Tennessee Self-Directed IRA

Tennessee Self-Directed IRA

Tennessee Overview

Tennessee should be on anyone’s short list of great states in which to retire, or to own Tennessee Self-Directed IRAs or Tennessee Self-Directed Real Estate IRAs, thanks to the complete lack of a state income tax.

That is right: The tax rate on Tennessee Self-Directed Real Estate IRA income, Tennessee Self-Directed IRA income, traditional retirement account and 401(K) income and rental income is zero. It is among the best deals going for Self-Directed IRA owners. Only a handful of other states do not impose a state income tax, including Florida, Texas, Nevada and Alaska.

Why a Tennessee Self-Directed IRA?

Stocks. Mutual funds. CDs. Bonds.

For years, you have heard that these are the types of investment vehicles through which to secure your retirement. The stock market tends to appreciate over the long haul, after all, and bonds are conservative and low on risk. Mutual funds have popped up in recent decades as one of the most popular investment vehicles as well, closely monitoring certain aspects of the stock market.

What most people do not know is that these are not the only investment types available for retirement.

In fact, if you choose self-direction, you will find that the IRS allows for all sorts of different types of investments in a retirement account. You can invest in gold and precious metals, real estate, private companies, and more. There are a few select limits on the sorts of investments you can make, but the good news is: you often have more legal options than you have limits.

For many people, a Tennessee Self-Directed IRA means freedom, opportunity, and self-determination. It means not being satisfied that the “market” is the only market that exists. It does not mean you have to switch away all of your old investments. But if you want to invest in real estate or gold to help ensure a secure retirement, those options are indeed open…

And, like other IRA types, Tennessee Self-Directed IRAs come with all sorts of investment protections.

Understand Your Tennessee Self-Directed IRA Plan Options

Let’s take a moment to consider the various retirement account types:

  • Traditional Self-Directed IRA: A retirement account in which you can invest pre-tax or after-tax dollars, and in which your investments grow tax-deferred, meaning you will pay taxes on them once you begin withdrawing them. When you start making retirement withdrawals–defined as withdrawals after you turn 59.5 years old–the money is treated as income.
  • Self-Directed Roth IRA: Similar to a Traditional IRA, except you make after-tax dollar contributions so you are paying taxes on the front end. This allows your investments to grow tax-free. After the account has been established for 5 years and after you turn 59.5, your withdrawals are tax and penalty-free.
  • Traditional 401(K): A qualified plan that allows employees to make pre-tax elective deferrals. Business owners who want to self-direct can use these as well and allow employees to self-direct their accounts.
  • Self-Directed SEP IRA: Simplified Employee Pension that allows employers to make contributions to the retirement of their employees. An employer can also contribute to their own retirement with a Self-Directed SEP IRA.
  • Self-Directed SIMPLE IRA: Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees. A “tax-favored” plan that small businesses and individuals can set up for their employees.
  • Self-Directed Solo 401(K)A 401(K) plan that a self-employed individual can use for retirement that offers high contribution limits.

As noted throughout, these same accounts offer a high degree of self-direction if you want to direct your own accounts.

A Variety of Investments

One of the chief benefits of directing your own retirement account is that you get to choose your investments from a wide range of options:

  • Real estate: Apartment buildings, commercial property, retail space, raw land, etc. If you want to earn an immediate income for your retirement account with your investments, rent can be one of the most powerful ways to ensure that. You can also use leverage in a Tennessee Self-Directed Real Estate IRA when using non-recourse loans.
  • Private IRA Lending: You can negotiate the terms, interest rate, and length of the loan, as well as other variables like the monthly payment amounts and whether the loan is secured or unsecured.
  • Private companies: Public stocks are what most people think of as “investments,” but there are also private stocks to consider. There is a lot of opportunity for growth in private company stock, but also plenty of risk to consider.
  • Tax liens: With a high rate of return, these investment types are ideal for self-directing investors with smaller accounts.
  • Precious metals: Gold, silver, platinum, palladium. These metals are famous as a “hedge” against economic downturn, which is why many people turn to them as a way to avoid putting all of their eggs in the stock market basket.
  • Single Member LLC: An investor can create an LLC to be owned by their Tennessee Self-Directed IRA, managing it themselves. This gives a significant degree of protection; however, you will likely want to consult with a professional to learn how to do this properly.

