One of the new tax strategies available in 2006 is the Roth 401k. A taxpayer may place up to $15,000 ($20,000 if age 50 or older) in a Roth 401k instead of a regular 401k plan in 2006. The 401k plan needs to have the provision that allows contributions to go into a Roth 401k. Just because the tax law allows a Roth 401k plan does not mean that all employers will revise their 401k plans to allow Roth 401k contributions.

The Roth IRA has been one way to invest to generate tax-free income for retirement. A taxpayer does not receive a deduction for placing money into a Roth IRA, but the taxpayer may take the money out at retirement free of federal income tax. The new Roth 401k works in much the same way except that a taxpayer may contribute a larger amount to a Roth 401k

The problems with the Roth IRA has been that the law has not allowed many taxpayers to have Roth IRA because their incomes were too high. The new Roth 401k does not have this problem. A taxpayer may contribute to a Roth 401k no matter how high an income the taxpayer has.

Traditional IRAs, 401k plans, and other pension plans provide for tax-deferred income. The contributions made by the taxpayer are either deductible or excluded from gross income at the time of contribution. However, when the taxpayer withdraws the money, it is fully taxable. A taxpayer receives no deduction for amounts that go into a Roth IRA or a Roth 401k plan, but the taxpayer may withdraw the money at retirement completely free of federal income tax.

The Roth 401k plan is especially good for younger taxpayers. They have a longer time to invest their money wisely and generate a large amount of tax-free earnings on their contributions. Taxpayers should carefully consider the Roth 401k plan in 2006 with the assistance of a competent tax advisor.

Alan D. Campbell is a CPA in Arkansas and Florida and is self-employed primarily as an author of tax publications. He earned a Ph.D. in accounting with an emphasis in taxation from the University of North Texas. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. He has published numerous articles on tax topics in professional journals. He is the co-author of the book Tax Strategies for the Self-Employed and the revision editor of CCH Financial and Estate Planning Guide, 15th edition. For more tax savings strategies, please see his blog: http://taxsavingsstrategies.blogspot.com