What does IRC Section 72 state about distributions from a qualified plan?

IRC Section 72 addresses the taxation of distributions from qualified retirement plans. Specifically, it notes that distributions are generally considered taxable income to the recipient in the year they are received. This means that when an individual withdraws funds from a qualified plan, such as a 401(k) or an IRA, the amount withdrawn is subject to ordinary income tax.

Understanding this taxation context is crucial since it impacts an employee's overall tax liability and financial planning strategy. For example, if someone is considering taking a distribution from their retirement plan, being aware that these distributions are taxable could influence their decision regarding when and how much to withdraw based on their expected income tax bracket.

While there are options available, such as rolling over distributions to another qualified plan or IRA to defer taxation, the general rule under Section 72 remains that most distributions are indeed subject to taxation, making this the correct choice in answering this question.