Preparing Income Taxes - When You Withdraw Retirement Funds "Before Their Time"

There are a variety of qualified savingsfrom ESAs, IRAs, and HSAs. It also reports
retirement fund plans available to taxpayers.additional taxes on excess accumulations in
Some like traditional and Roth Individualqualified retirement plans when contributions
Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) are specificallyexceeded IRS rules. If you receive, for example,
designed for a taxpayer's retirement years.a IRS Form 1099-R and Box 7 shows a code 1
Others, like a health (or medical) savings accounts(early distribution without exception) or code 2
(HSA/MSA) and (Coverdell) Education Savings(early distribution with exceptions), you might be
Accounts (ESA) are established for specializedsubject to an additional 10% tax penalty in
needs such as medical or educational expensesaddition to the income taxes levied on the
respectively. According to the Internal Revenueadditional income resulting from the distribution. A
Service (IRS), you can contribute or add moneyForm 1099-INT also reports an early withdrawal
to these funds oftentimes on a tax-deferredpenalty amount. For example, if you receive a
basis. These qualified contributions typically haveForm 1099-R with code 1 in Box 7, there are no
some incentivized tax treatment; they eitherexceptions to the early withdrawal penalty and
reduce taxable income (like an IRA) or provide ayou will be charged a 10% penalty that will be
tax credit (like a Saver's Tax Credit). However,computed in Part I of IRS Form 5329. You also
there are strict rules regarding the withdrawal orfile Form 5329 to report regular, or rollover
distribution of these same funds. You mightconversions from one type of qualified retirement
receive preferential tax treatment if you make afund to another.
contributions to these funds but be warned; youTax and financial implications of what might
could be taxed most likely at your marginallyappear to be simple transfers of "your money"
income tax rate AND suffer "early withdrawal"can be VERY complicated especially if they violate
penalties if you drawn down these funds "beforeIRS rulings and regulations. Consult a practiced tax
their time" or for any reasons other than forprofessional if possible BEFORE you take any
those for which they were originally intended.financial action. There are ways to avoid penalty
IRS Form 5329, Additional Taxes on Qualifiedfees under qualifying circumstances. If you have
Plans (including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favoredreceived distributions from any of these plans and
Accounts is an eight-part tax form that calculatesan IRS Form 1099-R, have a tax professional
additional taxes on early distribution, distributionsreview your tax returns.