Apply For Loan Become A Member Locations & ATMs Contact Us Make a Loan Payment

IRAs

One of the greatest challenges facing Americans today is ensuring the financial well being and security of your family throughout your retirement years. With uncertainty over the adequacy of social security growing daily, it’s increasingly necessary to rely on your own savings plans and resources to support your future retirement plans.

Yet another challenge is finding additional money for the impending college education expenses for your children. Tuition and other collegiate expenses are on the rise, so it’s a good idea to get a head start on saving for those expenses now, instead of getting caught unprepared later!

At 1st Choice Credit Union, we offer 3 main savings accounts geared to help you save for your family’s future.

Traditional IRAs

Traditional IRAs are valuable long-term savings tools that can provide safety and security for you and your family. Your contributions can be deducted from your taxable income, reducing the income taxes you are currently paying.

To view 1st Choice Credit Union’s Traditional IRA rates, please click IRA rates here.

Traditional IRA Features:

  • Can be opened and funded without any employer participation
  • Contributions and/or earnings are tax-deferred earnings until retirement
  • Offer possible deductions based on retirement plan participation and income
  • Provide full accessibility to your funds; 10% early distribution penalty if younger than 59½ years
  • Are completely flexible as there is no minimum contribution in any year
  • Members under age 70½ years may contribute a maximum of $5K per year

You can contribute to your IRA as long as you:
  • Have not reached the year in which you turn 70½
  • Have earned income equal to or greater than the Traditional IRA contribution You can contribute up to the lesser of:
    • 100% of earned income, or
    • $5K
  • Offer possible deductions based on retirement plan participation and income
  • Provide full accessibility to your funds; 10% early distribution penalty if younger than 59½ years
  • Are completely flexible as there is no minimum contribution in any year
  • Members under age 70½ years may contribute a maximum of $5K per year

Your spouse can fund your IRA with certain dollar limits on contributions and deductions. To be eligible to establish a spousal IRA, the following requirements must be met:

  •  You must be married and file a joint federal tax return
  •  One spouse must have compensation or earned income equal to or greater than the IRA contribution
  •  An IRA must be established for the non-compensated spouse
  •  The spouse receiving the contribution must be under age 70½
  •  Spouses may contribute $5K per taxable year, plus catch up contributions if eligible

IRA holders that reach 50 years of age prior to the end of the taxable year may be eligible to contribute an additional $1K to a Traditional IRA as a catch-up contribution.

You must make regular, spousal and catch-up IRA contributions to Traditional IRAs by the due date of your federal income tax returns, April 15th in most cases.

You can make nondeductible contributions if you are not eligible for a tax deduction or if you choose not to take a deduction. The combined total of deductible and nondeductible contributions cannot exceed the annual contribution limit of $5K, plus catch-up contributions if eligible, or 100% of earned income, whichever is less.

You might be able to receive the Saver’s Tax Credit, equal to a percentage of your IRA and retirement plan contributions up to $2K. To be eligible for the tax credit, you must:
  •  Be 18 years old prior to the end of the taxable year
  •  Not be a dependent or a full-time student
  •  Have adjusted gross income (AGI) within limits

You can move money from one IRA to another of the same type via a transfer or rollover.

A transfer is a direct movement between like IRAs, generally from one financial organization to another, but can occur between like IRAs at the same institution. You can make an unlimited number of transfers in a year. The transfers may be for all or any part of an IRA balance.

With a rollover, you, your surviving spouse beneficiary, or your former spouse actually receives the money or property through a distribution before rolling it into another IRA. The distribution that is eventually rolled into an IRA is treated as any other type of distribution at the time it is taken from the IRA. So the withholding rules still apply. The distributing financial organization reports the distribution to the IRS, and the receiving organization reports the rollover contribution to the IRS.

Full access to your IRA funds is always guaranteed with a Traditional IRA. Taxable distributions taken from a Traditional IRA before the IRA holder reaches age 59½ are generally subject to a 10% penalty. This is to discourage people from taking distributions prior to reaching age 59½. The 10% early distribution penalty does not apply in the following situations:
  •  591/2 year of age
  •  Death
  •  Disability
  •  Medical expenses
  •  Health insurance premiums following unemployment
  •  First home purchase
  •  Higher education expenses
  •  IRS levy
  •  Series of substantially equal periodic payments
  •  Qualified reservist distributions

Beginning in the year that a Traditional IRA holder turns 70½ years of age, distributions from a Traditional IRA become mandatory. You must begin taking money out of your IRA by April 1st following the year you turn 70½ years old. These distributions are based on your IRA balance divided by your life expectancy, either singly or jointly with your beneficiary. If you fail to take your required distribution, you will be subject to a substantial penalty.

Roth IRAs

To view 1st Choice Credit Union’s Traditional IRA rates, please click IRA rates here.

Roth IRA Features:

  • The money you contribute to a Roth IRA has already been taxed. So the principal amount is never subject to taxes or penalties in the future, as long as you stay within the contribution guidelines.
  • Roth IRAs enable the money you contribute to grow tax-deferred. If you do not withdraw any of the earnings until you have had the IRA for at least 5 years and have a qualifying event, those earnings become tax-free.
  • There is no 70½ year age limit on making contributions. You do, however, need earned income, which is defined the same as for Traditional IRAs. As long as you satisfy the Roth IRA requirements, you may contribute to a Roth IRA, even after the year in which you reach 70½ years.

