Yes. An annuity, which receives a transfer from an IRA or 401k, is considered a "Qualified" plan. When you apply for an annuity with tax qualified money, the insurance company maintains the funds' tax qualified status into which your money is transferred directly. There is no mandatory withholding requirement if your funds are rolled over directly into an annuity. You must roll over the money into an annuity within 60 days of distribution to avoid taxes.

No, your stocks can be transferred “in-kind,” which means that they will be transferred as is to your new plan. For accounting or audit purposes, you will want to keep track of the in-kind market value at the point of your rollover.

Each year, the amount you can contribute to an IRA or 401(k) is governed by IRS rules. For 2006 the maximum amounts are $4,000 for an IRA and $15,500 (or 20% of annual compensation, whichever is less) for a 401(k). There are penalties for withdrawals before age 59½, as well as rules that dictate when you must begin withdrawing money.

The NEW law allows you to roll funds from an IRA into an HSA. However, the amount you contribute to your HSA is still limited by the annual contribution limits.

Yes, if the IRA is from pre-tax money. You will have to certify that the funds are pre-tax. The plan cannot accept after-tax dollars..

A company sponsored retirement plan with a matching contribution by the employer is normally the best choice. IRAs can be a useful way to supplement your retirement plan.

In most states that base their death taxes on the federal estate tax, steps that avoid federal tax also avoid state tax. If your state imposes some other kind of death tax, your professional advisor can help minimize the state tax by actions specifically adapted to that tax. If you live in two states—winter here, summer there—your inheritors may save on death taxes if you can make your legal residence in the state with lower death taxes or no death taxes beyond the federal tax. No.

IRA can be rolled over into a qualified retirement plan, assuming the qualified retirement plan has language permitting such rollovers.

For 2000, if you participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401(k), you can deduct the maximum $2,000 annual IRA contribution only if you are: If you are single and earn more than $42,000 or married-filing-jointly and earn more than $62,000 you can still contribute to an IRA, but you can't deduct your contribution. On the other hand, money you contribute to an IRA still enjoys the benefit of tax-deferred growth until you withdraw it at retirement.

Yes, you can. In fact, this is what most private lenders do. You can do this as long as you are in control of that 401(k) or IRA; it must be self-directed. If you are not happy with what your investments in IRA or 401(k), you can roll that over into self directed IRA. This is not a taxable distribution, usually they cost about $55, and it is very simple to do.

Most companies do not allow employees to select individual stocks in their 401(k) plans at work. Check with your Human Resources or Benefits departments to determine your company's policy. It is possible, however, for individuals to set up "Self-Directed IRAs" through brokerages, and you can select the individual stocks for those accounts.

Pay by January 31st to avoid incurring penalty and interest charges. The tax collector does not have legal authority to forgive or waive any penalty or interest charge on an unpaid tax.

You can avoid paying taxes in a trade by not being aligned with a city. Of course you will not get the benefit of protection for your business, nor will you be able to purchase merchant buildings and setup a permanent shop with employees. You will be able to trade items that you own without fear of income taxes, though sales taxes might apply to your buyer because you performed the transaction within region of influence of a city.

If you expect to owe less than $1,000 in income tax this year, you don't have to make estimated tax payments. If all your income comes in salary and your employer is withholding taxes for you, unless you inherit a mansion or win the lottery, you should not need to pay any estimated taxes.

Yes, you can. By simply following the 1031 exchange rules every time you sell one or more properties and buy replacement properties, when you die your estate escapes all the capital gains taxes forever!

Let's start with the IRAs. Under the 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act, certain homeowners can withdraw up to $10,000 penalty free from an individual retirement account (IRA) for a down payment to purchase a principal residence (though you might have to pay income tax on the amount withdrawn). If you have a Roth IRA, however, you must have had the account for five years to make tax-free withdrawals. This $10,000 is a lifetime limit -- and the money must be used within 120 days of the date you receive it.

If you have enough money to contribute to your 401(k) plan and a Roth IRA, you may invest in a Roth IRA if your income level allows you to do so. Generally speaking, you should contribute to your 401(k) at least up to the amount that your employer matches your contributions. Beyond that level, it may make sense to invest the maximum allowed in a Roth IRA.