At what age can you begin to withdraw funds from a traditional IRA without penalty?

Withdrawing funds from a traditional IRA without incurring a penalty begins at age 59½. This age is tied to IRS regulations that establish the criteria for penalty-free withdrawals from retirement accounts. Withdrawals taken before reaching this age typically incur a 10% additional tax penalty on the amount withdrawn, which is aimed at encouraging individuals to save for retirement rather than access these funds prematurely.

The other choices reflect common ages associated with retirement or Social Security benefits, but they do not align with the specific age at which the IRS permits penalty-free withdrawal from traditional IRAs. Therefore, the age of 59½ is the correct threshold for accessing funds without incurring that additional penalty.