Can an IRA Be Held in an LLC?
If you’re seeking hands-on investments such as real estate, an IRA LLC might be the right fit. But before diving in headfirst, make sure that you understand any prohibited transaction rules.
Self-directed IRA LLC accountholders can utilize it to invest in residential, commercial, raw land properties ranging from single family homes to building lots and even contracts for sale or lease options.
Limited Liability
An LLC investment provides important protection to an IRA accountholder’s limited liability protections; when an LLC makes purchases or incurs expenses, their personal liability remains limited – particularly beneficial when investing in assets like real estate that require costly upkeep and administration.
An IRA LLC also allows for more direct investing. Traditionally, IRA holders must go through their custodian for any transaction that requires interactions. By bypassing them by creating an LLC with checkbook control instead, investors can enjoy greater speed and efficiency when making investments.
Note that an IRA-owned LLC may not be suitable for all investments; typically used for real estate, precious metals and private placement investments. Furthermore, co-investing with disqualified people or entities when using an IRA-owned LLC could create a prohibited transaction under IRS rules and be avoided as much as possible.
Tax Benefits
An LLC structure offers many advantages for holding an IRA account, such as protecting its assets from personal claims and lawsuits by maintaining separate ownership through an LLC structure.
An LLC provides tax benefits; for instance, its IRA will be considered a pass-through entity and all gains and profits will pass directly through to it.
Tax benefits of investing in an LLC with unrelated business taxable income (UBTI), however, may be subject to additional taxes on your IRA if that company performs trade or business that creates unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). This could include investing in real estate which the IRS views as trade or business activity; furthermore, certain states may levy state income tax against such LLC investments.
Investment Options
Holding an IRA within an LLC gives its owner more control over their investments. They can invest in all IRS-approved assets – real estate, private debt and equity as well as alternative investment opportunities – within their IRA account.
An IRA/LLC can have its own bank account and write checks to purchase investments – giving its owner “checkbook control”.
An LLC requires investors to abide by specific regulations that must be observed, including IRS restrictions on prohibited transactions and matters concerning disqualified people.
An IRA/LLC should take great care in drafting their operating agreement and having it reviewed by professionals experienced in this area of law. Furthermore, all transactions should be reviewed to ensure they comply with IRS rules and state laws and an annual valuation must be submitted to Midland to include cash assets such as brokerage or real estate properties within their LLC.
Rollover Options
Self-Directed IRA LLC structures provide an ideal way for you to invest in alternative assets, including tax liens, real estate, private businesses and precious metals. Furthermore, an LLC structure gives greater flexibility when teaming up with others on an investment venture involving multiple IRA/LLC vehicles.
An IRA/LLC structure can be useful when an IRA accountholder wants to purchase real estate such as residential, commercial or raw land from single-family to multi-family homes and building lots. Settlement companies find this arrangement particularly advantageous as an IRA LLC purchasing real estate can be treated like any normal business transaction and avoid potential prohibited transactions that might otherwise involve disqualified people.
An IRA owner might choose the IRA/LLC structure in order to gain greater signing control and access to an LLC’s business checking account so they can fund investment contracts, asset expenses and more without needing the custodian’s approval and involvement – however compliance and reporting must still occur through their IRA custodian.
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