If you suffer a loss on investments you hold inside your IRA, you may be able to treat the loss as a deduction on your individual tax return.
In order to qualify, all amounts in all of your accounts (Traditional and ROTH) must be distributed to you and the total distributions must be less than your unrecovered basis. Your basis is the total nondeductible contribution in all of your IRA accounts.
The resulting loss may be claimed as a miscellaneous itemized deduction, subject to the 2% floor, on Schedule A, of your Form 1040.
Before deciding to distribute your IRA accounts in order to deduct a loss, you should consult with your advisor about the long-term implications of your retirement objectives.
