How to Withdraw From an IRA Without a Penalty

Under most circumstances, you cannot withdraw money early from your IRA without incurring a 10 percent penalty tax on the distribution. In specific cases, though, you can remove a certain amount of money from your account without incurring a penalty. For instance, you can withdraw money from an IRA to pay for school for yourself or your spouse. You may also withdraw it to pay for a new home if you are a first time buyer and to pay for medical expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement.

Step 1

Contact your bank or financial institution to withdraw the money from your IRA. You may want to set up an appointment to speak with your financial adviser before withdrawing the money.

Step 2

Specify that you are removing the money for a reason that is penalty free, so that you do not need to file the 10 percent penalty tax on your income taxes.

Step 3

Complete a withdrawal form to take the money out or give specific instructions over the phone. Designate whether you would like the money in cash, as a check or transferred to another bank account.

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