You may need to withdraw funds from your traditional IRA account before the due date. This type of withdrawal will be taxed. It may also be subject to an early withdrawal penalty. There are certain exceptions for early withdrawals. Some situations may qualify for an exception from the penalty tax on withdrawals made before reaching age 59 and a half.
How to Avoid Early Withdrawal Penalty
There are specific uses that exempt you from the early withdrawal penalty from your IRA account. However, there is no exception to pay income tax on the amounts withdrawn in any of these cases.
Paying Healthcare Costs
You may be eligible for an exception from the penalty tax on withdrawals from your IRA if you used an early IRA withdrawal to pay healthcare costs that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.
Paying Health Insurance
You may be exempt from the early withdrawal penalty if you are unemployed and used the early withdrawal from your IRA to pay for your health insurance premiums, and you meet three additional requirements:
- You have received unemployment compensation paid under federal or state law for 12 consecutive weeks due to job loss.
- You made the withdrawal from your IRA in the year you received the unemployment compensation or the following year.
- You withdrew from your IRA within 60 days of starting your new job – if you have been employed since then.
Disability
Obtain a statement from a doctor to qualify for an exception from the penalty tax if you are disabled. The Internal Revenue Service considers you disabled if you are unable to perform any substantial gainful activity due to a mental or physical condition. The doctor must certify that your condition is expected to last for a long time, or even to result in death.
Inheriting an IRA
You can inherit an IRA in several ways, and the penalty tax depends on how the transaction occurs.
- You will not have to pay the penalty on amounts withdrawn if you inherited from someone other than your spouse, even if the IRA owner was under age 59 and a half. However, you must include any withdrawals from the IRA in your adjusted gross income.
- Any early withdrawal from the IRA will be subject to a 10% penalty if you inherited the account from your spouse and chose to treat it as your own IRA.
- You will be able to receive early withdrawals from the IRA without paying the 10% penalty if you inherited the IRA from your spouse but chose to label the IRA as a “Inherited IRA”.
72(t) Payments
The equal periodic payment rule under Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code allows you to withdraw funds from your retirement account at any age without penalty. You can withdraw a specific amount from 72(t) payments each year based on your life expectancy. You must follow certain rules and use one of three approved methods to calculate the continuous withdrawal amount.
You must adhere to your withdrawal schedule for at least five years or until you reach age 59 and a half, whichever occurs later. If you do not, all amounts withdrawn may be subject to the penalty tax.
Qualified Higher Education Expenses
Early withdrawals from your IRA used to pay for qualified higher education expenses on behalf of yourself, your spouse, children, or grandchildren are exempt from the 10% penalty tax. The funds can be used for housing and food if the student is enrolled at least half-time, in addition to tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and services for individuals with disabilities.
First-Time Home Purchase
Up to $10,000 from an early withdrawal from your IRA used to buy, build, or rebuild a first home for yourself, your child, or grandchild is exempt from the 10% penalty tax. You must meet the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s definition of a first-time homebuyer.
Note:
The first-time homebuyer is a person who has not had any ownership interest in a home in the last two years prior to purchasing a new home.
You and your spouse can withdraw $10,000 from your IRAs without paying the 10% penalty tax if you qualify as a first-time homebuyer. The distribution must be used to pay for qualified acquisition and closing costs within 120 days of receiving the funds.
Qualified Reservist Distributions
A qualified reservist distribution is not subject to the early withdrawal penalty from an IRA. According to the IRS, a qualified reservist distribution must meet the following criteria:
- You were ordered or called to active duty after September 11, 2001.
- You were ordered or called to active duty for more than 179 days or for an indefinite period due to being a member of the reserve.
- The distribution was taken from an IRA or from amounts related to elective deferrals under section 401(k) or 403(b) or similar plans.
- The distribution was made no earlier than the date of the order or call to active duty, and no later than the end of the active-duty period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you do not qualify for any of the exceptions, at what age can you withdraw funds from your IRA without penalty? If you do not qualify for any exceptions, at age 59 and a half, you can withdraw funds from your IRA without incurring a 10% penalty tax.
What is the five-year rule for IRAs? The five-year rule applies to Roth IRAs. After opening the account, you must wait five years before withdrawing from it if you want to avoid penalties and taxes.
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Sources:
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and maintain the accuracy and reliability of our content.
IRS. “Publication 590-B (2019): Distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).” Pages 22-24.
IRS. “Publication 590-B (2019): Distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).” Pages 5, 23.
IRS. “Frequently Asked Questions about Retirement Plans for Substantially Equal Periodic Payments.”
IRS. “What if I Withdraw Funds from My IRA?”
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/exceptions-ira-early-withdrawal-penalty-2388980
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