Reporting Additional Taxes on IRAs and Other Tax-Advantaged Accounts on Form 5329

What is Form 5329 Used For?

Form 5329 is used to report a variety of transactions related to tax-favored accounts such as IRAs, 401(k) plans, educational saving accounts and others.

The most common purpose for this form is to calculate the 10% additional tax, and any exception to the  tax, on early withdrawals from these accounts if you are under age 59 1/2. However, it is also used to report excess contributions to certain accounts as there are tax consequences for these transactions.

Am I required to file Form 5329 if I took money out of my IRA or 401(k)?

Form 5329 is not always required to be when you withdraw money from your IRA or retirement account. If you are over the age of 59 ½ and received a distribution from a retirement plan like an IRA or 401(k), there is no 10% additional tax although you may owe income tax on some or all of the distribution.

There are also cases where you may need to file Form 5329 in order to report the distribution but may not actually owe a penalty and/or additional taxes. This occurs when the taxpayer qualifies for an exception to the 10% additional tax. The most common reason for this is using up to $10,000 from your IRA to buy a house for yourself or a family member. Certain coronavirus-related early distributions are also not subject to the 10% additional tax, and do not need to have Form 5329 filed.

Many exceptions also only apply to IRA owners rather than qualified plans in general. Early IRA distributions can also be used to pay for health insurance while you are unemployed and higher education expenses without penalty. However, if you have any other type of qualified plan, the exception does not apply.

In addition to early withdrawals from retirement assets, Form 5329 is also used to report distributions from education savings accounts and ABLE accounts for disabled people. If these distributions were not used for their intended purposes, primarily the beneficiary's higher education and disability-related expenses respectively, some or all of the distributions received may be included in income, taxable, and subject to a 10% penalty.

What are excess contributions?

Distributions are not the only transactions with these accounts that can have tax consequences. If contributions are made in excess of the limit for that particular type of account and the taxpayer's circumstances, it can also create additional taxes.

This situation is most likely to arise from unexpected increases in income. Excess contributions can also be made by mistake, such as automated savings plans not realizing that the contribution limit for the year was reached and continuing to debit the taxpayer's account.

Parts III and IV on Form 5329 are used to report excessive contributions to traditional and Roth IRAs respectively. Page 2 of the form also covers excessive contributions to the following plans:

• Coverdell ESAs
• Archer MSAs
• Health savings accounts
• ABLE savings plans for disabled persons

Generally, the surtax on excessive contributions to these plans is 6% of the amount past the annual contribution limit.

Part IX covers the 50% tax on excessive accumulation of assets if you have not begun required minimum distributions (RMDs) from qualified plans, including traditional IRAs.

About the Author

Jo Willetts, Director of Tax Resources at Jackson Hewitt, has more than 35 years of experience in the tax industry. As an Enrolled Agent, Jo has attained the highest level of certification for a tax professional. She began her career at Jackson Hewitt as a Tax Pro, working her way up to General Manager of a franchise store. In her current role, Jo provides expert knowledge company-wide to ensure that tax information distributed through all Jackson Hewitt channels is current and accurate.

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