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IRA Penalties and their Implications

Making a mistake investing with your IRA can have serious penalties. If you pull money out of your traditional IRA, you need to pay taxes due on the new income, which could potentially move you up a tax bracket. You also will owe ten percent of the withdrawal amount as penalty payment to the IRS. This can add up quickly, seriously damaging your nest egg!

With a Roth IRA your penalties are similar, but you've already pre-paid tax on your contributions, so you won't be assessed income tax on the principal. Possibly, you will owe income tax on the interest that has accumulated, and in any case you'll still get hit with the 10% IRS surcharge.

IRA penalties will always be assessed if you withdraw early from your IRA, but you may find yourself paying penalties in other situations. For example, you may have been managing your IRA yourself and invested in something the IRS considers a conflict of interest. For instance, if you put your investment in an office building you also occupy, the IRS may determine this qualifies as an early disbursement.

To make matters worse, if you over contribute, you may find yourself penalized. Penalties for over contributing include the assessment of late taxes, fines, and other charges. You want to neither over nor under contribute, but invest exactly the right amount in your IRA.

This doesn't mean you can't touch your IRA. In a few cases, you can withdraw money from your IRA penalties-free, but you must understand what you're doing and how the different rules apply to your IRA. It's easier to use a Roth IRA in this way, but even a traditional IRA can be a source of cash in certain situations.

You can withdraw money from your IRA penalties-free if you are purchasing a home for the first time in two years. You're eligible to withdraw up to $10,000 for yourself (your spouse can do the same with his or her individual IRA), and you can use the cash for your own home or for that of a parent, child, or grandchild. Your lifetime individual limit is $10,000. You may also withdraw cash without interest to use for qualified educational expenses, from tuition to board.

Your IRA can also be used to pay for medical insurance once you've been unemployed for 12 consecutive weeks, or to fund certain medical expenses if they exceed 7.5% of your gross income. If you become disabled, you can treat your IRA as if you've already retired. If you are a qualified reservist called to active duty, you may be able to avoid the 10% fee (talk to your command about this - the rules are changing to accommodate people as they get called up). And in a couple of other situations - when your life expectancy is shortened, for instance - you may be able to have your IRA qualified for regular disbursement early.

Regardless of penalization, there is no case where you should withdraw money from your IRA without good reason. IRA penalties are there to protect your retirement investment and encourage you against relying on your retirement as a rainy day fund. Protect your IRA and it will take care of you in the future, helping you live a comfortable and secure life later on!

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

William Brightworth is a consultant who writes about Ira investing in Real Estate. Follow this link to learn more about Ira real estate investing.

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