Gary Paul Rush v. Commissioner, T.C. Summary Opinion 2003-123

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U.S. Tax Court

Gary Paul Rush v. Commissioner

T.C. Summary Opinion 2003-123 · Docket 4557-01S · Decided Sep 2, 2003 · Juan F. Vasquez · T.C. Summary Opinion

return. Petitioner did not report the 10-percent additional tax. Petitioner used the distributions to pay down debt on his credit cards. He also invested some of the money. Petitioner did not roll over any portion of the distribution into another IRA or qualified retirement account. Petitioner did not receive the distributions on account of a disability, as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made for life, or for medical care.

Discussion

Section 72(t) provides for a 10-percent additional tax on early distributions from a qualified retirement plan. “The legislative purpose underlying the section 72(t) tax is that ‘premature distributions from IRA’s frustrate the intention of saving for retirement, and section 72(t) discourages this from happening.’” Arnold v. Commissioner , 111 T.C. 250, 255 (1998)

(quoting Dwyer v. Commissioner , 106 T.C. 337, 340 (1996)).

A qualified retirement plan includes an IRA. See secs. 408(a), 4974(c). It is undisputed that Nationsbank, N.A., Franklin Templeton Trust Co. and IDS Life Ins. Co. were qualified retirement plans.

The 10-percent additional tax does not apply to certain distributions. Section 72(t)(2) excludes qualified retirement plan distributions from the 10-percent additional tax if the distributions are: (1) Made on or after the date on which the the exceptions set forth in section 72(t)(2) apply in this case. Thus, the early distributions made by petitioner are subject to the additional 10-percent tax under section 72(t)(1). In reaching our holding, we have considered all arguments made by the parties, and to the extent not mentioned above, we find them to be irrelevant or without merit.

To reflect the foregoing, Decision will be entered for respondent .

Footnotes

¹ in effect at the time petitioner filed the petition. The decision to be entered is not reviewable

² The sole issue for decision is whether petitioner is liable for a 10-percent additional tax pursuant to section 72(t)(1) on distributions he received, totaling $26,681, from his three qualified retirement plans. Background Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference. At the time he filed the petition, petitioner resided in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Petitioner is employed as a rural mail carrier in Las Cruces. Petitioner had investments in three qualified retirement plans. In 1998, petitioner cashed out these plans. He received $18,127 from Nationsbank, N.A., $3,337 from Franklin Templeton Trust Co., and $5,217 from IDS Life Ins. Co. Petitioner was 53 years old when he received the distributions. Petitioner received three Forms 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc., for 1998 reflecting the distributions. Petitioner reported the distributions on his Federal income tax

³ Bunney v. Commissioner , 114 T.C. 259, 265 (2000). Petitioner testified that he used the distributions to reduce his debt. Although he reinvested some of the funds, petitioner did not roll over any of the distributions into another qualified retirement plan. Indeed, petitioner stated that he no longer had any IRAs. The evidence shows that none of

Sections addressed

I.R.C. § 72 Annuities; certain proceeds of endowment and life…
(m)(7) (t) (t)(1) (t)(2) (t)(2)(A) (t)(2)(B)