Withdraw without penalty: do your clients rate an exemption from the penalty for early withdrawal of retirement funds?EXECUTIVE SUMMARY * WHEN CLIENTS ARE DESPERATE FOR FUNDS because of unforeseen circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or , CPAs can help them tap retirement funds without triggering the 10% early withdrawal penalty. Eight exemptions to this penalty relate to life cycle events and present tax-planning opportunities. * DISTRIBUTIONS TO A DISABLED TAXPAYER WHO HAS little or no disability insurance may escape the 10% penalty. A taxpayer with deductible That which may be taken away or subtracted. In taxation, an item that may be subtracted from gross income or adjusted gross income in determining taxable income (e.g., interest expenses, charitable contributions, certain taxes). medical expenses also may qualify for an exemption. * A TAXPAYER WHO RETIRES BEFORE AGE 59 1/2 is exempt from the 10% penalty if the distribution is part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments Substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP) A method of distribution from IRA account assets that under certain conditions is not subject to the IRS's 10% premature withdrawal penalty for those under age 59-1/2. . An employee who quits quits adj. On even terms with by payment or requital: I am finally quits with the loan. [Middle English, probably alteration (influenced by Medieval Latin his or her job, however, must be at least age 55 to avoid the penalty. * IRA Ira, in the Bible Ira (ī`rə), in the Bible. 1 Chief officer of David. 2, 3 Two of David's guard. IRA, abbreviation IRA. DISTRIBUTIONS WILL NOT BE PENALIZED pe·nal·ize tr.v. pe·nal·ized, pe·nal·iz·ing, pe·nal·iz·es 1. To subject to a penalty, especially for infringement of a law or official regulation. See Synonyms at punish. 2. if the funds are used to pay health insurance premiums for an unemployed taxpayer and his or her family, qualified higher education expenses Qualified Higher Education Expense Expenses such as tuition and tuition related expenses that an individual, spouse, or child must pay to an eligible post-secondary institution. for his or her family, or a first-time home purchase. * A DISTRIBUTION MADE UNDER a bona fide [Latin, In good faith.] Honest; genuine; actual; authentic; acting without the intention of defrauding. A bona fide purchaser is one who purchases property for a valuable consideration that is inducement for entering into a contract and without suspicion of being loan agreement may escape the penalty. * CPAs WITH CLIENTS WHO QUALIFY for more than one exemption must determine the mix of exemptions that will meet their financial needs. ********** CPAs commonly advise clients not to touch their savings in IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans before age 59 1/2 because of tax disincentives; in addition to ordinary income taxes, IRC (Internet Relay Chat) Computer conferencing on the Internet. There are hundreds of IRC channels on numerous subjects that are hosted on IRC servers around the world. After joining a channel, your messages are broadcast to everyone listening to that channel. section 72(t) imposes a 10% penalty on early withdrawals. But if clients desperately need funds to handle unforeseen life cycle events, CPAs must abandon their normal position and seek ways to minimize the related tax disincentives. IRC section 72(t) provides for 16 exemptions from the early withdrawal penalty (see exhibit 1, page 49), eight of which relate to life cycle crises. This article discusses the applicability and restrictions associated with these eight exemptions and provides CPAs with guidance on how clients can qualify for them. GENERAL APPLICABILITY OF THE PENALTY The 10% penalty is an income tax rather than an excise tax Excise Tax 1. An indirect tax charged on the sale of a particular good. 2. A penalty tax applied to ineligible transactions in retirement accounts. This penalty is assessed by and paid to the IRS. Notes: 1. . It applies to any early distribution includable in the recipient's gross income from a qualified retirement plan, defined in IRC section 4974(c) to include * Section 401(a) qualified pension, profit-sharing or stock bonus plans. * Section 403(a) annuity annuity: see insurance. annuity Payment made at a fixed interval. A common example is the payment received by retirees from their pension plan. There are two main classes of annuities: annuities certain and contingent annuities. plans. * Section 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity Tax-sheltered annuity A type of retirement plan under Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code that permits employees of public educational organizations or tax-exempt organizations to make before-tax contributions via a salary reduction agreement to a tax-sheltered retirement contracts. * Section 408(a) individual retirement accounts (IRAs). * Section 408(b) individual retirement annuities. An early distribution is one made before the participant reaches age 59 1/2. The penalty does not apply to the portion of an early distribution that is a return of basis, nor to any of the distributions identified in exhibit 1. DISTRIBUTION FOLLOWING A DISABILITY The 10% penalty doesn't apply to a distribution made to a disabled participant. IRC section 72(m)(7) and related regulations define a participant as disabled if he or she cannot engage in any "substantial gainful gain·ful adj. Providing a gain; profitable: gainful employment. gain ful·ly adv. activity" because of a medically
