IRA

The intent is good, to encourage Americans to save for retirement. But enough things can go wrong that I must caution against having your tax refund deposited directly into your individual retirement account. For one thing, I can think of smarter ways to make IRA contributions. If you do deposit your refund, at least protect yourself by making any deductible IRA deposit you request now be for the 2007 tax year, not 2006. The reason: If you haven't filed your return, even if you do it electronically, the risk is huge that your refund won't be deposited until after the April 17 IRA contribution deadline for 2006.

On the morning of May 15, I got up at 6 a.m. to attend to a task for which I had volunteered. Earlier that week, the sheriff had asked at a staff meeting for a volunteer to put the flags at the courthouse at half-staff in observance of Law Enforcement Memorial Day.Not overly enthused about getting up at the early hour required to fulfill that task, but aware that no one else in the room lived as close to the building, I volunteered.I threw on some clothes and quietly made my way out of the bedroom.

AFTER so many hopes and electoral victories for peace in Northern Ireland, the political breakdown last week renews doubt that the province can reach the tolerance now prevailing in both countries that claim its divided allegiance.Ireland is not anti-British today, nor Britain anti-Irish. The most positive recent development is the strong trust between the Irish government of Bertie Ahern and British government of Tony Blair. As long as they maintain it, they may be able to salvage the Good Friday accord of last year.

TWO recent crimes have raised the specter of resumed IRA terrorism. They can only strengthen the resolve of the Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, to deny Sin Fein seats in a Northern Ireland executive Cabinet until the IRA has begun disarmament.In July, the FBI broke a gun-running ring in Florida, thanks to cooperation with the British and Irish police. Weapons mailed to an address in Ireland were detected by an X-ray scanner at an English airport. Four persons were arrested in this country and more, on the receiving end, in Galway.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- The deadline to find a compromise to create a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland passed without agreement last night, but British and Irish leaders pressed on into the morning seeking a deal to revive the stalled peace process.Protestant unionists would not budge on their refusal to form a government with Sinn Fein, the Irish Republican Army's political wing, until the IRA begins turning in arms, while Sinn Fein was unable to get a formal commitment from the IRA that it would begin disarming.

OMAGH, Northern Ireland -- Police officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary clashed yesterday in cities across Northern Ireland with Roman Catholics protesting Protestant parades through Catholic neighborhoods.At least five people were arrested and scores were injured, most of them not seriously, as protesters confronted police officers who carried heavy shields and truncheons, which they used to clear the demonstrators away from the parades.The demonstrators shouted abuse at the Protestant marchers, who were celebrating the 310th anniversary of the defeat of James II, a Catholic, in Londonderry.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- Overcoming decades of hatred and deep internal divisions, Northern Ireland's largest Protestant political party decided yesterday to back a compromise deal to set up a power-sharing government with Roman Catholics before the Irish Republican Army begins to disarm.The Ulster Unionist Party council's vote clears the way for Northern Ireland to establish its first provincial government in more than a quarter-century.Parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly are expected to name a 12-member Cabinet tomorrow that would assume power from the British government before the week's end.The Ulster Unionist council's vote is a triumph for party chief David Trimble, who is to become first minister of the new provincial government.

ALTHOUGH YOU can make 1999 IRA contributions until April 17, make them now to take fuller advantage of the tax-free growth of IRAs, advises "Moneyline News Hour.""Congress may raise the amount you may set aside in a 401(k) retirement plan. One proposal allows increasing an employee's maximum deferral from $10,000 to $15,000 a year." (Ellin & Tucker newsletter)WALL STREET WATCH: "Stocks [are] still overvalued; conditions ripe for the market correction to continue." (Sung Won Sohn, chief economist, Wells Fargo & Co.)

A FEW rocket launchers and sticks of explosives stand between a new beginning in Northern Ireland and retreat to stalemate.The Irish Republican Army (IRA) must begin handing over weapons by March 10, or the new provincial government will not start on that date.Last April's Good Friday accord calls for all paramilitary weapons to be "decommissioned" -- handed over to an international commission for destruction -- by May 2000. It did not specify when decommissioning had to begin. Nor did it say when the British army needed to withdraw from the streets, or when the British and Irish Republic governments needed to begin releasing convicted killers, yet these actions are under way.David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party met this week with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, and included the IRA in the executive council.

