Looking for a tax break? Consider an IRA certificate in your retirement planning

Certificates – the credit union equivalent of a bank certificate of deposit – can be an excellent option for earning interest on cash you want to use in the future.

This includes your retirement savings. An IRA certificate combines the tax advantages of a traditional IRA or Roth IRA with the security of a certificate. It’s a win-win!

IRA certificates: Eligibility and benefits

Anyone with earned income can open and contribute to an IRA. Whether you qualify for a tax deduction depends on multiple factors, including your filing status and income amount.*

IRA certificates offer many advantages, including:

• Reliable returns: Certificates’ fixed interest rate offers stability, making them especially useful for people in or nearing retirement.
• Favorable interest rates: Typically, certificates offer higher rates than standard savings accounts, allowing greater potential earnings.
• Tax advantages: With a traditional IRA, you claim funds deposited as a tax deduction, funds grow tax-deferred until they’re withdrawn, and then they are taxed. Roth IRAs offer no immediate tax deduction when deposited, funds grow tax-free, and they are untaxed when you withdraw after age 59 1/2.
• Low fees: Most IRA certificates carry minimal fees compared with other investment options that have monthly management charges.
• Safety: IRA certificates held at institutions that are members of NCUA are insured up to $250,000.

Certificate primer: Standard versus traditional IRA versus Roth IRA

A certificate is a type of savings account with a fixed interest rate that’s usually higher than the rate for a regular savings account. It has a fixed term length and a fixed withdrawal date, known as the maturity date. Certificates don’t have monthly fees, but if you redeem a certificate before the maturity date, you will usually pay an early-withdrawal penalty.

Harborstone offers these certificate options:

• Standard certificates: A standard certificate is taxed annually and is better for short-term savings, without the tax advantages of an IRA. (This is not generally considered the best choice for retirement savings but can be an excellent tool in other circumstances.)
• IRA certificates: When you invest in a certificate as part of your IRA, your certificate brings tax advantages.

• Traditional IRA: Your income taxes on deposits will be deferred, and your money will grow tax-free until you tap into your IRA in retirement.
• Roth IRA: Your money grows tax-free, and the IRA and doesn’t require mandatory distributions in retirement. You do pay income taxes on the money you use to open the IRA, but you won’t pay income taxes on its growth or when you tap into it at retirement.

It’s not too late to save for the 2024 tax year

The deadline to contribute to an IRA for the 2024 tax year is April 15, 2025. This applies to both traditional and Roth IRAs. To open a traditional or Roth IRA certificate, call us at 1-800-523-3641 to schedule an appointment or stop by any of our branches.

*Speak with a tax professional to gain tax advice.