determined physical or mental impairment Impairment1. A reduction in a company's stated capital. 2. The total capital that is less than the par value of the company's capital stock. Notes: 1. This is usually reduced because of poorly estimated losses or gains. 2. expected to result in death or to be of long-continued or indefinite INDEFINITE. That which is undefined; uncertain. INDEFINITE, NUMBER. A number which may be increased or diminished at pleasure. 2. When a corporation is composed of an indefinite number of persons, any number of them consisting of a majority of those duration, and can furnish fur·nish tr.v. fur·nished, fur·nish·ing, fur·nish·es 1. To equip with what is needed, especially to provide furniture for. 2. proof of this condition in the form or manner required by the IRS An abbreviation for the Internal Revenue Service, a federal agency charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing internal revenue laws. . "Substantial gainful activity" refers to the activity in which the participant normally engaged or a comparable one before the disability. Treasury regulations section 1.72-17(A) (f) (2) provides examples of impairments that ordinarily or·di·nar·i·ly adv. 1. As a general rule; usually: ordinarily home by six. 2. In the commonplace or usual manner: ordinarily dressed pedestrians on the street. prevent people from engaging in a substantial gainful activity (see exhibit 2, page 52). However, having one or more of these impairments doesn't always permit a finding that an individual is disabled. The IRS evaluates the impairment based on whether it in fact prevents the person from engaging in substantial gainful activity. Exhibit 2: Impairments Preventing Substantial Gainful Activity * Loss of use of two limbs. * Progressive disease, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis or Buerger's disease, that resulted in the physical loss or atrophy of a limb. * Disease of the heart, lungs or blood vessels that resulted in a major loss of heart or lung reserve (as evidenced by X-ray, electrocardiogram or other objective findings) such that minor exertion (for example, walking several blocks, minor chores and using public transportation) produces breathlessness, pain or fatigue. * Inoperable and progressive cancer. * Damage to the brain or a brain abnormality that resulted in severe loss of judgment, intellect, orientation or memory. * Mental disease (for example, psychosis or severe psychoneurosis) requiring continued institutionalization or constant supervision. * Loss or diminution of vision to the extent that the central visual acuity in the better eye after correction is not better than 20/200, or the widest diameter of the visual field of vision subtends an angle not greater than 20 degrees. * Permanent and total loss of speech. * Total deafness uncorrectable with a hearing aid. Source: Treasury regulations section 1.72-17(A)(f)(2). An impairment is "of indefinite duration" if the participant cannot reasonably be expected to recover in the foreseeable fore·see tr.v. fore·saw , fore·seen , fore·see·ing, fore·sees To see or know beforehand: foresaw the rapid increase in unemployment. future (Treasury regulations section 1.72-17A(f)(3)). For example, participants who suffer bone fractures Fractures Definition A fracture is a complete or incomplete break in a bone resulting from the application of excessive force. Description that prevent them from working are not disabled if recovery is reasonably expected in the foreseeable future. If a bone persistently fails to knit, however, the IRS ordinarily will consider the individual disabled. Clients don't normally expect or plan for a disabling dis·a·ble tr.v. dis·a·bled, dis·a·bling, dis·a·bles 1. To deprive of capability or effectiveness, especially to impair the physical abilities of. 2. Law To render legally disqualified. accident, and the few who purchase disability insurance often do not have adequate funds to sustain them during the required waiting period until disability payments begin. CPAs should counsel clients of the availability of retirement funds for this purpose. DISTRIBUTION OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL PERIODIC PAYMENTS The 10% penalty does not apply to a distribution of plan assets that is part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments, paid not less frequently than annually, for the recipient's life (or life expectancy Life Expectancy 1. The age until which a person is expected to live. 2. The remaining number of years an individual is expected to live, based on IRS issued life expectancy tables. ) or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the