Q&A

Q&A: Why debt settlement companies are the wrong way to deal with high credit card debt

December 4, 2023 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: Finance companies claim if you owe too much credit card debt that by law you need not pay it all back, but can retire some or most of this debt. They say this is not a credit card debt reduction program through balance transfers or debt consolidation loans. It sounds more like a faux semi-bankruptcy declaration. Are you familiar with these programs? They sound too good to be true.

Answer: Most likely you’re seeing advertisements for debt settlement companies. With debt settlement, the debtor stops making payments on their credit card debt, hoping that the issuers eventually will settle for less than what is owed. Results aren’t guaranteed and the process often takes a few years.

As you might expect, not making payments can lead to significant credit score damage as well as creditor lawsuits. In addition, any amounts that are forgiven in this process may be considered taxable income to the debtor. You’ll also pay fees to the debt settlement company if you hire one to handle these negotiations. The fees and taxes can significantly offset any savings achieved through the process.

Most people who struggle with credit card debt would be better off filing bankruptcy or using a credit counseling service’s debt management program.

Debt management programs enable people to pay off what they owe over three to five years, typically at reduced interest rates. Bankruptcy, meanwhile, allows credit card debt to be legally erased without triggering a tax bill. The most common form of bankruptcy, Chapter 7, usually takes just a few months, after which people can begin rebuilding their credit.

Q&A: Roth IRAs and taxes

November 27, 2023 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I sold some stocks from a Roth IRA to pay for some bad debts. Is this going to count as taxable income for this year?

Answer: You can always withdraw the amount you contributed to a Roth IRA without owing income taxes or penalties. For example, if you withdrew $10,000 but your contributions over the years totaled $10,000 or more, then you didn’t incur taxes or penalties.

You also won’t have tax issues if you withdrew more than your contributions but are 59½ and have had the account for at least five years. If you’re old enough but haven’t had the account long enough, you’ll pay income taxes but not penalties on the part of the withdrawal that exceeded your contributions — in other words, on the earnings.

If you’re under 59½, you could be subject to taxes and penalties on any earnings you withdrew. Please consult a tax pro for details.

Q&A: What happens to joint credit cards after your spouse dies?

November 27, 2023 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: My husband died last year and we have three credit cards in his name with me as authorized user. When applying for new credit, do I still use his name or my name now? And should I remove his name and put my name only on all accounts?

Answer: You’ll apply for new credit in your own name, using your own credit history and income. If your credit cards are joint accounts, you can simply ask the issuers to remove your husband’s name.

Here’s the thing, though: Few credit cards these days are joint accounts. Typically there is a primary cardholder and an authorized user. When the primary cardholder dies, credit card issuers usually close the account, often within a few weeks.

Issuers normally find out about the death from the person settling the estate or from the Social Security Administration. Social Security, in its turn, usually learns about the death from the funeral home or from the person settling the estate.

It’s possible there has simply been an oversight, but you’ll want to make sure your husband’s death has been properly reported to Social Security and his creditors. If you are an authorized user rather than a joint account holder, you may find the card issuers will work with you to get replacement cards although you may have to settle for a smaller credit limit if your income has dropped (which is unfortunately a common situation for survivors).

Q&A: IRA investments and minimum distributions

November 27, 2023 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I have an IRA invested in stocks, bonds and Treasury bonds. I’m 60 now and am hoping to retire in a few years. When I stop work and start pulling money from my IRA, can I withdraw a security or Treasury bond? Or must I first sell the security or Treasury bond, and then withdraw cash? I ask because I’ve recently purchased 30-year Treasury bonds (as well as Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS). Once required minimum distributions kick in, I’d prefer not to sell a Treasury bond or TIP, if I don’t have to.

Answer: First, you should know that you have several years before your first required minimum distributions will be due. Because you were born after 1959, the age at which you’re required to start taking minimum distributions from most retirement accounts is 75. (The RMD age used to be 72, but it’s currently 73 for those born between 1951 and 1959 and 75 for those born in 1960 and later.) You can take penalty-free distributions from retirement accounts as early as age 59½, but the increase in RMD age can be advantageous for good savers who don’t need the money and want to allow their tax-deferred retirement funds to continue growing.

Most people take their required distributions in cash, but you’re allowed to take them “in kind” — in other words, you can transfer your stocks and other investments from your retirement account to a taxable brokerage account.

There’s no tax advantage to in-kind transfers and they can be tricky because the value of investments can change day to day, unlike cash, said Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. If the investments’ value on the day of distribution is less than your RMD, you’ll need to make up the difference in cash to avoid penalties.

Q&A: A capital gains surprise

November 20, 2023 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: My son has decided to settle abroad and wants to purchase a home. I made a gift of stock valued at $17,000, which had significant gains. My broker indicated that giving him the stock would avoid capital gains on my part, and he could cash the stock in at that value, also without accruing capital gains. Our CPA is now telling him that he will, indeed, have to pay the capital gains. What’s the real scoop?

Answer: It shouldn’t be a scoop that the person who does taxes for a living gave you the correct answer.

When you gave your son the stock, you also gave him your tax basis — essentially, what you paid for the stock. Once the stock was sold, your son owed taxes on those gains.