Webcast
Avoiding Taxes and Penalties on Early Retirement Plan Distributions
Learn how to navigate early retirement plan distributions without triggering avoidable income tax and the 10% penalty—by correctly applying repayment options, rollover rules, and §72(t) exceptions (including recent SECURE 2.0 changes).
$49.00
Webcasts are available for viewing Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm ET,
and Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 6pm ET.
Without FlexCast, you must start with enough time to finish. (1 Hr/Credit)
Please fill out the form below and we will reach out as soon as possible.
CPE Credits
1 Credits: Taxes
Course Level
Overview
Format
Webcast
Course Description
Early distributions from IRAs and qualified retirement plans can trigger income tax and the 10% additional tax—unless you know exactly where the exceptions, repayment rules, and rollover mechanics apply. In this 1-credit CPE webcast, Alice Orzechowski, CPA, CMA, EA walks practitioners through the rules that govern “early” distributions (generally before age 59½), distinguishing truly taxable/penalized withdrawals from those that may be penalty-free or fully avoid tax and penalty when properly repaid.
In this early retirement planning CPE course, you’ll review practical, client-facing scenarios including loan offset distributions (and the extended rollover window), repayment-eligible distributions added/expanded in recent law changes (including SECURE 2.0 provisions), and the core §72(t) exception framework—death, disability, medical expenses, and more. This financial planning for early retirement CPE course also flags common missteps—one-rollover-per-year limitations, missed rollover relief via Rev. Proc. 2020-46 self-certification, and court-case examples of what doesn’t qualify—so you can help clients avoid preventable taxes and penalties.
Need Flexibility?
Purchase now, choose later. Your credits are ready whenever you find the perfect courses for you.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Distinguish early distributions that are subject to income tax and the 10% additional tax from those eligible for penalty relief or repayment treatment.
- Apply rollover and repayment rules to common fact patterns, including loan offset distributions and repayment-eligible distributions (e.g., birth/adoption, domestic abuse, disaster relief, terminal illness, emergency expenses, reservist distributions).
- Identify and apply key §72(t) exceptions, including separation from service, disability, medical expense rules, IRS levy treatment, QDRO distributions, and substantially equal periodic payments.
- Evaluate IRA-specific exceptions (e.g., unemployment health insurance premiums, higher education expenses, first-time homebuyer limits) and recognize plan-type limitations.
- Advise on missed rollover remediation using Rev. Proc. 2020-46 self-certification and recognize high-risk “non-qualifying” hardship rationales highlighted by case law.
Course Specifics
WC1826466728
None
None
Compliance Information
IRS Provider Number: 0MYXB
IRS Course Number: 0MYXB-T-02770-26-O
IRS Federal Tax Law Credits: 1
CTEC Course Number: 2071-CE-02213
CTEC Federal Tax Law Credits: 1
CFP Notice: Not all courses that qualify for CFP® credit are registered by Western CPE. If a course does not have a CFP registration number in the compliance section, the continuing education will need to be individually reported with the CFP Board. For more information on the reporting process, required documentation, processing fee, etc., contact the CFP Board. CFP Professionals must take each course in it’s entirety, the CFP Board DOES NOT accept partial credits for courses.
CTEC Notice: California Tax Education Council DOES NOT allow partial credit, course must be taken in entirety. Western CPE has been approved by the California Tax Education Council to offer continuing education courses that count as credit towards the annual “continuing education” requirement imposed by the State of California for CTEC Registered Tax Preparers. A listing of additional requirements to register as a tax preparer may be obtained by contacting CTEC at P.O. Box 2890, Sacramento, CA, 95812-2890, by phone toll-free at (877) 850-2832, or on the Internet at www.ctec.org.
Meet The Experts

Alice Orzechowski, CPA, CMA, EA, was born and raised in Washington, DC. She holds BS degrees in Economics and Accounting from the University of Maryland, and an MS in Administration and Management from Hood College. She is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Enrolled Agent. Alice has provided advice on tax-related matters in The Washington Post, The Frederick News Post, in various AARP publications, and on Wall Street Journal Radio, CNN, and Today’s Woman Television and is a national speaker on tax topics. Alice earned the CPA accreditation in 1976, and over the course of her …
Related Courses
-
Taxes
One Big Beautiful Bill An Overview
Mark Seid, EA, CPA, USTCP & Sharon Kreider, CPA
Webcast
Credits: 2$98.00$79.00 -
Taxes
The Life Cycle of a Revocable Living Trust
Alice Orzechowski, CPA, CMA, EA
Webcast
Credits: 2 $98.00 -
Taxes
Rental Properties, with Deep Dive into Short-term Rentals
A.J. Reynolds, EA
Webcast
Credits: 2 $98.00