Can I Withdraw From My IRA for Education Without Penalty?

Roth IRAs are a common retirement savings plan. Because IRA accounts are for retirement, there are early withdrawal penalties if the account owner hasn't reached retirement age.

However, there are exceptions to the IRA withdrawal rules. Most traditional IRA plans have penalty-free withdrawal exceptions for expenses like unreimbursed medical bills, buying a first home, and higher education costs.

What Is a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account where deposits are made with after-tax dollars. Many people choose this type of savings account for its tax advantages. Some retirement plans use deposits from taxable income before taxes are taken.

Because Roth IRA contributions use after-tax dollars, future withdrawals of IRA funds will be tax-free and penalty-free, provided they are withdrawn for a qualifying reason.

Can I Use My Roth IRA To Pay for College?

Account holders have multiple penalty-free (not tax-free) exceptions with early withdrawal eligibility. One of these is qualified higher education expenses. Upon enrollment at a higher educational institution like a college or university, funds can be withdrawn without an early-distribution penalty.

Of note, there are two common types of IRAs: Roth and Traditional. Withdrawing funds from either type of IRA will be penalty-free, but traditional IRAs might be subjected to income tax upon early withdrawal.

How Does an IRA Work for College Saving?

An IRA works as a tax-advantaged savings plan for retirement, but it can also be used for upcoming college expenses. IRA distributions are intended to be retirement funds, but any money in one of these plans is yours and can be used to make payments of other kinds, even before retirement age.

Unlike a bank savings account, IRAs invest your money instead of just saving it. Working with a financial advisor, your money is invested in stocks, mutual funds, and more to encourage growth over time. Many people take more aggressive investment strategies when they are younger and become more conservative as retirement age approaches.

Will I Get Penalized for Withdrawing From My Roth IRA for College?

Withdrawing IRA funds for qualified education expenses is not subjected to penalties and early Roth IRA withdrawal isn't subjected to additional income taxation, either.

With other retirement plans, distributions aren't taxed until withdrawal at retirement age, meaning that early withdrawals will be taxed, regardless of the reason for withdrawal. In addition to income taxes, these withdrawals will be penalized, in most cases around 10%.

If you plan to use a retirement plan as a savings vehicle for college, choosing a Roth IRA will be the safest plan.

What Constitutes Qualified Education Expenses?

College expenses come in many types. The most obvious higher education cost that comes to mind is tuition, however, most students have several other expenses before earning their degree.

Some of the common qualifying education expenses for early IRA withdrawal include:

• tuition
• books
• classroom required supplies and equipment
• any equipment used to overcome disabilities

There are additional expenses that can be covered for students who attend college at least half-time, including room and board expenses.

Can IRA and 529 Plans Impact My Financial Aid

In addition to savings plans, many students pursue financial aid. However, retirement plans are often considered to be assets, which can impact your eligibility for federal student aid.

Two of the most common college savings plans are 529 plans and retirement plans, like an IRA. In terms of the calculations used by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), these savings accounts are viewed differently.

A 529 is a dedicated savings plan for education. As a result, funds in an account like this can negatively impact your financial aid eligibility. Conversely, an IRA is designed to be used for retirement financial planning. Even though money can be withdrawn early for qualifying expenses, FAFSA calculations do not include any money you have in an IRA.

Utilizing IRAs for College Savings: Pros and Cons

If you're planning to use an IRA as a college savings account, there are several pros and cons that you should consider before investing your money.

Some of the pros include:

• tax-free withdrawals
• unspent funds don't get withdrawn and can continue to grow toward your eventual retirement
• IRAs aren't calculated into FAFSA and won't impact any eligibility for student aid programs

Although there are multiple advantages to an IRA for college savings, there can be some issues:

• Due to IRS guidelines, there are maximums for money that can be distributed into an IRA in a single calendar year.
• Your withdrawal, even for qualified expenses, might be eligible for income taxes (on the growth).

Ultimately, all college savings plans will have advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before you begin investing.

Other Ways To Pay for Your Student Loans

Outside of an IRA, there are several ways to pay for tuition or pay off student loan debt.

529 Plan

Much like an IRA, a 529 plan is a savings plan that allows students or their families to make regular contributions that will be invested to try to grow your money before withdrawing it for qualified education expenses.

ESAs (Education Savings Accounts)

An ESA allows for families to begin saving for their child's future education. Unlike some of the other savings options, the beneficiary for an ESA must be under the age of 18 when the account is set up.

Qualified Savings Bonds

One other option for saving for college is buying governmental savings bonds. Savings bonds have set interest rates and will mature over time, usually to a much higher value. Savings bonds have smaller returns than most savings accounts due to their set interest rates and limited maturity period, compared to the opportunities for rapid growth with investment-based accounts. This can also be an advantage, though, as growth is very predictable and payments are made by the federal government.