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Distributions taken from a Roth during retirement are not subject any income taxes. Interestingly, the “cost basis” or contributions made to a Roth can be taken out at any time, including before age 59 ½, without tax or penalty.

Contributions are recorded on IRS form 5498 and a copy is mailed to you, but you need to keep up with your contributions if you might want to tap into your Roth early.

The earnings that accumulate must satisfy the 59 ½ requirement and the five year rule, or be used for first-time homebuyers expense, to avoid the 10% penalty and taxation. The five year rule says that the earnings in a Roth may be taxable if the Roth account is under 5 years old.

Some will say that it is supposed to be 5 since the contribution that certain funds are attributable to, but this is only applied to conversions deposited as a lump sum. For all other regular contributions, the first contribution ever made to the Roth serves as the starting point for the 5 Year clock.

Just to be clear, early withdrawals that are from the earnings of the account will be subject to taxation as income and 10% early withdrawal penalty.

As for other possible tax implications: some retirement income, such as RMDs from Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, can push a person’s MAGI (modified adjusted gross income) over the limits which trigger the 3.8% Medicare surtax, but Roth distributions do not, and this goes for Roth 401(k)s as well.

If done correctly, there will be no tax implications for Roth withdrawals.