Retirement tax questions

A Roth IRA withdrawal that is not qualified may be subject to regular income tax.  A withdrawal is qualified if it is made after age 59-1/2 AND after 5 years after the first Roth contribution.

 

The exact wording is "It is made after the 5-year period beginning with the first taxable year for which a contribution was made to a Roth IRA set up for your benefit."

 

That means that, for a contribution made for taxable year 2016, the 5 year period is 2016-2020.

 

Because you are 60, you won't pay the extra 10% penalty for early withdrawal.  You can always withdraw your contributions at any time without paying income tax or a penalty.  If you withdraw earnings in 2020, they will be subject to regular income tax because you don't meet the 5 year test, but if you wait to 2021 to withdraw your earnings, they will be tax-free.  

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