Tapping a Roth IRA for a House
You can withdraw contributions from a Roth IRA to help purchase your first home.
Question:
I am 28 and want to buy my first home. I’ve had a Roth IRA for four years. Can I withdraw money from the Roth for a down payment without penalty or taxes?
Answer: You can withdraw contributions from a Roth IRA at any time without taxes or penalties, and your first withdrawals are considered to be from contributions. After that, you can withdraw up to $10,000 in earnings from your Roth for a first-time home purchase without penalty, but you’ll have to pay taxes on the earnings unless you’ve had a Roth IRA for at least five years.
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As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.
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