How to Use a Self Directed IRA to Invest in a Private Company
You can buy a business within your IRA to provide retirement income.
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The Internal Revenue Service puts few restrictions on what assets you can own in an individual retirement arrangement. You can't use your IRA to buy life insurance, collectibles, jewelry, alcoholic beverages or some forms of precious metals. But there's nothing in the law that says you can't buy an interest in a closely held corporation or limited liability company, and you can even own the entire enterprise within your IRA. However, a number of special rules apply.
Identify a custodian. This is a business that is separate from you that is willing to hold the assets you elect to buy in the name of your IRA. They are frequently referred to as "third party administrators" and sometimes as "trustees." They must be specifically authorized by the IRS to act in this capacity. Not every financial services company or provider qualifies, and this is a specialized area of financial planning, so ensure you are working with someone experienced with self-directed retirement accounts.
Step 2Open an account with the new custodian. Once you've opened the account, fund it with new contributions (up to $5,000, as of 2012), or execute a trustee-to-trustee "rollover" transfer, directing your old IRA to transfer assets to the new IRA with the new custodian. Your custodian will be able to provide you with the required forms.
Step 3Identify the business in which you want to invest. You can invest in any business, domestically or abroad, as long as it's not owned or controlled by you, your spouse, any of your ascendants or descendants, their spouses, any entities they control or any fiduciary advising you on your IRA. For example, your broker or lawyer cannot solicit you to buy shares in their own companies. You can buy a fractional interest in a corporation, LLC or partnership, or you can buy the whole thing.
Step 4Direct your custodian, in writing, to purchase the interest. Specify the purchase price, the counterparty, the number of shares (if a corporation) or the percentage of interest (if an LLC or partnership). Verify that the transaction has been completed correctly.
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Warnings
- Note: You must keep assets in your IRA carefully segregated from your personal assets. You cannot contribute more than $5,000 in new capital in any given year (though the IRA can borrow money on a nonrecourse basis if your business needs capital). The business your IRA owns cannot buy goods and services from or sell goods and services directly to you or any of the related parties described above.
Writer Bio
Leslie McClintock has been writing professionally since 2001. She has been published in "Wealth and Retirement Planner," "Senior Market Advisor," "The Annuity Selling Guide," and many other outlets. A licensed life and health insurance agent, McClintock holds a B.A. from the University of Southern California.