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16933: COVID-19 - CARES Act: Impact on 401(k)


Miscellaneous

If my taxpayer/spouse has made a 401(k) withdrawal in 2020 will they still receive a 10% penalty?

 

The IRS Newsroom has released guidance on who qualifies for a withdrawal under CARES Act: 

"You are a qualified individual if –

  • You are diagnosed with the virus SARS-CoV-2 or with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by a test approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
  • Your spouse or dependent is diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 or with COVID-19 by a test approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
  • You experience adverse financial consequences as a result of being quarantined, being furloughed or laid off, or having work hours reduced due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19;
  • You experience adverse financial consequences as a result of being unable to work due to lack of child care due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19; or
  • You experience adverse financial consequences as a result of closing or reducing hours of a business that you own or operate due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.

Under section 2202 of the CARES Act, the Treasury Department and the IRS may issue guidance that expands the list of factors taken into account to determine whether an individual is a qualified individual as a result of experiencing adverse financial consequences. The Treasury Department and the IRS have received and are reviewing comments from the public requesting that the list of factors be expanded."

What is a coronavirus-related distribution?   
"A coronavirus-related distribution is a distribution that is made from an eligible retirement plan to a qualified individual from January 1, 2020, to December 30, 2020, up to an aggregate limit of $100,000 from all plans and IRAs." 

Do I have to pay the 10% additional tax on a coronavirus-related distribution from my retirement plan or IRA?
"No, the 10% additional tax on early distributions does not apply to any coronavirus-related distribution."

When do I have to pay taxes on coronavirus-related distributions?
"The distributions generally are included in income ratably over a three-year period, starting with the year in which you receive your distribution. For example, if you receive a $9,000 coronavirus-related distribution in 2020, you would report $3,000 in income on your federal income tax return for each of 2020, 2021, and 2022. However, you have the option of including the entire distribution in your income for the year of the distribution."

For more information, see the Form 5329 Instructions, line 2 exceptions for "other," the Form 8915-E Instructions and Related Links below for details. 


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