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January 23, 2025
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Roth IRA Early Distribution Due to Disability Questions

  • January 23, 2025
  • 1 reply
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To whom it may concern,

 

            Hello. I’m in the process of filing my taxes and had to do a withdrawal from my Roth IRA. I’m trying to avoid the 10% penalty because I took the money before the actual time. It has come to my attention I need to provide a letter to the IRS stating my disability status to avoid the 10% penalty. I’m aware that this can all be avoided if the brokers of the Roth IRA put a particular code on my 1099-R. I haven’t received the 1099-R yet, but I read that it is incorrect a lot of the time. If that’s the case, that’s why I have a few questions below in regard to the matter. Please advise. Thank you for your time and help.

 

  1. What code should be on my 1099-R? Once again, I’m permanent and totally disabled and withdrawing from my Roth IRA. I notice different codes being mention in the community when it comes to this similar situation. Also I have had the Roth IRA over 5 years.
  2. It’s said online that a letter is need from a physician. If that’s true, am I able to upload that letter to TurboTax to do an electronic submission or do I have to print it out and mail it with my tax documentation?
  3. If a letter is not needed, what form do I fill out. I heard it’s either Schedule R, Schedule 2, or Form 5329?
Best answer by ThomasM125

The Form 1099-R should report the distribution from a ROTH IRA if early by using code "J" in box 7. I am not aware of another code that would exempt the distribution from an early withdrawal penalty.

 

The instructions to Form 5329, Additional Tax on Qualified Plans, mentions that you can exclude the 10% penalty on early pension plan distributions if you are permanently disabled and that a medical determination of that must be made. However, there is no mention of a need to file a copy of that determination with your tax return. It appears it will suffice to keep a written record of the determination in case you are audited on the matter at a later time. The determination letter you are referring to may be for the pension plan administrator to authorize the early distribution of funds to you.

 

 

You indicate that you are permanently disabled after you enter your Form 1099-R in TurboTax and on that basis Form 5329 will be populated and included with your Form 1040 when you file your tax return:

 

 

 

1 reply

January 23, 2025

The Form 1099-R should report the distribution from a ROTH IRA if early by using code "J" in box 7. I am not aware of another code that would exempt the distribution from an early withdrawal penalty.

 

The instructions to Form 5329, Additional Tax on Qualified Plans, mentions that you can exclude the 10% penalty on early pension plan distributions if you are permanently disabled and that a medical determination of that must be made. However, there is no mention of a need to file a copy of that determination with your tax return. It appears it will suffice to keep a written record of the determination in case you are audited on the matter at a later time. The determination letter you are referring to may be for the pension plan administrator to authorize the early distribution of funds to you.

 

 

You indicate that you are permanently disabled after you enter your Form 1099-R in TurboTax and on that basis Form 5329 will be populated and included with your Form 1040 when you file your tax return:

 

 

 

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VocstraAuthor
January 23, 2025

ThomasM125,

 

Thank you for that information. It was helpful and I will take note of everything use mentioned once I start to file my tax return. I will look out for that code J and have that letter from my physician saved in case I am audited as you mentioned.