  • Annual contribution limit is the lesser of $5K or 100% of your earned income
  • Contribution eligibility depends on your, or you and your spouse’s modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and
    income tax filing status. The amount you can contribute may be reduced depending on your MAGI
  • Individuals with MAGI of $105K or less can contribute the maximum annual contribution of $5K plus catch-up
    contributions, if eligible
  • Individuals with MAGI of more than $105K and less than $120K can make partial contributions
  • Individuals with MAGI of $120K+ may not contribute to Roth IRAs
  • Married individuals who file joint income tax returns with joint MAGI of $166K or less may contribute the
    maximum annual contribution
  • Married individuals who file joint returns with joint MAGI of $166K+ and less than $176K may make partial
    contributions
  • Married individuals who file joint returns with MAGI of $176K+ cannot contribute for that year
  • Married individuals who file separate returns with MAGI of less than $10K may make partial contributions
  • Married individuals who file separate returns with MAGI of $10K+ cannot contribute

IRA holders that reach 50 years of age prior to the end of the taxable year may be eligible to contribute an additional $1K to a Roth IRA as a catch-up contribution.

You must make regular, spousal and catch-up IRA contributions to Roth IRAs by the due date of your federal income tax returns, April 15th in most cases.

You may take a qualified distribution from a Roth IRA tax and penalty free. A distribution of Roth IRA is considered qualified if the IRA has been open for a minimum of 5 years or if the withdrawal must be made because of one of the following events:
  • Age 59½
  • Death
  • Disability
  • First home purchase

Specific rules govern the process of converting funds from a Traditional to a Roth IRA including:
  •  Your MAGI must be $100K or less (For the tax year beginning January 1, 2010, there is no income limit on the conversion of a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA)
  •  If you are married, you must file a joint income tax return (For the tax year beginning January 1, 2010, there will not be a requirement for married couples to file a joint income tax return in order to convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth)
  •  You must pay taxes on all the pretax dollars that you convert
  •  Assets are not subject to the 10% penalty if properly converted

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts(ESAs)

Coverdell Education Savings Account Features:

  • Contributions are not tax-deductible, but the contributions may earn interest tax deferred until distributed
  • The child will not owe tax on any withdrawal from the account if withdrawal is equal to or less than the child’s qualified education expenses at an eligible educational institution for the year
  • Amounts withdrawn from an ESA that exceed the child’s qualified education expenses in a taxable year may be subject to income tax and to an additional penalty of 10%
  • If the child doesn’t need the money for pre- or postsecondary education, the child may roll or transfer the balance to an eligible family member’s ESA or to a qualified tuition program (QTP)

The designated beneficiary is the person on whose behalf the ESA has been established. The individual may change the designated beneficiary (child). Someone may wish to change the beneficiary if the current beneficiary has completed their education and funds remain. The only requirement is that the new beneficiary must be an eligible member of the family.

  •  Eligible taxpayers may deposit up to $2K per year into a Coverdell ESA for a child under the age of 18
  •  Parents, grandparents, other family members, friends, and even the designated beneficiary of the ESA (child) may contribute to an ESA for the same child, but the total contributions for a child for a taxable year cannot exceed $2K
  •  Eligible taxpayers can contribute up to $2K for multiple children in a year
  •  Almost anyone can contribute to an ESA including: Individuals of any age, Individuals without earned income, Individuals with MAGI within the applicable limits for their filing status, Any corporation or other entity (including tax-exempt organizations) irrespective of income limits
  •  Each child can receive a total of the maximum allowed per year in contributions from all sources irregardless of if this is done in a single or multiple accounts
  •  Individuals may be limited in the amount of their contributions if their MAGI exceeds $95K for single filers or $190K for married tax filers. Above these income levels, the ability to contribute is phased out. If income exceeds $110K for single tax filers, or $220K for married tax filers, contributions are not permitted.

  •  Tuition
  •  Fees
  •  Books
  •  Supplies
  •  Equipment
  •  Academic tutoring
  •  Special needs services
  •  Room and board expenses
  •  Uniforms
  •  Transportation
  •  Educational computer technology or equipment
  •  Internet access

  •  You can move assets from one ESA to a new or existing ESA through a transfer or a rollover however, the funds must benefit the same child or an eligible member of the child’s family
  •  A rollover or a transfer contribution does not affect the annual contribution limit. Rollovers must be completed within 60 days of the initial distribution and are limited to one per 12-month period.
  •  Beneficiaries who receive a military death benefit gratuity or a Service members Group Life Insurance payment can contribute these as a rollover up to the full amount without taxation.

All of the following are family members that may be renamed as ESA beneficiaries.
  •  Children, grandchildren, stepchildren, and foster children of the designated beneficiary
  •  Brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, half-brothers, and half-sisters of the designated beneficiary
  •  Nephews and nieces of the designated beneficiary
  •  Parents and stepparents of the designated beneficiary In-laws of the designated beneficiary (son, daughter, brother, sister, father, mother)
  •  Uncles and aunts of the designated beneficiary
  •  Spouses of all the family members listed above
  •  First-cousin of the designated beneficiary

Even with this extended range of family members, contributions can be made only for those under the age of 18, or for individuals with special needs beyond age 18.

You must make regular, spousal and catch-up contributions to ESAs by the due date of your federal income tax returns, April 15th in most cases. To view 1st Choice Credit Union’s ESA rates, please click ESA rates here.

Certain restrictions and conditions apply. Not all tax advantages may be available to you. To determine your eligibility, the current status of applicable state and federal laws and the right plan for your needs, please consult your tax advisor.

All rates subject to change without notice.

*Average Daily Balance
**IRA: Individual Retirement Account
***Substantial Penalty for Early Withdrawal on All CDs

For additional information regarding the above accounts, please refer to the Fee Schedule/Truth-In-Savings Account Disclosures.