How Can I Avoid Paying Taxes on an Early IRA Withdrawal?
Financial emergencies may require that you tap into your retirement savings early, but do so only if necessary and only with proper knowledge. Be wary of taking short cuts that could potentially impose a 10% penalty fee on early withdrawal.
You may be eligible to avoid penalties on withdrawals made from an IRA to cover qualified education expenses for yourself, your spouse or children. Furthermore, penalty free withdrawals can also be made for unreimbursed medical expenses or unemployment compensation payments.
1. Take a Qualified Education Expense Withdrawal
Withdrawals made to pay qualifying higher education expenses are exempt from the 10% early distribution penalty when taken prior to age 59 1/2, provided they were directly related. Eligible expenses include tuition fees, books, supplies, equipment and disability services (if needed); student loans or interest aren’t eligible.
If you plan on withdrawing funds from your IRA for an expensive purchase, be sure to make withdrawals during a lower tax bracket year so as to reduce or even avoid penalty. Another way is donating it directly instead.
2. Pay for Unreimbursed Medical Expenses
When withdrawing funds from an IRA to cover medical expenses, as long as certain criteria are met. For instance, they can use funds without incurring penalties to pay health insurance premiums that cover themselves, their spouse and dependents while unemployed and receiving unemployment compensation payments.
Vernon stresses the potential downsides to using an IRA to pay for unexpected expenses is foregoing potential growth on your funds, which could prove costly over time. Therefore, being aware of exceptions to the 10% penalty can help manage sudden financial needs without jeopardizing retirement savings plans.
3. Pay for Health Insurance Premiums
If an unexpected expense arises, it can be tempting to turn to your retirement savings – particularly if this will allow you to avoid penalties – for immediate relief. Before doing so however, carefully consider all potential costs such as income taxes and potential long-term growth lost through tapping your IRA account.
Usually, withdrawals from Traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA accounts before reaching age 59 1/2 will incur regular income tax; however, certain exceptions allow you to avoid an additional 10% penalty; such as medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income, first-time home purchase fees, unemployment compensation. Such withdrawals are considered “qualified hardship withdrawals.”1
4. Pay for Unemployment Compensation
There are other ways you can sidestep the 10% early withdrawal penalty if you need to access your IRA before reaching age 59 1/2, such as withdrawing money to cover unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income or paying health insurance premiums while unemployed.
An exception to the early withdrawal penalty can be made when withdrawing funds due to permanent disability, providing evidence of nonwork within two years. However, this exception is highly complex and will likely require extensive documentation of your disability from both yourself and the IRS.
5. Pay for a First-Time Home Purchase Allowance
The IRS allows individuals to withdraw up to $10,000 from an IRA without incurring the 10% penalty associated with first-time home purchases, this limit applies both individually and jointly; you must spend all funds within 120 days of withdrawal.
There may be numerous reasons for you to access your IRA early, but before doing so it’s always advisable to explore alternative solutions, like Roth conversion. Money taken out of an IRA cannot be replaced and could cost you interest over time.
6. Pay for a Disabled Individual
Situations may arise where it would be advantageous to access retirement funds prior to age 59 1/2 without incurring the 10% early withdrawal penalty, including permanent disability, purchasing a home, unreimbursed medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of your adjusted gross income or serving in the military reserves.
Also, IRA distributions used to pay health insurance premiums for yourself and your family are tax-free if itemized deductions aren’t taken on your tax return. But, navigating the complex IRS regulations involved can feel like trying to pull off an old Hollywood caper; planning carefully and understanding penalties associated with these investments are necessary if they’re to come out relatively unscathed.
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