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Liz Weston

Q&A: IRS pays interest on late refunds

July 27, 2020 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I filed my return electronically with direct deposit. I have yet to receive my refund or that stimulus relief check. We have to pay interest on any late tax payment. Will the IRS pay interest on late refunds?

Answer: The IRS has said it will pay interest on late refunds if the return was filed by July 15, the extended tax deadline. The interest “will generally be paid from April 15, 2020, until the date of the refund,” the IRS says on its site. Don’t expect to get rich: The interest rate for the second quarter, which ended June 30, is 5% a year, while the interest rate for the third quarter, which ends Sept. 30, is 3% a year.

Filed Under: Q&A, Taxes Tagged With: interest, IRS, q&a, refunds, Taxes

Q&A: IRA conversions and taxes

July 27, 2020 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: You recently advised a reader that if their income was too high to contribute to a Roth IRA, they could still contribute to an IRA or any after-tax options in their 401(k). You didn’t mention a two-step Roth IRA — first making a nondeductible contribution to an IRA and then immediately converting that amount to a Roth. That way those people whose income is too high to contribute to a direct Roth IRA can still have a Roth IRA using the two-step process.

Answer: This is known as a backdoor Roth contribution, which takes advantage of the fact that the income limits that apply to Roth contributions don’t apply to Roth conversions. Conversions, however, typically incur tax bills and don’t make sense for everyone. If you have a substantial amount of pretax money in IRAs, the tax bill can be considerable. (The tax bill is figured using all your IRAs, by the way. You can’t get around it just by contributing to a separate IRA that you then convert.)

Incurring that tax bill could make sense if you expect to be in the same tax bracket in retirement, or in a higher one. If you’re young and a good saver, it’s a good bet that will be the case. Roth conversions also can be advisable later in life if your tax bracket could jump when you reach age 72 and have to start taking required minimum distributions from your retirement accounts.

If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement, however, you probably should forgo Roth conversions because you’ll pay more now in taxes than you would later.

Of course, if you have little or no pretax money in your IRA, then backdoor conversions get a lot more attractive because the tax bill would be minimal. Otherwise, you should seek out a Roth conversion calculator to get a better idea of whether a conversion might be the right choice.

Filed Under: Q&A, Retirement, Taxes Tagged With: follow up, IRA conversion, q&a, Taxes

Friday’s need-to-know money news

July 24, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How to tell if that ‘contact tracer’ is really a scammer. Also in the news: Don’t wait to refinance these student loans, why you should aim for 1% credit utilization, and the $600 unemployment boost is likely ending. Here’s how you can access cash now.

Is That ‘Contact Tracer’ Really a Scammer? How to Tell
How to keep yourself.

Don’t Wait to Refinance These Student Loans
You could save money on your private loans.

Why You Should Aim for 1% Credit Utilization
The lower the better.

The $600 unemployment boost is likely ending. Here’s how you can access cash now
Barring an extension from Congress, the boost will end this week.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: $600 boost, contact tracing, credit utilization, pandemic, private student loans, student loan refinancing, unemployment

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

July 23, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: What to do with your ‘treasures’ your kids don’t want. Also in the news: How ‘shadow lenders’ can leave college students in the dark, why it’s harder than ever to find a balance transfer offer right now, and 5 destinations from Netflix hits to inspire your future travels.

What to Do With Your ‘Treasures’ the Kids Don’t Want
Don’t take it personally.

‘Shadow’ Lenders Can Leave College Students in the Dark
Know exactly what you’re borrowing.

Why It’s Harder Than Ever to Find a Balance Transfer Offer Right Now
The coronavirus strikes again.

5 Destinations From Netflix Hits to Inspire Your Future Travels
You’ll travel again someday.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: balance transfer offers, downsizing, Inheritance, Netflix, shadow lenders, Student Loans, travel

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

July 22, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Mortgage trends for the rest of 2020. Also in the news: Why a credit card company can lower your limit, why you might not want to zero out every credit card, and how to know if your 401(k) fees are too high.

Mortgage Trends for the Rest of 2020
Lower rates but fewer homes.

Can a Credit Card Company Lower My Credit Limit?

Why you might not want to zero out every credit card
Why 1% is better than 0%.

How to Know if Your 401(k) Fees Are Too High
Start comparing costs.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: 401(k) fees, Credit Cards, credit limits, mortgage trends

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

July 21, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: What you can do if your college says to stay home this fall. Also in the news: 8 things that will get more expensive (and 3 that will be cheaper) post-pandemic, 7 ways moving from a city to a small town could save you money, and what yo do when your forbearance ends.

What you can do if your college says to stay home this fall
Options for undergrads, grad students, vets and international students.

8 Things That Will Get More Expensive (and 3 Things That Will Be Cheaper) Post-Pandemic
Food and clothing costs will rise.

7 ways moving from a city to a small town could save you money
Looking for a simpler life.

What to Do When Your Mortgage Forbearance Ends
Start with contacting your broker.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: college, fall semester, post-pandemic prices, remote learning

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