The Difference Between a Roth TSP and a Traditional IRA Account

 

There are several ways to compare Roth IRA vs. Roth TSP retirement funds. Most importantly, you must compare the tax advantages between the two options. There are many differences between these two options for retirement planning and there are also several similarities between the two.

Roth TSp's is generally not available to people who don't live in the United States or the District of Columbia. The major difference with a pre-tax Roth IRA and the Roth pre-Tax plans is that the former is tax-deductible while the latter is not. After-tax money is also withdrawn from the Roth IRA. These withdrawal penalties and taxes can make a difference in whether a person prefers to use the Roth IRA or a standard, non-deductible IRA.

A tax advantage that makes Roth accounts appealing to some individuals is the ability to withdraw funds without penalty or taxation. This feature of Roth accounts is called rollovers. It is very important to understand the differences between a Roth account and a traditional IRA account when deciding which option is best.

Roth accounts have tax deferred growth. This means that your contributions are taken into account while the money grows tax deferred. This type of IRA allows the investor to save money in a tax-deferred manner. When the money reaches the required minimum, it is automatically withdrawn and invested with regular distributions at retirement. about-invest.com

The major benefit of a Roth account is that you can withdraw funds without paying taxes on the money. This is beneficial to those who are self-employed or work outside the United States. However, as mentioned above, some taxpayers may find that they do not have enough available funds to make future distributions. Tax deferring the money can lead to large tax burdens if you are unable to withdraw funds from the account in the future.

There are several other tax advantages of Roth accounts. Unlike a traditional IRA, you don't need to pay any taxes on the interest earned on your contributions. You also won't pay taxes on dividends that accumulate on a traditional account. The major disadvantage with Roth accounts is that you can't take advantage of the tax deferrals on any retirement or investment accounts, including the tax-deferred CDs and mutual funds.

Some individuals will continue to contribute to a traditional IRA even after they retire. However, the withdrawals from a traditional account would be taxed as income.

The key to choosing a Roth TSP account is to analyze all the tax advantages and disadvantages. Remember, a tax deferral feature is not a guarantee that you won't pay taxes at some point during your lifetime. If you have an emergency, you can pull out the money. However, if you have been planning for retirement for many years and save a substantial amount, the tax benefits of the Roth TSP account may be well worth the additional costs.