How to Calculate the Tax on Early Distributions
- 1). Wait for your 1099-R form to be sent to you in January of the year after you took the distribution. The form 1099-R will show how much you took out and how much of that is taxable. Contact your financial institution if you do not receive a 1099-R form by early February.
- 2). Locate the taxable amount in box 2a of the 1099-R. This is the amount that you must include as taxable income. For most accounts, this will usually be the entire amount because the funds in the accounts are considered tax-deferred contributions. For Roth IRAs, only earnings will be taxed in an early withdrawal, not contributions.
- 3). Multiply the amount in box 2a by your tax bracket. For example, if you fall in the 28 percent tax bracket and $10,000 of your distribution is taxable, you would owe $2,800 in taxes.
- 4). Multiply your total taxable withdrawal by 10 percent to calculate the tax penalty you owe on your early distribution. For example, if $10,000 of your early distribution was taxable, you would owe a $1,000 tax penalty.
- 5). Add the income tax from Step 3 to the tax penalty from Step 4 to determine how much of your early distribution you will have to pay in taxes.
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