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Early Distributions From a Traditional IRA
Your receipt or use of any portion of your account (excluding any amount
representing a return of non-deducted contributions) before you attain age 59½
is considered an early or premature distribution. The distribution is subject to a
penalty tax equal to 10% of the distribution unless one of the following
exceptions applies to the distribution:
1. due to your death, or
2. made because you are disabled, or
3. used specifically for deductible medical expenses which exceed 7.5% of
your adjusted gross income, or
4. used for health insurance cost due to your unemployment, or
5. used for higher education expenses defined in section 529(e)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code, or
6. used toward the expenses of a first time home purchase up to a lifetime limit
of $10,000, or
7. part of a scheduled series of substantially equal periodic payments over your
life, or over the joint life expectancy of you and a beneficiary. If you request a
distribution in the form of a series of substantially equal periodic payments,
and you modify the payments before 5 years have elapsed and before
attaining age 59½, the penalty tax will apply retroactively to the year
payments began through the year of such modification, or
8. required because of an IRS levy, or
9. the distribution is a Qualified Reservist Distribution.
The 10% penalty tax is in addition to any federal income tax that is owed at
distribution. For more information on the 10% penalty tax and the exceptions
listed above, consult IRS Publication 590. If you are subject to a federal penalty
tax due to a premature distribution, you must file IRS Form 5329.
Required Distributions from a Traditional IRA
You are required to begin receiving minimum distributions from your IRA by your
required beginning date (April 1 of the year following the year you attain age
72). The year you attain age 72 is referred to as your "first distribution calendar
year". Your required minimum distribution for each year, beginning with the
calendar year you attain age 72, is generally based upon the value of your
account at the end of the prior year divided by the factor for your age (derived
from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Distribution Period Table). This table assumes you
have a designated spouse beneficiary exactly 10 years younger than you.
However, if your spouse is your sole beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger
than you, your required minimum distribution for each year is based upon the joint
life expectancies of you and your spouse. The account balance that is used to
determine each year's required minimum distribution amount is the prior year end
fair market value (value as of December 31
st
), adjusted for outstanding rollovers,
transfers and recharacterizations (that relate to a conversion or failed conversion
made in the prior year). You are responsible for notifying the Custodian of any
outstanding amounts.
If the amount distributed during a taxable year is less than the minimum amount
required to be distributed, you will be subject to a penalty tax equal to 50% of the
difference between the amount distributed and the amount required to be
distributed. You are responsible for monitoring this schedule from year to year to
make sure that you are withdrawing the required minimum amount. If you are
subject to a federal penalty tax due to a missed required minimum distribution,
you must file IRS Form 5329.
However, no payment will be made from this IRA until you provide the Custodian
with a proper distribution request acceptable by the Custodian. Upon receipt of
such distribution request, you may switch to a joint life expectancy in determining
the required minimum distribution if your spouse was your sole beneficiary, as of
the January 1
st
of the calendar year that contains your required beginning date,
and such spouse is more than 10 years younger than you. The required minimum
distribution for the second distribution calendar year and for each subsequent
distribution calendar year must be made by December 31 of each such year.
A
required minimum distribution election form is available from the Custodian.
Traditional IRA Distribution Due to Death
If, prior to your death, you have not started to take your required distributions and
you properly designated a beneficiary(ies), the entire value of your IRA must be
distributed to your beneficiaries within five years after your death, unless the
designated beneficiary elects in writing, no later than September 30
th
of the year
following the year in which you die, to take distributions over their life expectancy.
These distributions must commence no later than December 31
st
of the calendar
year following the calendar year of your death. However, if your spouse is your sole
beneficiary, these distributions are not required to commence until the December
31
st
of the calendar year you would have attained age 72, if that date is later than
the required commencement date in the previous sentence. If you die before your
required beginning date and you do not have a designated beneficiary, the
balance in your IRA must be distributed no later than the December 31
st
of the
calendar year that contains the fifth anniversary of your death.
If you die on or after your required beginning date and you have a designated
beneficiary, the balance in your IRA will be distributed to your beneficiary over the
beneficiary's single life expectancy. These distributions must commence no later
than December 31
st
of the calendar year following the calendar year of your death.
If you die on or after your required beginning date and you do not have a designated
beneficiary, the balance in your IRA must be distributed over a period that does not
exceed your remaining single life expectancy determined in the year of your death.
However, the required minimum distribution for the calendar year that contains the
date of your death is still required to be distributed. Such amount is determined as
if you were still alive throughout that year. If your spouse is your sole beneficiary,
your spouse may elect to treat your IRA as their own IRA, whether you die before or
after your required beginning date. If you die after your required beginning date and
your spouse elects to treat your IRA as his or her own IRA, any required minimum
that has not been distributed for the year of your death must still be distributed to
your surviving spouse and then the remaining balance can be treated as your
spouse's own IRA. After your death, your designated beneficiary may name a
subsequent beneficiary. Any subsequent beneficiaries must take distributions at
least as frequently as the original designated beneficiary. If you do not properly
designate a beneficiary, or all designated beneficiaries have predeceased you, your
spouse shall become the beneficiary or, if no surviving spouse or unmarried, the
distribution will be made to your estate.
Traditional IRA – IRS Approved Form
Your traditional IRA is the Internal Revenue Service's model custodial account
contained in IRS Form 5305-A. Certain additions have been made in Article VIII of
the form. By following the form, your traditional IRA meets the requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code. However, the IRS has not endorsed the merits of the
investments allowed under the IRA. Form 5305-A may also be used by qualifying
employers in conjunction with Form 5305-SEP to establish a Simplified
Employee Pension plan (SEP) on behalf of employees. If your IRA is part of a SEP,
details regarding the plan should also be provided by your employer. IRS Form
5305-A cannot be used in connection with SIMPLE or Roth IRAs or Coverdell
Education Savings Accounts.