10-Year Averaging
If you choose the 10-year option to figure the tax on a lump-sum distribution from a qualified retirement plan, you'll basically figure your tax on 10 percent of the amount using a special chart based on the 1986 tax rates for a single person, as shown below.  Then multiply this amount by 10 to find your total tax on the lump sum.
| 10-Year Averaging Rate Table | 
| Amount Subject to Averaging: | 
The Tax Is | 
Of The Amount Over | 
| Over | 
But Not Over | 
  | 
| $  0 | 
$1,190 | 
11% | 
$  0 | 
|   1,190 | 
  2,270 | 
$  130.90 + 12% | 
1,190 | 
|   2,270 | 
  4,530 | 
  260.50 + 14% | 
2,270 | 
|   4,530 | 
  6,690 | 
  576.90 + 15% | 
4,530 | 
|   6,690 | 
  9,170 | 
  900.90 + 16% | 
6,690 | 
|   9,170 | 
11,440 | 
  1,297.70 + 18% | 
9,170 | 
| 11,440 | 
13,710 | 
  1,706.30 + 20% | 
11,440 | 
| 13,710 | 
17,160 | 
  2,160.30 + 23% | 
13,710 | 
| 17,160 | 
22,880 | 
  2,953.80 + 26% | 
17,160 | 
| 22,880 | 
28,600 | 
  4,441.00 + 30% | 
22,880 | 
| 28,600 | 
34,320 | 
  6,157.00 + 34% | 
28,600 | 
| 34,320 | 
42,300 | 
  8,101.80 + 38% | 
34,320 | 
| 42,300 | 
57,190 | 
11,134.20 + 42% | 
42,300 | 
| 57,190 | 
85,790 | 
17,388.00 + 48% | 
57,190 | 
| 85,790 | 
  | 
31,116.00 + 50% | 
85,790 | 
If you are eligible to do so and think you want to use any of the special tax methods, Part III of Form 4972, Tax on Lum-Sum Distributions, will walk you through the computations, and help you choose the method that will result in the lowest total tax bill.
 
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