Traditional IRA & Roth IRA Transfer of Funds

Hello. I am inquiring about the following the three items pertaining to IRA transfer of funds restrictions:

A) I want to transfer funds from an established Traditional IRA account at a financial institution to another established Traditional IRA account at a different financial institution. Am I allowed to do this as many times as I want without penalty, or am I limited to do this without penalty once every 12 months? (I am aware of difference in definition between “once every 12 months” and “once a calendar year” transfer.)

B) Same question as A) above, but the transfer would be from an established Roth IRA account at a financial institution to another established Roth IRA account at a different institution?

C) A hybrid question is, if your answer to both A) and B) is I am only allowed to make one transfer of funds per 12 month period to the same account type without penalty, does that mean:

– I must select whether to make the transfer of funds from the Traditional IRA -OR- The Roth IRA, or

– Does it mean that I am allowed to make the one time transfer of funds from BOTH the Traditional IRA account -AND- the Roth IRA account?

Perhaps there are no transfer restrictions and associated penalties at all in the above scenarios, in which case, that would be fine.

I look forward to your reply.



A) Yes, you can do an unlimited number of direct non reportable transfers. It is best to order the transfer through the receiving custodian, who will initiate the transfer from the former custodian.
B) Same as above.
 C)  Not applicable.

Thank you for your answers!!!

Hello.  I have a quick follow-up question.  Would your answers change to any of my three questions above if I was establishing a new Traditional IRA and Roth Accounts at the financial institutions that would receive the transfer of funds?

No, the answers would be the same whether the accounts were new or existing.

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