Description of the Retiree's Tax Planning Guide
The Retiree's Tax Planning Guide is a tax planning manual for retirees. It explains the
taxation of retirement benefits and the techniques available for reducing taxes on
those benefits. The Guide is offered in .pdf form and contains over 280 pages of text
you may navigate, search, and print.
Chapter 2 summarizes the tax planning ideas and techniques presented in the Guide.
You may use some of these tax-saving techniques at the time of your retirement, and
use others during your retirement years. Chapter 2 also summarizes the tax planning
techniques in the Guide available for your beneficiaries.
Subsequent chapters begin with a chapter overview. The overview briefly summarizes
the material in the chapter and provides cross-references to more detailed
discussions and examples illustrating each point.
Chapter 3 discusses the tax treatment of retiree benefits from “qualified” employer
retirement plans, as well as so-called section 403(b) plans (or tax-sheltered annuities).
Chapters 4 and 5 explain the taxation of retiree benefits derived from certain eligible
plans established by tax-exempt organizations and state or local governments.
Chapters 6, 7 and 8 discuss retirees’ use of individual retirement accounts (IRAs and
Roth IRAs), as well as designated Roth accounts (a type of employer plan that bears
some similarity to Roth IRAs). All these types of plans or arrangements enjoy tax-
favored treatment to some extent.
Chapter 9 explains requirements and tax planning for minimum distributions of
retirement benefits to you or your beneficiaries. The minimum distribution
requirements apply in varying degrees to benefits derived from all the types of tax-
favored plans and arrangements mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
Chapters 10 and 11 explain the taxation of benefits from “nonqualified” employer
retirement plans (i.e., from plans that generally do not enjoy favored treatment for tax
purposes). Subsequent chapters discuss the taxation of (a) distributions from
employer disability plans, (b) military retirement and disability pay, and (c) employer-
provided fringe benefits for retirees (such as life insurance and medical insurance).
Of course, retirees do not necessarily derive all their retirement income from their
previous employers or from tax-favored employer plans or other such arrangements.
For example, some retirees receive part of their retirement income under annuity
contracts they have personally purchased from insurers. Chapter 15 discusses the
taxation of benefits under these purchased annuity contracts. Most retirees also
derive some retirement income from social security benefits. Chapter 16 discusses
the taxation and planning for social security benefits.
The final four chapters discuss (1) the tax treatment of long-term care expenses and
insurance, (2) deductions for retirement community fees, (3) federal gift and estate
taxes on retirement benefits, (4) the taxation of retirement benefits paid to foreign
retirees, and (5) other miscellaneous tax provisions affecting retirees.
The notes at the end of the Guide (i.e., the “endnotes”) should be helpful when you
discuss the material in the Guide with your tax advisor. The endnotes provide citations
to the authoritative sources your advisor may want to review for additional information.
To Home page
The Retiree's Tax Planning Guide is a tax planning manual for retirees. It explains the
taxation of retirement benefits and the techniques available for reducing taxes on
those benefits. The Guide is offered in .pdf form and contains over 280 pages of text
you may navigate, search, and print.
Chapter 2 summarizes the tax planning ideas and techniques presented in the Guide.
You may use some of these tax-saving techniques at the time of your retirement, and
use others during your retirement years. Chapter 2 also summarizes the tax planning
techniques in the Guide available for your beneficiaries.
Subsequent chapters begin with a chapter overview. The overview briefly summarizes
the material in the chapter and provides cross-references to more detailed
discussions and examples illustrating each point.
Chapter 3 discusses the tax treatment of retiree benefits from “qualified” employer
retirement plans, as well as so-called section 403(b) plans (or tax-sheltered annuities).
Chapters 4 and 5 explain the taxation of retiree benefits derived from certain eligible
plans established by tax-exempt organizations and state or local governments.
Chapters 6, 7 and 8 discuss retirees’ use of individual retirement accounts (IRAs and
Roth IRAs), as well as designated Roth accounts (a type of employer plan that bears
some similarity to Roth IRAs). All these types of plans or arrangements enjoy tax-
favored treatment to some extent.
Chapter 9 explains requirements and tax planning for minimum distributions of
retirement benefits to you or your beneficiaries. The minimum distribution
requirements apply in varying degrees to benefits derived from all the types of tax-
favored plans and arrangements mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
Chapters 10 and 11 explain the taxation of benefits from “nonqualified” employer
retirement plans (i.e., from plans that generally do not enjoy favored treatment for tax
purposes). Subsequent chapters discuss the taxation of (a) distributions from
employer disability plans, (b) military retirement and disability pay, and (c) employer-
provided fringe benefits for retirees (such as life insurance and medical insurance).
Of course, retirees do not necessarily derive all their retirement income from their
previous employers or from tax-favored employer plans or other such arrangements.
For example, some retirees receive part of their retirement income under annuity
contracts they have personally purchased from insurers. Chapter 15 discusses the
taxation of benefits under these purchased annuity contracts. Most retirees also
derive some retirement income from social security benefits. Chapter 16 discusses
the taxation and planning for social security benefits.
The final four chapters discuss (1) the tax treatment of long-term care expenses and
insurance, (2) deductions for retirement community fees, (3) federal gift and estate
taxes on retirement benefits, (4) the taxation of retirement benefits paid to foreign
retirees, and (5) other miscellaneous tax provisions affecting retirees.
The notes at the end of the Guide (i.e., the “endnotes”) should be helpful when you
discuss the material in the Guide with your tax advisor. The endnotes provide citations
to the authoritative sources your advisor may want to review for additional information.
To Home page
| Copyright © 2005-2008 by Vorris J. Blankenship All Rights Reserved |
The author intends that this website provide accurate and authoritative information on the subject
matter covered. However, the information provided on this website is not a substitute for the advice of
an attorney, accountant, or other professional; and the author is not offering legal, accounting, or
other professional advice. The material presented on this website is not intended for use, and may
not be used, to avoid tax penalties. If you need legal advice or other professional help, you should
seek (from an independent attorney, accountant, or other competent professional) advice based on
your own particular circumstances.
matter covered. However, the information provided on this website is not a substitute for the advice of
an attorney, accountant, or other professional; and the author is not offering legal, accounting, or
other professional advice. The material presented on this website is not intended for use, and may
not be used, to avoid tax penalties. If you need legal advice or other professional help, you should
seek (from an independent attorney, accountant, or other competent professional) advice based on
your own particular circumstances.
About the Guide
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