Mercer Advisors
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Question

Can you pay tuition from a Traditional or Roth IRA?

Answer

Yes. Early withdrawals for qualified education expenses avoid the 10% penalty, but traditional IRA distributions are taxable. Roth distributions of earnings are taxable if taken before age 59½ or if the account has been open for less than five years.

Related FAQs

Can you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA?

Can you have multiple Roth IRAs?

Why choose a Roth vs. a traditional IRA?
Retirement Young Professionals Retirement Planning Living in Retirement Tax Basics Tax Tips & Tricks Early Retirement FAQs
Last Updated May 20, 2026
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