What You Cannot Do with a Tennessee Self-Directed IRA

As fun as it is to talk about the various options you can have with a self-directed retirement account, it should be noted that there are certain limits, as well. You cannot self-direct a retirement account to invest in life insurance, collectibles like art, gems/jewelry, coins, alcoholic beverages, and tangible personal property. As enticing as it might be to put that wine cellar under a Self-Directed IRA protection, it is simply prohibited–so look for your protected retirement investments elsewhere.

Who You Cannot Do Business With

A disqualified person is anyone the Self-Directed IRA has decided is not “arm’s length” from the IRA.  Your IRA cannot engage in any transactions with these individuals or you risk the tax-status of your IRA.

A Disqualified Person is:

  • You
  • Your spouse
  • Any of your lineal ascendants or descendants (parents, children, grandchildren, and the spouses of children, grandchildren, etc. – including legally adopted children).
  • Any investment providers or fiduciaries of the IRA.
  • Any entity (a corporation, LLC, trust, etc.) where a disqualified person owns more than 50%.
  • Any entity (like previously listed) where the IRA account holder is an officer, director, a 10% or more shareholder, or a highly compensated employee.

Getting Started with American IRA

Although we have thrown a lot of abbreviations and words at you, you should know that self-directing your retirement isn’t as complicated as it might sound. The steps are very simple:

  • Open a Tennessee Self-Directed IRA with American IRA. Make sure to put thought into the type of account you would like to open; review the options available to you and select the one that makes the most sense for your individual situation.
  • Fund your account. This is where the options can throw people off. Let’s take a look at them quickly:
    • Contribution: Simply putting money into the account throughout the year. This is what a lot of the funding will look like once the account is already opened.
    • Conversion: Withdrawing part or all of the cash/assets from a Traditional IRA and putting them into a Roth IRA is called a conversion. Once the cash/assets are distributed, you have 60 days to put them in the Roth IRA account.
    • Rollover: A tax-free distribution of cash/assets from one account to be put in another retirement account. You are permitted one rollover per year.
    • Transfer: Transferring cash/assets directly from one retirement account to another retirement account. Because you do not take direct possession of the cash/assets, you are allowed unlimited transfers and there is no tax.

How it Works

1.)  Open an American IRA Self-Directed IRA

  • Select the type of account that you would like to open.

2.)  Fund Your Account

  • Move money into your account by transfer, rollover or contribution.

3.)  Select an Investment

  • Find an asset you want your IRA to purchase and submit an Investment Form. American IRA will work with you and your professionals for a smooth closing.

4.)  Review the Instructions

  • Visit the “How it Works” page on our website to review the instructions for the asset you want to purchase and submit the paperwork required for the investment you have chosen.

5.)  Provide Payment Authorization

  • Submit Payment Authorization Forms for expenses that pertain to the asset your IRA has purchased.

6.)  Submit Deposit Coupons

  • Deposit income generated from the asset your IRA purchased by submitting a Deposit Coupon along with the funds.

Sales Tax Rates are High

If you plan to live in the state, that zero income tax rate will be offset somewhat by relatively high sales taxes. Tennessee Self-Directed IRA owners who live in the state can expect to pay 7 percent in state income taxes, with local governments adding a couple of percent more.

Furthermore, while most other states with sales taxes exempt groceries, Tennessee does not.

Nevertheless, the high sales taxes are more of a problem for owner-occupants than for absentee landlords.

Property taxes in Tennessee tend to be moderate.