recipient and a designated beneficiary beneficiary Person or entity (e.g., a charity or estate) that receives a benefit from something (e.g., a trust, life-insurance policy, or contract). A primary beneficiary receives proceeds from a trust or insurance policy before any other. . Distributions from a qualified plan other than an IRA or individual retirement annuity qualify for this exception only if they begin after the employee separates from the employer's service (IRC section 72(t)(3)(B)). In notice 89-5, the IRS presents three methods of calculating distributions from a defined contribution plan Defined contribution plan A pension plan whose sponsor is responsible only for making specified contributions into the plan on behalf of qualifying participants. Related: Defined benefit plan or an IRA that will satisfy the substantially equal requirement. * Required minimum distribution method (sanctioned under IRC section 401(c)(9)). In calculating the annual payments, participants may use either their own life expectancy or the joint life and last survivor expectancy A mere hope, based upon no direct provision, promise, or trust. An expectancy is the possibility of receiving a thing, rather than having a vested interest in it. The term has been applied to situations where an individual hopes and expects to receive something, generally of the participant and a beneficiary. Revenue ruling 2002-62 modifies notice 89-5 to require participants to calculate these payments annually, using the account balance and the appropriate life expectancy table at the beginning of each year they receive payments. This requirement produces unequal payments, but the IRS treats them as a series of substantially equal payments provided the participant does not change to another method of calculation. * Fixed amortization method. Participants determine the annual payment by amortizing the account balance over their life expectancy or the joint life and last survivor expectancy for the participant and a designated beneficiary. Participants must determine the life expectancies for this purpose in accordance Accordance is Bible Study Software for Macintosh developed by OakTree Software, Inc.[] As well as a standalone program, it is the base software packaged by Zondervan in their Bible Study suites for Macintosh. with regulations section 1.401 (a)(9)-1. The interest rate cannot exceed a reasonable rate on the date payments begin. Unlike the minimum distribution method, the payments under the fixed amortization method are the same for all years. For example, let's assume a 50-year-old participant decides to withdraw an IRA balance of $100,000 in installments. His life expectancy in table V of regulations section 1.401(a)(9)-1 is 33.1 years. In the year in which payments begin, 8% is a reasonable interest rate. Amortizing $100,000 over 33.1 years at an 8% interest rate yields a payment of $8,679. * Fixed annuitization method Annuitization Method A type of annuity distribution structure that gives the annuitant periodic income payments for the rest of his or her life, or a specified period of time. . Participants determine their annual payment by dividing the account balance by an annuity factor Annuity factor Present value of $1 paid for each of t periods. for the present value of $1 per year (or per month if monthly payments are made), assuming a reasonable interest rate at the time the payments begin and a time period equal to their life expectancy at their age in the first distribution year (using a reasonable mortality table). As with the fixed amortization, the payments remain the same for years subsequent to the first distribution year. Our 50-year-old participant with an account balance of $100,000 would have substantially equal payments of $9,002 a year, assuming an 8% interest rate ($100,000 / 11.109, the annuity factor for a $1 per year annuity using the UP-1984 mortality table). Note that the IRS did not intend to limit taxpayers to these three methods presented in notice 89-25 (letter rulings 9008073 and 9615042). Any reasonable method of calculation satisfies the requirements of IRC section 72(t) (2)(A)(iv) (letter ruling 8921098). Guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. for all methods. Revenue ruling 2002-62 provides that the interest rate used in calculating the annual payments cannot exceed 120% of the federal midterm mid·term n. 1. The middle of an academic term or a political term of office. 2. a. An examination given at the middle of a school or college term. b. midterms A series of such examinations. rate determined under IRC section 1274(d) for either of the two months immediately preceding the month the payments begin. The IRS places no lower limit on the interest rate, which can work in favor of upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage of. See also: favor clients who want to minimize the amount they take each year. Revenue ruling 2002-62 also stipulates that taxpayers must use the account balance as of the first valuation date selected for this purpose. Any subsequent change in the balance results in a modification of payments. Any modification in payments before the participant reaches age 59 1/2, or within five years of the date of the first payment (even if the participant has reached age 59 1/2), other than because of the participant's death or disability, voids the periodic payment exception. In the year of modification, any tax not paid because of the periodic payment exception, plus interest for the deferral deferral - Waiting for quiet on the Ethernet. period, becomes payable. For example, John Kelly John Kelly or Jack Kelly is the name of: People
