The Roth IRA is a unique type of investment account that offers every future retiree’s dream — the prospect of tax-free income after they reach retirement age. Show
Like any retirement account, however — and really, anything that has to do with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — there are rules that dictate who can contribute, how much money can be sheltered, and when those tax-free distributions can actually begin. To break it down:
The Roth IRA five-year ruleThe five-year rule could foil your withdrawal plans if you don’t know about it ahead of time. This rule for Roth IRA distributions stipulates that five years must have passed since the tax year of your first Roth IRA contribution before you can withdraw the earnings in the account tax-free. Keep in mind that the five-year clock begins ticking on January 1st of the year you made your first contribution to the account. That means even if you made your first contribution on Dec. 31 of a given year, you get to count the full year toward the five-year rule. In fact, contributions as late as the tax deadline for that year can count. For example, you could make a contribution as late as April 15, 2023 that counts toward the 2022 tax year. Inherited Roth IRAs have their own clock, but it starts with the original account owner and when they made their first contributions — not when it was inherited. Also note that Roth IRA conversions have their own five-year clock, but that rule determines whether the conversion principal will avoid penalty taxes. Roth IRA income and contribution limitsThe concept behind the Roth IRA is simple. Investors who meet income guidelines can deposit money into this account on an after-tax basis and receive tax-free distributions once they reach retirement. In 2022, individuals up to certain income caps can contribute up to $6,000 to a Roth IRA account. Those age 50 and older can contribute up to $7,000 for the year, using what is known as a “catch-up contribution.” You can pull in a healthy income and still contribute to a Roth IRA, but income caps could put the brakes on your contributions if you are an especially high earner.
Keep in mind, however, that your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA is based on your modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI. (However, those with any level of income can still use a backdoor Roth IRA to contribute.) Roth IRA early withdrawal taxesSince we’re talking about contributions, it’s important to note that anyone (of any age) who contributes to a Roth IRA can withdraw their contributions at any time without penalty. The key word here is contributions, though, since you cannot normally withdraw your earnings prior to age 59 ½ without paying a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. Earnings can generally be withdrawn without penalties after age 59 ½ provided you meet the five-year rule. Savers don’t need to do anything special to ensure that only the contributions are withdrawn since the IRS has rules that dictate which funds are removed from the account first. The IRS decrees that Roth IRA distributions are taken in this order:
These rules make it easier to withdraw your contributions without taxes or penalties. Qualified vs. non-qualified distributionsContributing to a Roth IRA is the easy part, but there’s a learning curve to understanding which distributions are qualified, which ones are non-qualified, and when exactly exceptions can be made. Qualified distributionsIf a Roth IRA participant meets the five-year rule for distributions, any distribution is considered qualified, provided at least one of these conditions is met:
Imagine for a moment that you opened a Roth IRA in 2015 at age 58 and contributed $5,000 per year in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Even though you turned 59 ½ in your second year of contributing to a Roth IRA, you would not be eligible to take distributions from your account without paying taxes until five years had lapsed. At that point, however, your distributions would be considered qualified and entirely tax- and penalty-free, since you are over the age of 59 ½ and have satisfied the five-year rule. Non-qualified distributionsUnless an exception applies, distributions that do not meet the requirements to be considered “qualified” will be subject to ordinary income taxes and a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. As mentioned before, however, taxes and penalties only apply when an investor wants to withdraw their Roth IRA earnings. Anyone who uses a Roth can withdraw their Roth IRA contributions at any time without penalty. When can you withdraw earnings from a Roth IRA without penalty?Pull your earnings out of a Roth IRA account too early and you may be subject to income taxes on those amounts as well as face a penalty amounting to another 10 percent, except in certain situations. We already mentioned how you can take up to $10,000 out of a Roth IRA account without penalty early for the purchase of your first home, if you become disabled, or if the distribution is made to your estate after you pass away. You can also avoid the 10 percent penalty (but not the taxes) for an early withdrawal if:
Those are the main exceptions, but the IRS offers still other ways to avoid the penalty. Roth IRA withdrawal timelineNow that we’ve explained all the rules and exceptions, here’s a basic rundown of Roth IRA distribution rules for each age group and when you can withdraw earnings without paying the 10 percent penalty or taxes on earnings. If you’ve had the account for less than five years, you may be able to avoid the penalty when withdrawing earnings, but will still owe income taxes on the earnings. Ages younger than 59 ½ with a Roth IRA you’ve had less than five years, you can avoid the penalty but will still owe taxes on earnings if you:
Ages younger than 59 ½ with a Roth IRA you’ve had more than five years, you can avoid the penalty for early withdrawal and taxes on earnings if you:
Ages 59 ½ or older:
Bottom lineRoth IRAs can be absolute magic for future retirees who contribute often and follow the rules, including the five-year rule on distributions. Before you start investing with a Roth, make sure you know the rules that dictate how much you can save and when you can get your money. While the five-year rule may not have been on your radar before, you now know how it works — and how to start the clock ticking. What is the 5 year rule for Roth IRA?The 5-year rule on Roth conversions requires you to wait five years before withdrawing any converted balances — contributions or earnings — regardless of your age. If you take money out before the five years is up, you'll have to pay a 10% penalty when you file your tax return.
What happens if you withdraw from Roth IRA before 59 1 2?If you withdraw Roth IRA earnings before age 59½, a 10% penalty usually applies. Withdrawals before age 59½ from a traditional IRA trigger a 10% penalty tax whether you withdraw contributions or earnings.
How long does it take for a Roth IRA to make money?Typically, Roth IRAs see average annual returns of 7-10%. For example, if you're under 50 and you've just opened a Roth IRA, $6,000 in contributions each year for 10 years with a 7% interest rate would amass $83,095. Wait another 30 years and the account will grow to more than $500,000.
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