NUA Qualified For San Diego Gas & Electric Employees?

Healthcare Provider Update: San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) primarily offers healthcare coverage for its employees through various health insurance providers, including major players in the market such as Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser Permanente. These providers typically offer a range of plans that cover various medical needs, including preventive care, hospital visits, and prescription medications. As we approach 2026, significant healthcare cost increases are anticipated for SDG&E employees. With the potential expiration of enhanced federal premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, many policyholders may see their out-of-pocket costs skyrocketing by over 75%. Increased medical costs, driven by rising hospital and prescription drug prices, combined with aggressive rate hikes from insurers, could lead to premium increases of up to 66.4% in some states. This perfect storm of factors will pose a substantial financial challenge for workers relying on employer-sponsored healthcare plans. Click here to learn more

In order to help our clients from San Diego Gas & Electric understand just how NUA can be used, we'd first like to make sure our San Diego Gas & Electric clients understand qualified accounts that this tax trick can be used in and how they differ in tax treatment compared to non-qualified accounts. Qualified accounts (i.e. Traditional 401(k)) are designed to offer individuals added tax benefits. In a qualified account, you can make contributions with pre-tax dollars from your income, which lowers your tax bill for that year. 

 

'Qualified accounts (i.e. Traditional 401(k)) are designed to offer individuals added tax benefits.'

 

In addition, no tax is paid on appreciation until withdrawals are made. At the point withdrawals are made (tax penalty for withdrawals before 59½ and required minimum distributions [RMDs] after 70) both appreciation and invested amounts are taxed as ordinary income.

 

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On the other hand, we'd like to point out to our San Diego Gas & Electric clients that non-qualified plans are those (i.e. a standard brokerage
account) that are not eligible for tax-deferral benefits. Investments are paid
for with after-tax dollars. When appreciated shares are liquidated (a gain is
“realized”), the difference between cost basis (original cost at purchase) and sales price is taxed at either short-term or long-term capital gains rate depending on how long they were held, in addition to taxes paid on dividends the year they are received. Funds from non-qualified accounts are neither subject to early withdrawal penalties nor RMDs.