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The Pros and Cons of an Early Withdrawal from Your Roth IRA

Learn about the rules for taking out funds from a R𒁏oth IRA

Part of the Series
What 50-Year-Olds Need To Know About Roth IRAs

You can withdraw your contributions from a Roth individual retirement arrangement (IRA) 𝐆at any time and for any reason with no penalties or ta♛xation.

Whether withdrawing funds early is a good idea will depend on your financial situation. In some cases, it may benefit you. In others, you may find a number of reasons why you might want to think twice before taking an early withdrawal fr൲om a ⭕Roth IRA. Learn more about how withdrawing funds from a Roth IRA works.

Key Takeaways

  • You can withdraw Roth IRA contributions (but not gains on investments) without penalty or tax at any time.
  • Withdrawing gains from a Roth IRA before you are 59½ can result in potential taxes and penalties.
  • Funds in a Roth IRA account can provide emergency savings and avoid the need for a loan.
  • If you don't repay the money, you will reduce your retirement savings.

When you make deposits to a Roth IRA, you are using money that has already been taxed. Got get the tax advantage when you make withdrawals, which are tax free. After age 59½, you can withdraw the earnings on your investments tax-free as well.

In some cases, withdrawing money early from 𒊎your Roth IRA can make sense. However, it does have downsides to consider.

Pros
  • Withdraw contributions for free

  • Exceptions to early-withdrawal penalties

  • Pay for emergency expenses

Cons
  • Potential taxes and penalties

  • Lost retirement savings

  • Loss of future earnings

Advantages to Withdrawing Contributions Early

Withdraw Contributions for Free

A Roth IRA offers a unique tool for accessing money in certain circumstances.

Your tota🐠l Roth IRA balance includes both contributions and earnings—the interest and dividends that your contributions have accumulated since they were invested. Contributions are the money that you deposited into your Roth account.

You make Roth IRA contributions with after-tax money, so you will have already paid the taxes on your contributions. You can withdraw 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:contributions at any age, for any ꦓreason, wi🐷thout owing any income taxes or penalties.

Note

If you withdraw earnings, you may owe taxes and penalties. It depends on your age, how long you have held the account, and how you plan to use the money.

Exceptions to Early-Withdrawal Penalties

If you wait until you’re at least age 59½ and your account is at least 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:five years old, you can withdraw contributions and earnings without owing taxes or penalties.

If you need the money sooner, you may qualify for an exception to the early-withdrawal penalty. You can avoid the penalty if you use the money for:

Pay for Emergency Expenses

Conventional wisdom suggests that you have an emergency fund with three to six months worth of expenses. That way you can better pay for unexpected expenses. If you don't have an emergency fund, you can potentially rely on your Roth IRA funds to pay for unexpected expenses instead of turning to credit cards or other high interest rate loans.

Disadvantages to Withdrawing IRA Funds Early

Potential Taxes and Penalties

You may have to pay a 10% early-withdrawal penalty and income taxes if you withdraw any earnings from your Roth IRA. You can avoid both the taxes and the penalty if the account is at least five years old and you are 59½ years old, or if you meet a few other specifications:

If you have had the account five years or mor✱e and are:

  • Under age 59½: Withdrawals of earnings are subject to taxes and penalties. You may be able to avoid both if you use the money in certain circumstances such as for a first-time home purchase.
  • Age 59½ and older: No taxes or penalties.

𒊎 If you have n𒊎ot had the account five years or more and are:

  • Under age 59½: Withdrawals of earnings are subject to taxes and penalties. You may be able to (but not the taxes) in certain circumstances.
  • Age 59½ and older: Withdrawals of earnings are subject to taxes, but not penalties.

Lost Retirement Savings

With IRAs, you cannot borrow money long term from an IRA. Instead, any money that you take out is a withdrawal, not a loan. You have 60 days to redeposit the money into the same IRA or another qualified account. After that, it is considered a permanent withdrawal—with tax and penalty consequences.

Loss of Future Earnings

If you don't repay the money, you will miss out on future earnings, and that can affect your retirement savings. A major advantage to a Roth IRA the power of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:compounding interest with its tax advantages. If you withdraw money from your Roth IRA early, you wꦑon't get the benefit of compounding.

How Can You Avoid Withdrawals from a Roth IRA?

If you need money, other sources of funding in addition to funds in a Roth IRA account may include: a 401(k) loan, personal loans, 澳洲幸运5开奖号𓆏码历史查询:home equity loans or lines of credit, credit cards, or income from another job,

How Much Is the Early-Withdrawal Penalty on a Roth IRA?

The penalty for withdrawing earnings early from a Roth IRA is 10%. You will have to pay this penalty if your Roth IRA is less than five years old and you withdraw earnings before you reach age 59½. (You can withdraw your contributions at any time without penalty.) You also may have to pay taxes on your withdrawal. There are exceptions to these rules such as if you use the funds to buy your first home.

Can You Repay Your Roth IRA?

Removing money from an IRA is not like taking out a loan. You have 60 days from when you withdraw the funds to put it back into the same account or into another qualified retirement account. After that,ജ the money is considered permanently withdrawn. You also may have to pay a penalty and/or taxes on the withdrawal.

The Bottom Line

When you have no other option, you can consider taking an early withdrawal from your Roth IRA. Weigh the pros and cons carefully and establish a plan for repaying the fund as soon as possible. Consult with a qualified 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:financia෴l 🦄planner or investment advisor for more guidance on the options for your specific situatio🎐n.

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