This Mistake Could Cost You Your Roth IRA Tax Break
A Roth IRA is a retirement account that comes with powerful tax breaks. Roths are a great option for seniors because while you invest with after-tax dollars, any money you withdraw as a retiree is tax-free. You won't pay taxes on investment gains, and distributions don't count when determining if you hit the threshold at which Social Security benefits become taxable.
But in order to reap the benefits a Roth IRA provides, you need to follow certain rules. And while most people are familiar with the requirement that you wait until age 59 1/2 to take money out to avoid early withdrawal penalties, there are some other rules that could trip up some retirees. In particular, there are two five-year rules that tend to cause lots of confusion -- and not following them could mean you lose out on the big tax benefits a Roth IRA provides.
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Source Fool.com