A large one-time payment of money. . Because this modification took place within five years of the date of the first payment, he must pay the 10% additional income tax plus interest on the payments received before he reached age 59 1/2 (but not on the payments received after age 59 1/2). Kelly's CPA (Computer Press Association, Landing, NJ) An earlier membership organization founded in 1983 that promoted excellence in computer journalism. Its annual awards honored outstanding examples in print, broadcast and electronic media. The CPA disbanded in 2000. could have suggested he avoid the recapture recapture n. in income tax, the requirement that the taxpayer pay the amount of tax savings from past years due to accelerated depreciation or deferred capital gains upon sale of property. (See: income tax) RECAPTURE, war. tax by not taking the lump-sum payment until 2005. CPAs with clients who want to receive payments from IRAs or qualified plans before age 59 1/2, and do not qualify for one of the other exceptions, should point out the perils of modifying distribution payments and show clients how to structure their payments to avoid the recapture tax. A series of rulings shows the IRS does not consider all changes in periodic payments as modifications that trigger the recapture tax. Exhibit 3, page 54, summarizes some of these rulings to give CPAs an idea of how difficult it is to advise clients in this area without careful research. Many of the changes the IRS lets escape the recapture tax differ little from those it considers modifications, and thus, taxable. DISTRIBUTION DUE TO SEPARATION FROM SERVICE Early distributions from a qualified plan are exempt from the 10% penalty IRC section's 72(t)(2)(A)(v) if the participant leaves the employer maintaining the plan during or after the calendar year in which he or she attains age 55. This exemption does not apply to self-employed people or distributions from IRAs. CPAs may find this exemption beneficial to clients who quit their jobs to follow a spouse spouse A legal marriage partner as defined by state law transferred temporarily or permanently to a new location. They can tap their retirement funds while they search for a new job. Be aware, however, that the IRS is likely to scrutinize scru·ti·nize tr.v. scru·ti·nized, scru·ti·niz·ing, scru·ti·niz·es To examine or observe with great care; inspect critically. scru any short separation to determine whether it is a bona fide indefinite separation from service. DISTRIBUTION FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES The early withdrawal penalty does not apply when a qualified retirement plan distribution is less than or equal to a participant's deductible medical expenses for the tax year of distribution (IRC sections 72(t)(2)(B) and (3)(A)). CPAs should discuss this option with any clients facing large medical bills at a time when they have been laid off from their jobs and cannot afford health insurance. Taxpayers may deduct de·duct v. de·duct·ed, de·duct·ing, de·ducts v.tr. 1. To take away (a quantity) from another; subtract. 2. To derive by deduction; deduce. v.intr. any medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of their adjusted gross income (AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) A machine intelligence that resembles that of a human being. Considered impossible by many, most artificial intelligence (AI) research, projects and products deal with specific applications such as industrial robots, playing chess, ) under IRC section 213. They do not have to itemize To individually state each item or article. Frequently used in tax accounting, an itemized account or claim separately lists amounts that add up to the final sum of the total account on claim. the deductions to qualify for this exemption (IRC section 72(t)(2)(B)). As an example, Matt Gear withdrew $6,500 from a qualified retirement plan to help cover $8,000 m medical expenses he incurred during 2004. Gear's AGI for 2004 was $48,000. Under section 213 he can deduct only $4,400 of his medical expenses (the portion in excess of his medical expense deduction deduction, in logic, form of inference such that the conclusion must be true if the premises are true. For example, if we know that all men have two legs and that John is a man, it is then logical to deduce that John has two legs. floor, 7.5% of his $48,000 AGI, or $3,600. $8,000 - $3,600 = $4,400). Even if Gear does not itemize deductions in 2004, $4,400 of the amount he withdrew from his retirement plan will escape the section 72(t) penalty, though he will have to pay the 10% penalty on the remaining $2,100 ($6,500 - $4,400). CPAs should advise clients who can push medical procedures into a tax year that has a more favorable fa·vor·a·ble adj. 1. Advantageous; helpful: favorable winds. 