What is the process that allows a tax-free transfer of funds from one retirement program to a traditional IRA?

The correct answer is a process known as a rollover, which allows individuals to move funds from one retirement account to a traditional IRA without incurring tax penalties. In this context, a rollover or transfer refers specifically to the method of taking funds from a qualified retirement plan and depositing them into a traditional IRA.

Rollover is an essential feature for retirement savings as it preserves the tax-deferred status of the funds. When executed correctly, this process does not trigger immediate taxation, allowing the individual to continue growing their investments without a tax burden at that moment. It is crucial for account holders to follow IRS regulations regarding rollovers to avoid taxes or penalties.

In contrast, conversion typically refers to changing a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA, which does have tax implications. Distribution refers to taking money out of a retirement account for personal use, which is taxable and does not allow for the tax-free transfer that is the crux of this question. Transfer is sometimes interchangeably used in layman's terms but often refers to a direct transfer between accounts, which differs from the defined rollover process.