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Question: It’s my understanding that starting in 2010 the rule that prohibits you from converting from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA (for modified adjusted gross incomes over $100,000) will be eliminated. If that’s the case, can I convert all types of IRAs - deductible IRAs, nondeductible and even rollover IRAs that contain money moved from a 401(k) plan? How long do I have to do this? Do the new conversion rules expire at some point? –Hussam, Bergenfield, New Jersey SNIP Second, while Congress kept the rule that prevents you from making annual contributions to a Roth if your...

Question: My employer offers a 401(k), but no match. Given that I'm already maxing out my Roth IRA, would I be better off investing in a taxable account rather than contributing to my no-match 401(k)? - Luis Gonzalez, Denver, Colorado Answer: Life would indeed be a sweeter if your 401(k) plan came with a matching employer contribution, as most plans do. But remember: A 401(k) offers a nifty tax break in that the funds you contribute, as well as all of your account's earnings, aren't taxed as long as they stay within the account. And that tax-deferred compounding is a...

Treasury Targets Roth IRA Abuses Washington (Jan. 5, 2004) -- The Treasury and Internal Revenue Service have issued new guidance aimed at shutting down abuses involving indirect contributions to Roth IRAs. The guidance, in IRS Notice 2004-8, addresses situations in which value is shifted into an individual’s Roth IRA through transactions involving entities owned by the individual. Notices are published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. “The notice illustrates that a contribution to an IRA through a transaction that disguises the value of the contribution may disqualify the IRA,” said Pam Olson, Treasury assistant secretary for tax policy. For example,...