Economy and Demographics

Tennessee’s 6.7 million population is currently enjoying strong population growth, thanks to a diverse, bustling overall economy and solid job growth in the Middle Tennessee/Cumberland River Valley region. However, some areas in East Tennessee historically reliant on coal and textile production have seen slower economic growth and some years of job losses.

Major private sector employers include Babcock & Wilcox, Bridgestone, Calsonic Kanei NA, Clayton Manufactured Homes, Denso, Eastman Chemical Co., Electrolux, General Motors, the International Paper Company.

Current statistics on the overall Tennessee economy and major employers is available from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Cost of Living is Friendly to Tennessee Self-Directed IRA Owners

Tennessee is a relatively affordable state, with an overall cost of living that is generally about 5 percent below the national average – though Tennessee Self-Directed IRA owners will find some neighborhoods around Franklin, Brentwood, Green Hills and Belmont areas south of Nashville to be quite pricey. But budget-conscious Tennessee Self-Directed IRA investors will find many towns that offer very pleasant living at very affordable price points.

Health care costs overall are well below the national average.

The eastern mountain regions, however, can be quite depressed, with high unemployment and stagnant or declining job growth as coal and textiles continue to languish.

Self-Directed Real Estate IRA enthusiasts can find more complete information on the overall real estate market for Tennessee at the Tennessee Housing Development Agency’s website.

Benefits of Retiring in Tennessee

Retirees are attracted by the zero-state income tax in Tennessee, as well as by the moderate property taxes on real estate. Climate is much milder than it is in the Midwestern regions further north in Indiana and Ohio, though you can still certainly experience some snowfall and icy conditions in the winter – especially in the Eastern mountains.

Nashville, also known as Music City, USA, is a major cultural hub with access to fine arts of all kinds, and more great musicians than you can shake a fiddlestick at. Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga also boast terrific local arts and music scenes, and Nashville, Franklin and Chattanooga and the surrounding environs are rich in Civil War and historical legacies.

Sportsmen will enjoy the many lakes and terrific freshwater fishing throughout the state, and easy access to the Land Between the Lakes. There are a number of excellent golf courses throughout the state as well, including the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Holston Hills Country Club, Knoxville, Belle Meade Country Club and Hermitage Golf Club in the tony south of Nashville and the Memphis Country Club are particularly noteworthy.

About American IRA, LLC

American IRA, LLC is one of the leading third-party administrators for self-directed retirement accounts in the United States.  The custodian New Vision Trust Company is a South Dakota regulated trust company.   Founder and president Jim Hitt has been investing his own personal assets in Self-Directed IRAs, including Self-Directed Real Estate IRAs, for more than 35 years, and has helped thousands of others declare independence from Wall Street investment companies with their high fees and limited investment menus and become successful Self-Directed IRA investors.

American IRA has offices in Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, GA, but we serve investors from all over the United States and even expats who want to realize the benefits of self-directed retirement investing techniques in Tennessee Self-Directed IRAs, Self-Directed Roth IRAs, Self-Directed SEP IRAs, Self-Directed SIMPLE IRAs and even Self-Directed CESAs and Self-Directed HSAs.

A Tennessee Self-Directed IRA with American IRA, LLC can help you achieve greater diversification by making it easier to invest in alternative asset classes not commonly available from large investment companies. Self-Directed IRAs also allow you to take more direct control of your retirement assets, while minimizing exposure to needlessly high expense ratios, commissions, wrap fees, 12-b-1 fees and AUM fees commonly charged by Wall Street investment companies. Our much more efficient flat-fee, menu-based fee schedule frequently allows investors to save thousands in fees each year – particularly with larger accounts and buy-and-hold investors.

With a Tennessee Self-Directed IRA from American IRA, LLC, you can quickly and easily invest in alternative asset classes like direct real estate ownership, tax liens and certificates, mortgage lending, precious metals, and much more.

To get started, click here to open an account, or call American IRA today at 866-7500-IRA(472).

For other easy Tennessee Self-Directed IRA solutions, talk to our valued partner TurnKey IRA.