是实际增长账户，用于万一需要把钱一次性拿走时，例如早逝，经济暂时困难需要用钱等不可预测的情形。 为了提高竞争力，保险公司通常都对Income Account 提供各种奖励， 例如，25%本金红利，250%的利息红利 （按指数250%的增长计回报），而且这些奖励都不适用Contract Account，代价是Contract Account只按指数50%的增长而计回报。 同时，如果有任何费用，都只会从Contract Account扣除，而不会影响Income Account的余额。

举个例子， 从Traditional IRA 或 401(k)，403(b)转$100,000 购买这种年金，Income Account先给25%本金红利，变成$125,000, 假设指数每年增长4%， 一年后，Income Account 的余额是$137,500 {$125,000*(1+4%*250%)}。 而Contract Account这样来计算： 本金没有红利，扣除费用（目前为0%）， 一年后账户的余额是$102,000{$100,000*(1+4%*50%). 以后只要没有开始拿终身收入，Income Account 的增长至少是Contract Account增长的五倍. 到第十年底Income Account的余额是$324,217.81  Contract Account的余额$121,899.44。

传统IRA 年金转换成Roth年金时怎样缴税： 根据国税局Revenue Ruling 26 CFR § 1.408A-4，传统IRA 年金在转换当天的公平市场价值Fair Market Value (FMV)作为基数，再经过精算微调决定应纳税金额。公平市场价值FMV是指contract Account转换当天的余额，按照上面的例子， 如果在第十年底转换，应纳税金额是$121,899.44+精算微调. 而享受的福利却是根据Income Account的余额$324,217.81来计算。这样的转换无形中成为很有效的省税工具。

为了方便税务规划，保险公司通常都允许部分转换。例如一个一百万的传统IRA 年金可以分数年转换成几个 Roth年金，这样做既可以控制转换的金额，同时因为分散成几个小的年金，可以视情况只提领需要的数额，没有开始提领的可以继续增值或者作为遗产留给受益人。

如果您对这种年金感兴趣，请联系我们获得更详细的信息。

            ***************************************************

Lisa (Hongwei) Liu

CPA, CFP®, CPWA®Advisor,

Partner of Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC (Wealthcare)

Cell: 908-938-5277， lisa.liu@princeton-wealth.com， www.princeton-wealth.com 

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This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered specific tax, legal, investment or planning advice, which will only be provided on a personalized basis. Depending on individual circumstances, the strategies discussed may not be appropriate for your situation. Individual results may vary and the presented information is not a guarantee of future performance or success. Always consult a tax professional for specific information regarding your individual situation. 

A distribution from a Roth IRA is tax-free and penalty-free, provided the five-year aging requirement has been satisfied and one of the following conditions is met: age 59½, disability, qualified first-time home purchase, or death. All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.  Withdrawals from a Roth IRA are tax-free if you are over age 59½ and have held the account for at least five years and one of the following conditions is met: age 59½, disability, qualified first-time home purchase, or death.  Withdrawals taken prior to age 59½ or five years may be subject to ordinary income tax or a 10% federal penalty tax, or both.  

Annuities are long-term investments designed for retirement purposes. Withdrawals of taxable amounts are subject to income tax and, if taken prior to age 59½, a 10% federal tax penalty may apply. Early withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal charges. Optional riders are available at an additional cost. All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the insurer. An annuity is typically a tax-deferred investment. Holding an annuity in an IRA or other qualified account offers no additional tax benefit. Therefore, an annuity should be used to fund an IRA or qualified plan for annuity features other than tax deferral. Product features and availability vary by state. Restrictions and limitations may apply.

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