Cash out of pension prior to vesting

I worked for the state of California which has a pension that only vests after three years. If you left prior to vesting, you could cash out your contributions to the pension. I received a 1099-R. Is there an exception that I can use to avoid the extra hit as an early distribution (which no one told me it was).

MarilynG1
Expert Alumni

Retirement tax questions

Click this link for info on Early Withdrawal Penalty Exceptions.

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