What Are the Penalties for Withdrawing Early From an IRA?

What we’ll cover:

• Just as there are rules for contributions, IRAs also have rules when it comes to taking money out of your account.
• Traditional and Roth IRAs come with different withdrawal rules.
• Early withdrawals usually trigger income taxes and a 10% penalty, unless you qualify for an exception. 

In a perfect world, the money you put into an IRA would stay invested in the account until you’re ready to use it in retirement. But as you know, life is full of surprises. You might find yourself in a situation where you need to make an early withdrawal. 

Before you dip into your retirement funds, you’ll want to read the fine print. Just as there are rules for contributions, IRAs also have rules when it comes to taking money out of the account. 

Understanding how the withdrawal rules work is important because taking money out too soon could trigger a 10% early withdrawal penalty (and maybe even taxes). However, there are certain situations where you might be able to withdraw your funds penalty-free. “Qualified distributions” is the IRS term for such exceptions. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key withdrawal rules. We’ll also provide examples of situations where you might be able to take money out of your IRA penalty-free.

Traditional and Roth IRAs come with different withdrawal rules

You probably already know that Traditional and Roth IRAs operate a little differently. (Need a quick refresher? Check out our article on the topic here.) 

When it comes to early withdrawal penalties, the rules vary and depend largely on your age and account type. 

Generally speaking, taking money out of your IRAs before the age of 59 ½ is considered an “early distribution,” which could be subject to a penalty (typically 10% of the withdrawal amount).

If you’re age 59 ½ and over…

Traditional IRA. Age is nothing but a number. And one key number you’ll want to remember is 59 ½. Once you hit this age, you could begin to withdraw funds from your IRA without having to pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty. 

This is important: While the withdrawal might be penalty-free, it might not be tax-free. If you contributed to your Traditional IRA with pre-tax dollars, you’ll typically have to pay taxes when the money comes out.

Don’t need the money at 59 ½? You don’t have to withdraw it right away. If you’re good on funds, you can keep the money parked in the account to stay invested, giving it more time to potentially grow.

But keep in mind that Traditional IRAs are subject to required minimum distribution rules (RMDs). RMDs are withdrawals that you must make starting at age 73 (or age 72 if you turned 72 on or before December 31, 2022). RMDs are required by the IRS, and failure to take RMDs may result in penalties. Consult a tax professional or visit the IRS if you have questions.

Roth IRA. You can withdraw your contributions from your Roth account at any time, penalty-free and tax-free. Withdrawing earnings, however, is a different story. 

You may be wondering why we’re making a distinction between contributions and earnings. Well typically, when you withdraw from your Roth account, money comes out in a certain order: 

1. Regular contributions are money you’ve put into your account. You can withdraw contributions at any time without having to worry about taxes or penalties because you’ve already paid taxes on that money. (Remember, contributions to Roth accounts are made with after-tax dollars.)

2. Conversion contributions or money you brought over from another account (like a Traditional IRA).

3. Earnings are the profits from your investments.

Still with us? You’re doing great. Let’s look at the rules if you’re under 59 ½. 

If you’re under the age of 59 ½…

Want to take money out of your account but haven’t cleared 59 ½? As we mentioned earlier, withdrawing funds before this age is considered an early distribution. 

Traditional IRA. Generally, you will have to pay a 10% penalty for early distributions, as well as income taxes on the money you take out. 

Are there situations where you could withdraw from your Traditional IRA penalty-free? 

Yes! The IRS provides exceptions to the early distribution rule. For example, you may not have to pay the 10% penalty if…

• You have unreimbursed medical expenses that are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. 
• You are totally and permanently disabled.
• You are the beneficiary of a deceased IRA owner.
• The distributions aren't more than your qualified higher education expenses.
• You use the distributions to buy, build, or rebuild a first home.

Visit the IRS webpage on IRA distributions for the full list of exceptions. 

Roth IRA. Because many people often miss this detail, it’s worth mentioning again: You can withdraw your contributions anytime from your Roth account tax-free and penalty-free. 

But if you take an early distribution from your account earnings, the distribution may be subject to taxes and a 10% penalty. 

Unless it’s a qualified distribution. The IRS does not tax or penalize qualified distributions from your Roth account.