2. Encouraging; propitious: a favorable diagnosis. 3. AGI to do so, so that more of their withdrawal will escape the section 72(t) penalty. CPAs also can help clients combine the medical expense exemption with other exemptions so the penalty does not apply to any of the withdrawal. DISTRIBUTION FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS Section 72(t)(2)(D) exempts IRA distributions for health insurance premiums paid for unemployed account holders, their spouses and dependents from the early withdrawal penalty if * The account holder receives federal or state unemployment compensation for at least 12 consecutive weeks. * The distribution occurs during the tax year the holder receives the unemployment compensation or the following tax year. The exemption covers distributions only up to the amount of premiums paid or distributions made until the account holder is re-employed for at least 60 days. CPAs should point out to clients that this exemption doesn't require them to actually use the money from the distribution to pay the premiums. Also, self-employed clients qualify for this exemption if self-employment is the only reason they do not qualify for unemployment compensation. DISTRIBUTIONS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. EXPENSES The penalty does not apply if IRA distributions are used to pay qualified higher education expenses (QHEEs) of the account holder or a spouse, child or grandchild at an eligible institution. If a distribution qualifies for one of the section 72(t) exemptions discussed above, however, the account holder cannot apply the higher education expense exemption (section 72(t)(2)(E)). As defined in section 529(e)(3), QHEEs include tuition For tuition fees in the United Kingdom, see . Tuition means instruction, teaching or a fee charged for educational instruction especially at a formal institution of learning or by a private tutor usually in the form of one-to-one tuition. , fees, books, supplies and equipment required for enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution. Almost all accredited accredited recognition by an appropriate authority that the performance of a particular institution has satisfied a prestated set of criteria. accredited herds cattle herds which have achieved a low level of reactors to, e.g. colleges, universities and vocational schools fit this description. Students can pay with their earnings, a loan, a gift, an inheritance inheritance, in law inheritance, in law: see heir. inheritance, in biology inheritance, in biology: see heredity. inheritance Devolution of property on an heir or heirs upon the death of its owner. or personal savings. Expenses paid with a Pell Grant The Pell Grant program is a type of post-secondary, educational federal grant program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It is named after U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell and originally known as the the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program. or other tax-free educational assistance reduce the amount of the IRA distribution escaping the 10% penalty. Thus, CPAs should determine the types of educational assistance for postsecondary education that clients already receive before advising them of the amount that can be withdrawn without penalty. For example, Susan Bennett's QHEEs total $35,000 for the 2004-2005 academic year. Her parents pay $30,000 of these costs from a combination of earnings, loans, personal savings and savings from a qualified state tuition program; Bennett pays the remaining $5,000 from gifts, inheritances and her own earnings. Her father, age 51, can withdraw $35,000 from his IRA without incurring the 10% early withdrawal penalty. In contrast, Don Mason's QHEEs total $35,000. His family uses a combination of a Pell Grant, a tax-free scholarship and tax-free employer-provided tuition assistance to pay $30,000. His father, age 51, can shield only $5,000 of the amount he withdraws from his IRA from the penalty. DISTRIBUTION FOR FIRST-TIME HOME PURCHASE The 10% penalty doesn't apply to a "qualified first-time homebuyer First-Time Homebuyer An IRA owner who is exempt from the early-distribution penalty (which applies to IRA distributions that occur before the IRA owner reaches age 59.5) for distributing funds from his or her IRA to buy, build, or rebuild a home when having had no interest in a distribution" from an IRA (section 72(t)(2)(F)) if the distribution is used within 120 days of its receipt to pay qualified acquisition costs associated with the first-time purchase of a principal residence. The homebuyer home·buy·er n. One who is in the process of buying a home. may be the IRA holder or spouse, child, grandchild or ancestor ANCESTOR, descents. One who has preceded another in a direct line of descent; an ascendant. In the common