The Early Withdrawal From Savings Penalty Tax Deduction

Most retirement plan distributions are subject to income tax and may even be subject to an additional 10% tax. The IRS gives you a loophole to lessen the fee: The penalty on the early withdrawal of savings can be deducted on your tax return. It is considered an "above the line" adjustment to income, one of the better deductions that's available. Learn more about how deducting the early withdrawal of savings penalty impacts you.

Why a Penalty?

You'll most likely have to pay a penalty if you withdraw money from a certificate of deposit (CD) or other time-deposit savings account before it matures. This fee is charged by the bank or financial institution, and it's withheld from your certificate of deposit or other account.

Your CD deposit usually earns more interest than a typical savings account. You must commit to leaving your money with the financial institution for a prescribed period of time in exchange for this favorable interest rate. The bank will take back at least some of this "extra" interest if you pull your money out early.

The penalty is a set amount, provided for in your contract with the institution. It's typically the same whether you take out $20 or $2,000. The IRS considers the penalty deductible, because it affects the amount of interest you'll earn.

Documents You'll Need

You should receive a Form 1099-INT from your bank or financial institution after the close of the tax year if you've been subject to an early withdrawal penalty. The penalty will be reported in box 2 on the tax year 2021 form, clearly identified as an "early withdrawal penalty." It's also reported in box 3 of Form 1099-OID, "original issue discount." It's identified there as an "early withdrawal penalty" as well.

The total amount of interest your account earned will appear in box 1 of Form 1099-INT, and you must include this as income on your return.

Changes Since 2017: A Redesigned Form 1040

The early withdrawal penalty used to be reported on line 30 of the Form 1040 tax return prior to 2018. You had to file the long Form 1040 to claim this deduction back then, because this line item wasn't found on the shorter Forms 1040A or 1040EZ.

Beginning with tax year 2018—the return you filed in 2019—a redesigned Form 1040 came into play. It replaced the old 1040, as well as the 1040A and 1040EZ. The IRS made the revisions to accommodate changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These changes are set to remain in place through 2025, should legislation not extend the provisions.

Then, the IRS again revised the 1040 for the 2019 tax year. It made some further minor adjustments for the 2021 tax year, the return you will file in 2022.

The end result is that this deduction survived all of these changes, and it's still claimed "above the line" as an adjustment to income—not an itemized deduction—but in slightly different places, depending on the year in which you're claiming it. For the 2021 tax year, it still has the same effect on your tax situation, but you won't claim it directly on your tax return. You'll have to take an extra step.

How To Claim the Deduction

The revised returns significantly shortened the old Form 1040 that was in place prior to 2018. Information that used to be entered directly on Form 1040 was moved to various numbered schedules. The total from the schedules is then transferred to your Form 1040.

Enter your early withdrawal penalty on line 18 of the 2021 Schedule 1, located in Part II of the schedule, "Adjustments to Income." Total all of your adjustments to income from Part II on line 26 of the schedule, and then transfer this sum to line 10 of your 2021 Form 1040.

Taxable interest earned should be reported in Part I of Schedule B, "Interest and Ordinary Dividends." It's then transferred to line 2b of your 2021 Form 1040.

Tax Impacts of Adjustments to Income

As an adjustment to your income rather than an itemized deduction, claiming your early withdrawal penalty reduces your adjusted gross income (AGI). This reduces your taxable income and, by extension, lowers the tax you owe to the government.

Reducing your AGI has a ripple effort as well, impacting other parts of your return that are calculated based on your AGI. The net investment income tax, the child tax credit, and the itemized deduction for medical expenses are all calculated based on your AGI, for example. Reducing your AGI can also increase other deductions, increase other credits, and reduce other taxes.

You can claim an adjustment to income and additionally claim the standard deduction or itemize other deductions as well. This type of tax break is one of the best the IRS offers.