How Are Distributions From a Traditional IRA Taxed for Federal Income Tax Purposes Amounts distributed to you are generally includable in your gross income in the taxable year you receive them and are taxable as ordinary income. To the extent, however, that any part of a distribution constitutes a return of your nondeductible contributions, it will not be included in your income. The amount of any distribution excludable from income is the portion that bears the same ratio as your aggregate non-deductible contributions bear to the balance of your Traditional IRA at the end of the year (calculated after adding back distributions during the year). For this purpose, all of your Traditional IRAs are treated as a single Traditional IRA. Furthermore, all distributions from a Traditional IRA during a taxable year are to be treated as one distribution. The aggregate amount of distributions excludable from income for all years cannot exceed the aggregate non-deductible contributions for all calendar years. You must elect the withholding treatment of your distribution, as described in paragraph 22 below. No distribution to you or anyone else from a Traditional IRA can qualify for capital gains treatment under the federal income tax laws. Similarly, you are not entitled to the special five- or ten-year averaging rule for lump-sum distributions that may be available to persons receiving distributions from certain other types of retirement plans. Historically, so-called “excess distributions” to you as well as “excess accumulations” remaining in your account as of your date of death were subject to additional taxes. These additional taxes no longer apply. Any distribution that is properly rolled over will not be includable in your gross income.