law, the word is understood as well of the immediate parents, as, of these that are higher; as may appear by the statute 25 Ed. III. De natis ultra mare, and so in the statute of 6 R. (section 72(t)(8)(A)). The term principal residence means the same as it does for calculating the excludability of gain on sale under section 121 (section 72(t)(8)(ii)). Section 72(t)(8)(C) defines qualified acquisition costs to include the expenses of acquiring, constructing or reconstructing a residence, as well as any usual or reasonable settlement, financing or other closing payments. CPAs should note that the term first-time homebuyer is a misnomer misnomer n. the wrong name. MISNOMER. The act of using a wrong name. 2. Misnomers, may be considered with regard to contracts, to devises and bequests, and to suits or actions. 3.-1. in that it does not preclude pre·clude tr.v. pre·clud·ed, pre·clud·ing, pre·cludes 1. To make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent. See Synonyms at prevent. 2. previous home ownership. Instead, it holds that the homebuyer (and spouse, if married) cannot have had an ownership interest in a principal residence during the two-year period ending on the date of acquisition (section 72(t)(8)(D)(i)(I)). A lifetime limit of $10,000 applies to the first-time homebuyer exemption (section 72(t)(8)(B)). Buyers also cannot use this exemption if the IRA distribution qualifies for one of the other section 72(t) exemptions. For example, Lisa and David Jones David Jones is a common name, particularly in Wales, and there have been several well-known individuals with this name. Variations include Dave Jones and Davy Jones. sold their principal residence and moved into a rental home in 1999. In 2005 Lisa withdrew $10,000 from her IRA to use as a down payment on the purchase of a new home. Lisa and David must include the withdrawal in their gross income, but do not have to pay the penalty. CPAs should carefully counsel clients who plan to use IRA money for a home acquisition about the time limits involved. Clients must use the money within 120 days of the date of withdrawal. If the purchase is delayed or canceled, clients must roll the distribution into an IRA within the 120-day period to avoid the penalty. And clients who sell one home must wait at least two years before buying a new one to qualify. DISTRIBUTION SUBJECT TO LOAN AGREEMENT IRC section 72(p) excludes distributions made under a loan agreement from the early withdrawal penalty if the loan agreement is legally enforceable and imposes restrictions on the term, repayment and amount of the loan. The agreement may be on paper, electronic or in any other medium approved by the IRS. A signature is not required if the pact is PACT I - An early system on the IBM 701. Version PACT IA was for the IBM 704. [Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959)]. enforceable without signature under applicable law (regulations section 1.72(p)-1, A-3(b)). The term of the loan generally cannot exceed five years, unless the loan is used to acquire a dwelling dwelling an abnormality of gait in a horse in which there is a momentary hesitation before the foot is placed on the ground. unit that will be the participant's principal residence within a reasonable period of time. If it exceeds the term limits (either initially or later because of nonpayment), the 10% penalty applies on the entire loan (regulations section 1.72(p)-1, A-4). The loan agreement must specify a repayment schedule. The agreement may provide for a three-month grace period, and section 414(u)(4) allows a participant to suspend payments (Com.) to cease paying debts or obligations; to fail; - said of a merchant, a bank, etc. See also: Suspend during military service. Otherwise, if participants fail to pay an amount due, the IRS will treat the entire loan as a distribution subject to the 10% penalty (regulations section 1.72(p)-1, A-3(b)). Section 72(p)(2)(A) stipulates that the amount of the loan plus all other loans from the same employer generally cannot exceed the lesser of $50,000 or half of the present value of the employee's nonforfeitable accrued ac·crue v. ac·crued, ac·cru·ing, ac·crues v.intr. 1. To come to one as a gain, addition, or increment: interest accruing in my savings account. 2. benefit under his or her retirement plans. Coordinating section 72(t) exemptions requires a little thought and creativity, but CPAs can maximize their value by providing this financial lifeline life·line n. 1. a. An anchored line thrown as a support to someone falling or drowning. b. A line shot to a ship in distress. c. A line used to raise and lower deep-sea divers. 