Early Distributions from Retirement Plans can have a tax impact so you should plan carefully because it can significantly impact your available income.

Many taxpayers may sometimes find themselves in situations when they need to withdraw money from their retirement plan early. What they may not realize is that that transaction may mean a tax impact when they file their return. This will hurt.

Therefore Tax Planning is important.

Here are some facts from the IRS about the tax implications of an early distribution from your retirement plan or pension plan.

1. Payments you receive from your Individual Retirement Arrangement before you reach age 59 ½ are generally considered early or premature distributions.

2. Early distributions are usually subject to an additional 10 percent tax. This is a killer!

3. Early distributions must also be reported to the IRS. The benefit provider will report this to the IRS.

4. Income distributions that roll over to another IRA or qualified retirement plan are not subject to the additional 10 percent tax. You have to complete the rollover within 60 days after the day you received the distribution.

5. The amount you roll over is generally taxed when your new plan makes a distribution to you or your beneficiary.

6. If you made nondeductible contributions to an IRA and later take early distributions from your IRA, the portion of the distribution attributable to those nondeductible contributions is not taxed.

7. If you received an early distribution from a Roth IRA, the distribution attributable to your prior contributions is not taxed.

8. If you received a distribution from any other qualified retirement plan, generally the entire distribution is taxable unless you made after-tax employee contributions to the plan.

9. There are many exceptions to the additional 10 percent early distribution tax, such as when the distributions are used for the purchase of a first home (up to $10,000), for certain medical or educational expenses, or if you are totally and permanently disabled.

Call us should you have any questions.