Interesting gold info · Since about 1990, I have warned my readers that there were a number of technical and privacy problems using a precious metals Individual Retirement Account as a means to own physical precious metals. Initially my greatest concern was that it was a waste of tax planning to use a tax-deferred account to acquire assets that are tax-deferred until they are sold. Retirement accounts are better suited holding assets that generate what would otherwise be currently taxable income. I have close to 10 reasons to avoid the use of precious metals IRAs. One of my original concerns was that the US government would someday seize private retirement account assets because the combined value of these accounts was too large, and therefore tempting. The likelihood of the U.S. government seizing private retirement accounts, including precious metals IRAs, is growing closer. Argentina nationalized private retirement accounts in 2008. Bulgaria, France, Ireland and Poland seized some private retirement assets in 2009. In 2010, France then forced some retirement plans to purchase more government bonds in place of other assets. Also in 2010 and repeated in 2012, Ireland took significant bites out of private retirement assets to bail out its failing banks. In 2011, Hungary and then Portugal seized private retirement account assets. Last year, the Dominican Republic did likewise. Earlier this year, a significant amount of private retirement funds in banks in Cyprus were seized by that nation’s government in order for the government to receive a bailout from the European Union. Last Wednesday, the Polish government announced that it was again seizing a wide swath of private retirement assets immediately, with the balance of them to be taken in the next few years. While it was announced that the balances owed to account holders would become the liability of the national government, the seized assets are being used to promptly repay debts of the Polish government. In 2008, a House Committee held hearings on seizing all assets in private retirement accounts and replacing them with U.S. Treasury debt. Further hearings in 2010 laid out the groundwork for the U.S. government to convert private retirement accounts into annuities upon retirement, with any remaining asset balances being kept by the federal government upon the death of the retiree. U.S. government officials have already stated that they intend to copy the plans of the European Union and Canada to seize parts of privately held bank accounts if needed to bail out a failing bank. How long do you think it will be before the U.S. government goes forward with its developing plans to seize all assets in private retirement plans, including those held in precious metals IRAs? Note to coin and precious metals dealers: There are several companies that, to maximize the profits to the dealer, have for years urged their customers to establish precious metals IRAs. Do you really want to face the customer backlash (“Why didn’t you warn me?”) when the U.S. government takes away those assets?
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 00:05:01 +0000
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