Can an IRA Go Into an LLC?
Self-directed IRA investors who wish to invest in assets like real estate may form a single-member LLC so as to bypass the custodian review process.
Forming an LLC does not protect IRA owners from prohibited transactions rules; they should take care to avoid mixing their personal funds with those held within their IRAs.
Tax Benefits
Investment in an LLC is becoming increasingly popular among self-directed investors for several reasons. Chief among them: ownership rights can be easily transferred without going through an IRA custodian and transactions can take place directly with no middleman necessary; additionally, an LLC allows funds to be readily accessible for investments or asset expenses.
IRA/LLC structures can also prove advantageous when purchasing real estate, as settlement companies tend to prefer dealing with LLCs rather than individual retirement accounts and this can speed up the process significantly.
An LLC also provides more privacy than purchasing directly, especially when dealing with private assets such as tax liens, real estate, private businesses or precious metals. When your IRA owns property through an LLC instead of directly through you as the IRA owner, rent checks will be sent directly to the entity instead of directly to yourself, providing further protection from public disclosure. This approach can especially prove valuable when handling confidential matters like tax liens, real estate purchases, private businesses or precious metal investments.
Investing Options
Many Self-Directed IRA investors opt for LLCs as a way to maintain greater control of their investments, and especially real estate investing. An LLC helps avoid issues like having to coordinate multiple IRAs on property purchases or dealing with disqualified parties or prohibited transactions.
An LLC is an excellent way to invest in multiple assets, from real estate and private loans to private equity and alternative investments like tax liens or equipment leasing.
However, it’s essential that you remember your IRA LLC should not co-mingle personal funds or transact with any disqualified individual or entity, as doing so would violate IRS regulations and possibly result in its disqualification. It’s best practice to consult a tax or legal advisor prior to engaging in any transactions of this nature.
Managing Your IRA
An LLC can bring additional advantages to a Self-Directed IRA. It’s particularly helpful for assets like real estate that require multiple transactions and management services, while providing additional protection from liabilities stemming from businesses or investments owned by an LLC rather than personally by you.
An LLC may also be beneficial when investing in non-traditional assets that are restricted by most IRA custodians, such as real estate, private businesses or precious metals. Before forming one for yourself and pursuing non-traditional assets such as these it would be wise to consult a knowledgeable tax advisor in order to ascertain whether an LLC meets your investment goals and is suitable.
Finally, using an IRA LLC can save on annual fees. Many IRA custodians charge per-asset fees, but an IRA LLC can bypass them when investing instead – leading to significant cost savings over time. Plus it offers checkbook control which expedites execution processes!
Choosing a Provider
Real estate investors and self directed IRA owners looking for fast access to funds have long taken advantage of IRA LLC structures as an option. Not only is the setup fast and flexible; it can also save on fees charged annually by custodians per asset.
However, it is imperative that an IRA owner fully comprehend the rules and regulations of an LLC to avoid violating IRS guidelines such as prohibited transactions that could cause disqualification of their IRA and distribution of all assets held within it.
Example: If an IRA owned an LLC that purchased precious metals, these must be stored with a bank in order to remain compliant with IRS rules and avoid violating them. It’s crucial that attorneys familiar with both IRA/LLCs and LLC rules are involved to make sure no prohibited transaction takes place; at IRA Resources our attorneys possess this expertise and can offer guidance to ensure compliance.
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