What Proof Do You Need for a Hardship Withdrawal? You must provide adequate documentation as proof of your hardship withdrawal. 2 Depending on the circumstance, this can include invoices from a funeral home or university, insurance or hospital bills, bank statements, and escrow payments.
Generally, early distributions from a retirement account are income and you must report it on your return. If you take funds out of a retirement account before age 59 1/2, you may be subject to additional tax.
To report the tax on early distributions, you may have to file Form 5329, Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts PDF. See the Form 5329 instructions PDF for additional information about this tax.
Take an early withdrawal You'll need to speak with someone at your company's human resources department to see if this option is available and how the process works. Generally, you'll need to complete some paperwork, and describe why you need early access to your retirement funds.
If you withdraw from an IRA or 401(k) before age 59½, you'll be subject to an early withdrawal penalty of 10% and taxed at ordinary income tax rates. There are several scenarios, known as hardship withdrawals, where you can avoid the 10% penalty.
Deferring Social Security payments, rolling over old 401(k)s, setting up IRAs to avoid the mandatory 20% federal income tax, and keeping your capital gains taxes low are among the best strategies for reducing taxes on your 401(k) withdrawal.
Generally, early distributions from a retirement account are income and you must report it on your return. If you take funds out of a retirement account before age 59 1/2, you may be subject to additional tax.