Exam 13: Retirement Savings and Deferred Compensation

Amy files as a head of household. She determined her 2014 adjusted gross income was $70,000. During the year, she contributed $2,500 to a Roth IRA. What is the maximum saver's credit she may claim for 2014?

Which of the following statements regarding defined contribution plans is false?

Kathy is 48 years of age and self-employed. During 2014 she reported $100,000 of revenues and $40,000 of expenses relating to her self-employment activities. If Kathy has no other retirement accounts in her name, what is the maximum amount she can contribute to a simplified employee pension (SEP) IRA for 2014?

Which of the following statements regarding self-employed retirement accounts is true?

Aiko (single, age 29) earned $40,000 in 2014. He was able to contribute $1,800 ($150/month) to his employer sponsored 401(k). What is the total saver's credit that Aiko can claim for 2014?

Which of the following statements concerning traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs is true?

In 2014, Madison is a single taxpayer who is 25 years of age. During 2014, she contributed $3,000 to her employer sponsored 401(k) account. Her 2014 AGI was $64,500 (before considering IRA deductions). What is the maximum deductible contribution, if any, that Madison can make her to IRA?

Amy is single. During 2014, she determined her adjusted gross income was $12,000. During the year, Amy also contributed $1,500 to a Roth IRA. What is the maximum saver's credit she may claim for the year?

Deborah (single, age 29) earned $25,000 in 2014. Deborah was able to contribute $1,800 ($150/month) to her employer sponsored 401(k). What is the total saver's credit that Deborah can claim for 2014?

Employees who are at least 50 years old at the end of the year are allowed to contribute more to their 401(k) accounts than employees who are not 50 years old by year end.

When employees contribute to a Roth 401(k) account, they _____ allowed to deduct the contributions and they _______ taxed on distributions from the plan.

Riley participates in his employer's 401(k) plan. He turns 69 years of age on February 15, 2014, and he plans on retiring on July 1, 2014. When must Riley receive his first distribution from the plan to avoid minimum distribution penalties?

Tatia, age 38, has made deductible contributions to her traditional IRA over the past few years. When her account balance was $32,000, she transferred the entire $32,000 out of her traditional IRA and immediately into a Roth IRA. Her current marginal tax rate is 25 percent. What amount of tax and penalty is she required to pay on this rollover?

Joan recently started her career with PDEK Accounting, LLP which provides a defined benefit plan for all employees. Employees receive 1.5 percent of the average of their three highest annual salaries for each full year of service. Plan benefits vest under a 5-year cliff schedule. Joan worked 4½ years at PDEK before leaving for another opportunity. She received an annual salary of $49,000, $52,000, $58,000 and $65,000 for years one through four, respectively. Joan earned $35,000 of her $70,000 annual salary in year five. What is the vested benefit Joan is entitled to receive from PDEK for her retirement?

If a taxpayer's marginal tax rate is decreasing, a taxpayer contributing to a traditional IRA can earn an after-tax rate of return greater than her before-tax rate of return.

Shauna received a $100,000 distribution from her 401(k) account this year. Assuming Shauna's marginal tax rate is 25%, what is the total amount of tax and penalty Shauna will be required to pay if she receives the distribution on her 59th birthday and she has not yet retired?

Which of the following describes a defined benefit plan?

Which of the following statements regarding IRAs is false?

Jenny (35 years old) is considering making a one-time contribution to either a traditional 401(k) plan or to a Roth 401(k) plan. She plans to withdraw the account balance when she retires in 40 years. Jenny expects to earn a 7% before-tax rate of return no matter which plan she contributes to. Which of the following statements is true?

Bryan, who is 45 years old, had some surprise medical expenses during the year. To pay for these expenses (which were claimed as itemized deductions on his tax return), he received a $20,000 distribution from his traditional IRA (he has only made deductible contributions to the IRA). Assuming his marginal ordinary income tax rate is 15%, what amount of taxes and/or early distribution penalties will Bryan be required to pay on this distribution?