Tax Issues in Early Distributions from Retirement Accounts

There are times when people really need money – and in those times, a retirement account may seem like a conveniently liquid resource to tap. What’s the harm in taking an early distribution from a tax-deferred retirement plan? Well, the tax bite could be considerable.

Big taxes may await you.

If you are younger than 59½, working, and you withdraw funds from your 401(k) or IRA just as you would from a bank account, you might really feel the pain next April. An early distribution from an IRA or a qualified retirement plan must usually be included in your taxable income. So your federal tax bill could balloon for the year in which you take the distribution. (If you take an early distribution from a Roth IRA, you won’t be taxed on the amount of your contributions. Any amount above that you withdraw which is attributable to the Roth IRA’s earnings will, however, be subject to tax.)¹

An additional 10% tax penalty may also apply.

The federal government does not want taxpayers to raid their Roth and traditional IRAs, 401(k)s and 403(b)s when they are far from retirement age, so an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty is in place to further discourage premature distributions. Roth IRAs have fewer restrictions than other retirement accounts. Often, Roth IRA holders can withdraw their contributions (but not their earnings) without penalty as long as it’s at least 5 years old. ²

There are some exceptions to this. This 10% penalty may not apply if you are using the money you withdraw to pay for the following:

• • Deductible medical expenses (documented medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income)
• • Health insurance expense (only if you lose your job and collect unemployment compensation for at least 12 consecutive weeks)
• • Higher education expenses (for you, your spouse, or children or grandchildren either of you may have).
• • The purchase of your first home, or the building or rebuilding of a first home
• • Disability expenses
• • Military service that exceeds 179 days of one year
• • Setting up an annuity ²

You are exempt from the 10% penalty on premature distributions if you are "totally and permanently" disabled, in the words of IRS Publication 575. Another notable exception: the 10% penalty on early distributions does not apply if you are the beneficiary of a deceased IRA owner. If a traditional IRA owner dies before age 59½, neither the owner’s estate nor the beneficiary will face the 10% early distribution penalty when those IRA assets are distributed. However, if your spouse dies and you decide to treat an IRA you inherit from him or her as your own, any distribution you take from it before you reach age 59½ may be subject to the 10% penalty. ²

Citations.

1 - rothira.com/roth-ira-taxes-and-tax-issues

2 - money.usnews.com/money/retirement/slideshows/ways-to-avoid-the-ira-early-withdrawal-penalty