Drake, Saunders & Diwinsky, Ltd. A Retirement Planning Company - Withdrawing Before Age 59.5 : Article: Withdrawing Before Age 59.5

What Happens If I Withdraw Money from My Tax-Deferred Investments Before Age 59½?

Withdrawing funds from a tax-deferred retirement account before the age of 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty; all distributions are subject to ordinary income tax. However, there are certain situations in which you are allowed to make early withdrawals from a retirement account and avoid the tax penalty.

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans have different exceptions, although the regulations are similar.

IRA Exception

The death of the IRA owner. Upon your death, your designated beneficiaries may begin taking distributions from your account.
Disability. Under certain conditions, you may begin to withdraw funds if you are disabled.
Unreimbursed medical expenses. You can withdraw the amount you paid for unreimbursed medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for the year of the distribution.
Medical insurance. If you lost your job or are receiving unemployment benefits, you may withdraw money to pay for health insurance.
Part of a substantially equal periodic payment (SEPP) plan. If you receive a series of substantially equal payments over your life expectancy, or the combined life expectancies of you and your beneficiary, you may take payments over a period of five years or until you reach age 59½, whichever is longer, using one of three payment methods set by the government. Any change in the payment schedule after you begin distributions may subject you to paying the 10% tax penalty.
Qualified higher-education expenses for you and/or your dependents.
First home purchase, up to $10,000 (lifetime limit).

Employer-Sponsored Plan Exceptions

The death of the plan owner. Upon your death, your designated beneficiaries may begin taking distributions from your account.
Disability. Under certain conditions, you may begin to withdraw funds if you are disabled.
Part of a SEPP program (see above). If you receive a series of substantially equal payments over your life expectancy, or the combined life expectancies of you and your beneficiary, you may take payments over a period of five years or until you reach age 59½, whichever is longer.
Separation of service from your employer. Payments must be made annually over your life expectancy or the joint life expectancies of you and your beneficiary.
Attainment of age 55. The payment is made to you upon separation of service from your employer and the separation occurred during or after the calendar year in which you reached the age of 55.
Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). The payment is made to an alternate payee under a QDRO.
Medical care. You can withdraw the amount allowable as a medical expense deduction.
To reduce excess contributions. Withdrawals can be made if you or your employer made contributions over the allowable amount.
To reduce excess elective deferrals. Withdrawals can be made if you elected to defer an amount over the allowable limit.

If you plan to withdraw funds from a tax-deferred account, make sure to carefully examine the rules on exemptions for early withdrawals. For more information on situations that are exempt from the early-withdrawal income tax penalty, visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov.

The information in this article is not intended to be tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor.

*All advisory services are offered through JWKodak Capital Management, LLC (“JWKodak”), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with offices in Austin, Texas and Chatham, Massachusetts. JWKodak and its representatives are in compliance with the current filing requirements imposed upon SEC registered investment advisers by those states in which JWKodak maintains clients. JWKodak may only transact business in those states in which it is notice filed, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from notification requirements. For information pertaining to the registration status of JWKodak, please contact the SEC or the state securities regulators for those states in which JWKodak maintains a notice filing. A copy of JWKodak’scurrent written disclosure statement discussing JWKodak’sbusiness operations, services, and fees is available from JWKodak upon written request. “Drake, Saunders & Diwinsky’s web site is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to securities advice and advisory services, together with access to additional investment-related information, publications, and links. Drake, Saunders & Diwinsky, LTD. and JWKodak are separate not affiliated companies; however, Brian Drake and Jane Bourette, employees of Drake, Saunders & Diwinsky, are investment advisor representatives with JWKodak. The company, Drake, Saunders & Diwinsky, Ltd is NOT an investment advisor or licensed in any way to provide investment advice.

The publication of this web site on the Internet should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client of Drake, Saunders & Diwinsky, LTD or JWKodak’s asolicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the Internet. Content in this website is for informational value only. Please consult an investment advisor representative before implementing any strategies discussed. Past Performance is no guarantee of future results.