10 Things You Need to Know About the SECURE Act

If you're one of the millions of Americans concerned about saving enough for retirement, the sweeping new SECURE Act (“Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019”) brings several good reasons for cheer.

The act, most of which took effect on January 1, 2020, increases access to IRAs and workplace retirement plan accounts, such as 401(k)s—as well as the potential tax advantages they offer—to more people for a longer period of time. It also offers incentives for business owners to help employees save and invest more and sets a new limit on the length of time certain heirs have to take distributions of your retirement assets. “Taken together, these changes could have a significant impact on the way people plan for retirement,” says Christopher Adam, managing director and head of Personal Retirement Solutions at Bank of America.

The checklist below highlights 10 of the most notable changes. “Consider what they might mean for you, and then talk them over with your financial advisor,” says Adam.

1. More time to save 

Recognizing that more people are living—and working—longer, the act eliminates the age limit that has prevented people from contributing to a traditional IRA after they turn 70½. As of the 2020 tax year, if you have earned income, you may continue to put money in your traditional IRA, regardless of your age. (Note that this change doesn’t apply to tax year 2019 IRA contributions.)

2. Staying invested longer

The act also increases the age at which individuals must begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from an IRA or workplace retirement plan account to age 72, from 70½.  The change—which applies to anyone reaching 70½ after December 31, 2019—gives you more time to let the investments in a retirement account grow tax-deferred. (Generally, distributions from pre-tax retirement plan or IRA assets are taxed as regular income. If you reached age 70½
 on or before December 31, 2019, you’ll be subject to the prior rules and will be required to take an RMD for the 2019 tax year and every year after that. You may be able to delay taking RMDs from your workplace retirement plan if you’re still working as of your required beginning date and you don’t own 5% or more of the company.)

3. Giving to charities

For years, taxpayers have been able to satisfy (or reduce) their obligation to take required minimum distributions by giving up to $100,000 directly to charities (called a QCD), starting at age 70½ —thus reducing their taxable income. You may still make qualified charitable distributions (QCD) at 70½ even though the age for taking RMDs has increased to 72  (for those who will reach age 70½ after December 31, 2019). But keep in mind that the amount of your qualified charitable distribution will be reduced by the amount of any deductible contributions you make to a traditional IRA for the years in which you were age 70½ or older, effective beginning with the 2020 tax year. Check with your tax advisor to see if it makes sense to take a QCD.

4. Starting your retirement planning sooner

Say you’re a graduate student getting by on income from a fellowship. Until now, that income didn’t make you eligible to contribute to a traditional IRA. The act expands the definition of compensation to include taxable fellowship and stipend income (not counting tuition scholarships or other amounts that are not considered taxable income). Though dollars may be tight, the change offers an opportunity to develop a savings and investment habit early. Consult a tax advisor to help determine whether your income qualifies you to make retirement contributions.

5. Using 529 plan assets to help pay student debt

In the past, using assets in a 529 education savings account to help pay student loans would have been treated as a non-qualified distribution, resulting in taxes on any earnings and a 10% additional federal tax. Now, you can use up to a lifetime limit of $10,000 from a 529 plan to pay student loans for the beneficiary of the plan or a sibling of the beneficiary. The lifetime maximum applies to each of them individually.

6. More education expenses covered

In another key 529 plan development, students who enroll in registered and certified apprenticeship programs—previously not considered qualified higher education expenses under 529 rules—may now use 529 plan distributions to cover qualified expenses such as books, supplies and equipment. Expanding the list of qualified education expenses for their children could help to preserve parents’ ability to save and invest for their own retirement.

7. A new early-withdrawal opportunity

If your family is expanding, the act enables you to withdraw up to $5,000 from your workplace retirement plan account or IRA during the first year after birth or adoption without paying the 10% additional federal tax for early withdrawals (before age 59½). Keep in mind that the withdrawal will be subject to regular income tax and that withdrawals could slow your savings and investment momentum.

8. Incentives for small business owners

A newly expanded tax credit of up to $5,000 is aimed at small business owners who want to help their employees prepare for retirement, but who may have hesitated due to the perceived expense. The credit (previously capped at $500 annually for three years) kicks in when you establish a workplace retirement plan, and there’s an additional new $500 annual credit for up to 3 years if the plan includes automatic enrollment (even if the feature was added after the plan was adopted). The act also includes provisions intended to make it easier, from an administrative standpoint, for small businesses to offer 401(k) plans to their employees.

9. A boost for employee savings

If your employer offers automatic enrollment with an escalation feature under its retirement plan, the amount withheld from your earnings could increase every subsequent year after the first year that you’re enrolled in the plan until you reach 15% of your eligible compensation, compared with a maximum of 10% under the old rules. (During the first year of enrollment, the 10% limit will continue to apply.)  Making annual savings and investment increases automatic could help you reach your retirement goal faster.

10. New rules for your heirs

Beneficiaries who inherit IRAs or other qualified retirement plan assets may no longer stretch their required minimum distributions over the course of their expected lifetime unless an exception applies.¹ Under the act, certain of your beneficiaries must withdraw the entire account balance—and pay income tax on those withdrawals—within 10 years.

“Overall, the SECURE Act contains 30 sections,” Adam notes. “Given its complexity and the opportunities it may provide to help you boost your financial security in retirement, it’s worth checking in with your advisor about what it might mean for you.”  You should also speak with your attorney or CPA about the tax implications, he notes.