Lesson · Facts First
The Self-Directed IRA
Your IRA is not limited to stocks - it can hold property and private deals, if you never trip the prohibited-transaction wire.
The facts
- 01A custodian that truly self-directs holds the asset in the IRA’s name - you never personally touch the funds; that is the whole legal structure.
- 02Prohibited transactions (IRC 4975) bar dealings between the IRA and you, your spouse, parents, kids (and their spouses), plus entities you control - one violation can disqualify the entire IRA.
- 03Real estate expenses (taxes, repairs) must come from IRA funds and income returns to the IRA - personally paying a contractor is the classic accidental violation.
- 04UDFI tax: debt-financed property inside an IRA generates unrelated debt-financed income taxable to the IRA (IRC 514) - leverage needs a plan.
Sources
- IRC Sections 4975, 514
- IRS: Prohibited Transactions in IRAs
Educational content only — not tax, legal, investment, or VA-benefits advice. Figures verified against the cited sources for 2026; confirm your own situation with a qualified professional before acting.
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