Tennessee Insurance Practice Exam

Under what circumstance would a traditional IRA not apply a withdrawal penalty?

1. When the account owner is over age 62

2. For qualified higher education expenses

3. For home buying expenses

4. During unemployment benefits

The correct answer is: For qualified higher education expenses

The correct choice is related to the fact that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides exceptions to the early withdrawal penalty for traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). For traditional IRAs, withdrawals made for qualified higher education expenses are exempt from the additional 10% early withdrawal penalty that typically applies to distributions taken before the age of 59½. This provision encourages individuals to utilize their retirement savings for important educational costs without facing the financial burden of penalties, thereby enabling better access to education. It's important to note that while the penalty may be waived in this situation, regular income tax on the withdrawal will still apply. In contrast, the other options either do not accurately reflect circumstances under which the penalty can be avoided or mischaracterize when funds can be withdrawn without penalties. For example, simply reaching the age of 62 does not exempt an individual from penalties if they have not reached the specific age of 59½. Home buying expenses have their own exceptions tied to first-time homebuyers, while relying on unemployment benefits does not create an exemption for early withdrawals. Each of these scenarios has specific guidelines that do not apply in the same way as qualified higher education expenses.