1974: IRA tax shelters introduced1978: Airlines are deregulated1983: CD player debuts1984: AT&T breaks up

Higher-income taxpayers for years have been shut out of the Roth individual retirement account and could only look on with envy. But that's about to change. Next year, everyone will have access - albeit, indirectly for some - to this tax-friendly account. The government next year will eliminate an income cap for those who want to convert a traditional IRA, a 401(k) or other retirement account into a Roth. So, basically, anyone with one of these accounts can open a Roth. And in Maryland, the wealthiest state, this change in the tax law could be a boon for many.

On August 1, 2009 Rev. Dr. Ira Gilbert. Memorial Services 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at Big Baker Chapel on the campus of McDaniel College. Friends will be received immediately following the service at McDaniel Lounge on campus. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to the "Ira & Mary Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education," P.O. Box 552, Westminster, MD 21158. Arrangements by Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, Westminster, Online condolences may be made to www.myersdurborawfh.

Dr. Ira Gilbert Zepp, a social activist and influential professor of religious studies at what is now McDaniel College who had inspired generations of students to devote their lives to civil rights, peace and social justice, died of congestive heart failure Saturday at his Westminster home. He was 79. "Ira will be deeply missed and long remembered by everyone in our college family," McDaniel President Joan Develin Coley said Monday in a statement. "Ira was a gifted and devoted teacher, a true humanitarian who gave unselfishly of himself to make this world a better place for all," Dr. Coley said.

Ira B. Colbert, a retired laboratory technician and longtime Arlington resident, died July 16 of congestive heart failure at Northwest Hospital Center. She was 78. Ira Mae Brown, the daughter of farmers, was born and raised in Halifax County, N.C. After graduating from high school, she moved to Baltimore in the late 1940s. Mrs. Colbert, who was known as Mae, received her technical training at Morgan State University and later at Essex Community College. She was employed as a laboratory technician at Franklin Square Hospital Center for two decades before retiring in 1996.

TIP 6 You don't have to tap your IRA this year in hopes that you can recover some of your Wall Street losses Older savers get a one-year reprieve in 2009 from having to take distributions from retirement accounts because of the recent stock market turmoil. This helps if you don't need to dip into a traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans to live on. You can leave the money untouched, where it may recover from last year's losses. Mandatory distributions from these accounts kick in after you turn 701/2.

On December 27, 2008, IRA E. Friends may visit the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME EAST, 1101 E. North Avenue on Friday after 8:30 A.M where the family will receive friends on Saturday at 9 A.M. Funeral services will follow at 9:30 A.M.

Ira V. Badham-Adams, a retired receptionist and longtime member of Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church, died of a heart attack May 5 at a hospital in Jersey City, N.J. She was 92. Ira Virginia Badham was born in Baltimore and raised on McCulloh Street. She was a 1933 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School and attended Howard University in Washington. During the 1940s, she was an office assistant for a Baltimore real estate company. During the 1960s, she was in housekeeping at what is now the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Dennis Ira Misler, a retired teacher and trainer who founded an organization to promote understanding of Poland among Jews and Christians, died April 27 of complications from a stroke while in a rehabilitation center in suburban Warsaw, Poland. The Pikesville resident was 62. Family members said he apparently suffered a stroke in Krakow while waiting for a streetcar and fell into the path of a moving vehicle Oct. 12. Born in Baltimore and raised on Cottage Avenue, Mr. Misler attended the Louisa May Alcott Elementary School and was a 1962 graduate of City College, where he played baseball.

I am almost 61 and still working, but I plan to retire 15 months from now. I have no debt and make about $28,000. My question is, should I take the $6,000 out of my savings and put it in my IRA for this coming year? Even though you are so close to retirement, you could benefit from contributing to your individual retirement account, an IRA expert said. You can make this move as long as you have that much earned income this year. "My gut instinct is his income will be lower next year than this year," said James Lange, principal with James Lange & Associates, a Pittsburgh accounting firm.

Editor's note: Every Sunday through the end of tax season, The Sun will run an edited transcript of Baltimoresun.com's weekly tax advice column featuring experts from the Sparks accounting firm SC&H Group who will answer reader questions. Submit questions at www.baltimoresun.com/ taxtalk To be eligible to convert IRA contributions to Roth contributions, income must be below $100,000. Should the conversion be removed from Form 1040, Lines 22 and 37 in order to remain below the $100,000 threshold?