2. to clients who are facing layoffs, forced early retirements or other catastrophes. Paying the Penalty More than 70% of the individuals who received lump-sum distributions Lump-Sum Distribution A one time payment for the entire amount due, rather than breaking payments into smaller installments. Some lump-sum distributions receive special tax treatment. from their retirement plans in 2001 spent them, subjecting them to the IRC section 72(t) 10% early withdrawal penalty. Source: Authors' tabulations from the "Survey of Income and Program Participation The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) is a statistical survey conducted by the Demographic Statistical Methods Division of the United States Census Bureau. The main objective of the SIPP is to provide accurate and comprehensive information about the income of ," 2001 Panel, Wave 7, U.S. Census Bureau Noun 1. Census Bureau - the bureau of the Commerce Department responsible for taking the census; provides demographic information and analyses about the population of the United States Bureau of the Census , www.sipp.census.gov/sipp. How Would You Advise This Client? CPAs often find that clients qualify for more than one exemption, and the real challenge is to determine the best mix. Consider the plight of Jack Winston, who lost his job in Baltimore at the age of 52. He found new employment in Chicago, starting in six months. Jack has a daughter in college and no medical insurance, and needs to purchase a new home. He has little cash, but large balances in his 401(k) retirement plan and several IRAs. Which, if any, section 72(0 exemptions would you suggest to provide Jack the liquidity he needs? The Choices The disability exemption clearly doesn't apply. The equal payments exemption isn't suitable because Jack cannot stop the payments in six months without creating a modification. And because Jack is younger than 55, he does not qualify for the separation from service exemption. The medical expense exemption will not work. That leaves four possibilities. Jack will qualify for the health insurance premiums exemption but not until he receives unemployment compensation for 12 consecutive weeks. If Jack does not own a home in Baltimore, he might qualify for the first-time home purchase exemption. However, if he owns a home in Baltimore, he cannot meet the required two-year waiting period. The loan agreement exemption may work if Jack is prepared to meet the formalities for·mal·i·ty n. pl. for·mal·i·ties 1. The quality or condition of being formal. 2. Rigorous or ceremonious adherence to established forms, rules, or customs. 3. associated with it. The qualified higher education expense exemption may cover some of his daughter's college costs, but only if Jack does not qualify for one of the other exemptions. AICPA AICPA See American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). RESOURCES Book Adviser's Guide to Tax Planning Tax planning Devising strategies throughout the year in order to minimize tax liability, for example, by choosing a tax filing status that is most beneficial to the taxpayer. Strategies for Retirement by William R. Bischoff, CPA, 2005 (paperback, # 091017JA). CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) Communications equipment that resides on the customer's premises. CPE - Customer Premises Equipment Super Tax Planning Strategies for Individual Clients' Retirement Accounts (# 731295JA). For more information or to order, call the Institute at 888-777-7077 or go to www.cpa 2biz biz n. Informal Business. biz Noun Informal business Noun 1. .com. LEE G. KNIGHT, PhD, is the Hylton Professor of Accountancy and director of the accountancy program at the Calloway School of Business and Accountancy The Calloway School of Business and Accounting is a part of Wake Forest University. It is named after Wayne Calloway, who is the Chairman and was formerly the CEO of PepsiCo, Inc. Calloway is also a friend of the University and an accounting graduate. , Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C. Her e-mail address See Internet address. e-mail address - electronic mail address is knightlg@wfu.edu. RAY A. KNIGHT, CPA/PFS, JD, is managing director of Capstone Planning Alliance, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control , in Winston-Salem. His e-mail address is rayknight@capstoneplanning.net.
Exhibit 1: IRC Section 72(t) Penalty Exemptions
There are 16 exemptions including the 8 emergency-related ones
discussed in this article.
IRC section 72(t) penalty Major restrictions
exemption
Distribution due to the Participant must be disabled
disability of a participant within the meaning of IRC
section 72(m)(7).
Distribution as part of a Payments must not occur less
series of substantially frequently than annually.
equal periodic payments.
Payments from plans other than
IRAs or individual retirement
annuities must not begin before
employee separates from service.
Distribution due to Does not apply if the separation
separation from service. from service occurs before
the year the participant turns 55.
Does not apply to IRA
distributions or to self-employed
individuals.
Distribution less than or Does not apply to pre-1997 IRA
equal to deductible medical distributions.
expenses.
Distribution to unemployed Applies only to IRA distributions.
participant for health
insurance premiums. Participant must have received
federal or state unemployment
compensation for 12 consecutive
weeks or have qualified under
the self-employment provision.
Limited to amount of health
insurance premiums paid.
