IRA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the IRA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 IRA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 IRA Topics to Study (32)
✍️ Sample IRA Questions & Answers
1. Which scenario qualifies as a penalty-free first-time homebuyer exception for IRA withdrawals?
The IRS allows a lifetime exception of up to $10,000 for first-time home purchases, defined as not owning a home in the prior 2 years.
2. Which of the following factors is taken into account when determining whether any social security benefits are taxed:
When determining whether any Social Security benefits are taxable, the calculation of 'provisional income' includes modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) plus 50% of Social Security benefits. Crucially, tax-exempt interest income is added back into this provisional income calculation. Therefore, while the interest itself isn't taxed, its inclusion can push a taxpayer's provisional income above the threshold, causing a portion of their Social Security benefits to become taxable.
3. What is the 'at least as rapidly' rule in the context of inherited IRAs?
If the IRA owner died after their RBD (required beginning date), beneficiaries must take distributions at least as rapidly as the owner would have using the owner's remaining life expectancy.
4. How does contributing to a traditional IRA reduce your current tax bill?
Deductible traditional IRA contributions lower your adjusted gross income (AGI), reducing the amount of income subject to federal income tax.
5. Which of the following is an exception to the 10% early withdrawal penalty for IRA distributions?
First-time homebuyers can withdraw up to $10,000 from an IRA without the 10% penalty for the purchase of a first home.
6. At what age must required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin from a traditional IRA for individuals born between 1951 and 1959?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, the RMD starting age is 73 for those born between 1951 and 1959, with the first RMD due by April 1 of the following year.