You start taking the distributions from a traditional IRA when you hit the age of 59½

You are fully allowed to take your money out of traditional IRA before age of 59½ but if you do so you may have to pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty. But there are some exceptions to this 10%  penalty, one of these exceptions are buying a house or needing the money for college fees. 

The moment you hit the age of 59½ you don’t have to start taking distributions from your traditional IRA. You can wait as long as couple of year but you cant waist forever because you MUST start taking the RMDs (required minimum distributions) moment you reach the age of 70 ½ or 72 this however depends on the date of your birthday.

With Traditional IRA you pay regular income tax which are based on distributions from of course the Traditional IRA.

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