isnt that rule the same for any stocks or etf's?
if i reinvest all dividends i dont pay taxes until i retire no?
and if im wrong, how would i go about investing in the vangaurd etf im already investing in, thru the ira method?
#1- Dividends are a taxable event, so you do owe tax on that immediately, even if you reinvest it (and if you do, your tax basis would then increase). Non dividend growth is only considered a taxable event when you sell the stock and realize the gains.
#2- What the previous poster was saying about not paying tax on an IRA until retirement refers to the income tax on the money in which you fund the IRA. In a regular brokerage account, you'll be using post-tax money, so you were already charged income tax on it, whereas an IRA defers the income tax.
#3- If you are currently in a low tax bracket, I'd recommend you open a Roth IRA rather than a traditional IRA. A Roth IRA allows you to put in post-tax money (just like a regular brokerage account), but you will then be able to cash out all gains in retirement entirely tax free. It also offers added flexibility, in that you can withdraw contributions (as opposed to the earnings) at any time penalty free.
#4- You're not going to be able to gather enough knowledge on these topics via asking a few questions on DDF. It's a great start, but there are a wealth of resources online (e.g. Google, YouTube, Investopedia, Bogelhead, Reddit) which can take your knowledge miles further if you are interested in learning more.