Hello Friends!
How many of you have heard about NUA, or Net Unrealized Appreciation?
Despite the number of people who own company stock in their retirement accounts, it turns out this tax strategy is still fairly unknown.
What is NUA?
Net Unrealized Appreciation refers to the increase in value of employer stock from the time it was purchased within the retirement plan to the time it is distributed.
Market Value - Original Price = NUA
Benefits of NUA Elecetion
Potential Tax Savings: The primary benefit of NUA is potentially saving on taxes. Because the appreciation of the stock is considered long-term capital gains and is usually taxed at a lower rate than income, you can potentially reduce your tax bill.
Estate Planning: An overlooked benefit is for planning inheritance. Since the original owner paid the income tax on the initial purchase price, the heir will inherit the long-term stock at the current fair-market value. What this means is that when the heir chooses to sell the stock, they'll only pay long-term capital gains tax on any additional rise in stock value.
How does NUA work?
Confirm Eligibility: NUA treatment only applies to employer-sponsored plans that include company stock, such as a 401k. There may be exceptions so it's important to confirm with each employer plan.
Distribution Requirements: To take advantage of NUA, the entire balance of the account must be distributed in a lump sum within the same tax year. This typically occurs at retirement or when changing employers.
Tax Treatment of NUA: The cost basis of the employer stock is taxed as ordinary income in the year of distribution, but the NUA is not taxed until the stock is sold. When the stock is sold, the NUA is taxed at long-term capital gains rates, which are typically lower than income tax rates.
Considerations
Market Risk: Once the employer stock is distributed from the retirement account but not sold, it is exposed to market risk. This means the value of the stock can fluctuate which could erode the tax benefits during a market downturn, etc.
Diversification: Holding a large portion of wealth in a single stock, such as employer stock, leads to concentration risk. This represents the risk of having a significant portion of your wealth "concentrated" in one place. Like having many eggs in one basket.
Tax Planning: Implementing an NUA strategy requires careful tax planning. DIY tax planning, mistakes in the distribution process, or failing to meet the eligibility requirements can lead to losing the NUA tax benefits.
All-in-all, the NUA tax strategy is an amazing tool if used properly. So reach out to your company plan custodian (Fidelity, Schwab, etc.) and ask if you're eligible.
If so, it's time to update your financial plan.
Have a great week!
Garrett
9 April 2024
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