Financial Planning

Impact of taking early distributions from your retirement plan
 
Published Thursday, February 25, 2010 7:00 am

by Sharon A. Bradley, CPA



Some taxpayers may have taken early distributions from their retirement plans last year. The IRS wants individuals who took an early distribution to know that there can be a tax impact when tapping into your retirement fund. 

Here are nine facts about early distributions.

  1. Payments you receive from your Individual Retirement Arrangement before you reach age 59 ½ are generally considered early or premature distributions.

  2. Early distributions are usually subject to an additional 10 percent tax.

  3. Early distributions must also be reported to the IRS.

  4. Distributions you rollover to another IRA or qualified retirement plan are not subject to the additional 10 percent tax. You must complete the rollover within 60 days after the day you received the distribution.

  5. The amount you roll over is generally taxed when the new plan makes a distribution to you or your beneficiary.

  6. If you made nondeductible contributions to an IRA and later take early distributions from your IRA, the portion of the distribution attributable to those nondeductible contributions is not taxed.

  7. If you received an early distribution from a Roth IRA, the distribution attributable to your prior contributions is not taxed.

  8. If you received a distribution from any other qualified retirement plan, generally the entire distribution is taxable unless you made after-tax employee contributions to the plan.

  9. There are several exceptions to the additional 10 percent early distribution tax, such as when the distributions are used for the purchase of a first home, for certain medical or educational expenses, or if you are disabled.

For more information about early distributions from retirement plans, the additional 10 percent tax and all the exceptions, please see your trusted advisor.

Additional resources:

  • Publication 575, Pensions and Annuities (PDF 227K)
  • Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) (PDF 449K)  
  • Form 5329, Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (including IRAs) and Other Tax Favored Accounts   (PDF 72K)
  • Form 5329 Instructions (PDF 40K)

Source: IRS.gov

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Sharon A. Bradley, CPA is a Senior Manager in the Audit & Accounting Services Department.  With over ten years in accounting, she utilizes her experience as an auditor, accountant and compliance analyst to assist companies through the web of rules and regulations to maintain state and federal compliance and improve operational systems.  Sherry focuses on performing audits and quarterly reviews for public companies in the real estate, mortgage, healthcare, manufacturing and tourism industries.  She also assists nonpublic companies and not-for-profit organizations with their internal controls, analytical reviews and audits.


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