Distribution for qualified Applies only to IRA distributions.
higher education expenses of
the participant or spouse, Does not apply if participant
or their children or qualifies for another exemption.
grandchildren.
Distribution for the first- Applies only to IRA distributions
time purchase of a principal
residence by the participant Distribution must be used within
or spouse, or their child 120 days to pay qualified
or grandchild. acquisition costs.
Lifetime limit of $10,000.
Does not apply if participant
qualifies for another exemption.
Distribution subject to loan Loan agreement must be legally
agreement. enforceable.
Term of loan cannot exceed five
years unless distribution is used
to acquire a principal residence.
Participant must adhere to
specified repayment schedule and
the amount of the loan is limited.
Distribution made to a Only applies to spousal
beneficiary or the estate beneficiary if spouse elects to
of a participant On or after leave plan assets in participant's
the participant's death. name rather than rolling them over
into IRA established in spouse's
own name.
Dividend distribution to Distribution must meet conditions
ESOP participant. for dividend deductibility
established in IRC section
402(e)(i)(A).
Distribution pursuant to Does not apply to pre-2000
federal tax levy on plan distributions or distributions
under section 6631. used to pay federal income taxes
in the absence of a levy under
IRC section 6631.
Distribution to alternate Does not apply to IRA
payee under a qualified distributions.
domestic relations order.
Distribution to federal retiree Does not apply to lump-sum
electing lump sum credit and distribution if retiree makes
reduced annuity. the election and retires before
the year he or she reaches age
55.
Applies to reduced annuity payment
regardless of age retiree makes
election and retires.
Distribution rolled over into IRS can waive the 60-day rollover
another qualified retirement period if it believes the
plan within 60 days of the participant missed the deadline
distribution. because of a "hardship"
beyond his or her control.
Distribution to correct Applies to 402(g), 401(k) and
excess contributions. 401(m) plans and IRAs.
Distribution to correct excess Applies to entire distribution
contributions (including portion of distribution
includable in income).
Exhibit 3: Not Regarded by IRS as Modifications Subject to the
Recapture Tax
Source Circumstances surrounding change in
payment
Regulations section 1.408a-4, Lump-sum distribution from IRA in
Q&A 12 converting to a Roth IRA; the series
of substantially equal payments
established for the original IRA
continues on schedule with the Roth
IRA.
Revenue ruling 2002-62 Annual redetermination of the
variables used to calculate the equal
payments under the required minimum
distribution method sanctioned in
notice 89-25.
Revenue ruling 2002-62 One-time change from the fixed
amortization method or the fixed
annuitization method to the required
minimum distribution method (all of
which are IRS sanctioned methods in
notice 89-25); change made to avoid
premature depletion of retirement
account assets that have declined in
value.
Revenue ruling 2002-62 Cessation of payments after exhausting
the balance in an IRA or qualified
plan.
Letter ruling 8919052 Change from basing annual distribution
amount on the expected joint lives of
the participant and his or her spouse
to basing it on the expected life of
the participant after the spouse's
death.
Letter ruling 8919052 Change from payment schedule providing
for an uncertain number of
installments of each annual payment to
a payment schedule requiring the
distribution of each annual payment in
monthly installments.
Letter ruling 9514026 Change in monthly payment date from
the last date of the prior month to
the first day of the month for which
the payment is to apply.
Letter ruling 9221052 Lump-sum rollover from a terminated
qualified plan to an IRA that
distributes the same periodic amount
with the same frequency as the
terminated qualified plan.
Letter ruling 9221052 Lump-sum distribution from an IRA to
make up for periodic payments missed
between the dates of termination of a
qualified plan and its rollover;
without lump-sum distribution, annual
IRA payment would not equal the annual
payment from the terminated qualified
plan.
Letter ruling 9536031 Cost-of-living clause setting the
current year payment equal to 103% of
the previous year's payment adopted
before periodic payments begin.
Letter rulings 200052039 Some or all of participant's account
and 200050046 balance transferred to spouse pursuant
to divorce.
Letter ruling 200027060 Payment schedule for retirement funds
received pursuant to divorce not in
conformity with former spouse's
distribution plan.
Letter ruling 200309028 Payment amounts separately calculated
for multiple IRAs; no commingling of
funds from various IRAs.
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