If your IRA has enough available cash, those expenses can typically be paid directly from the account. But if the IRA doesn’t have enough cash, you’ll need to consider your options carefully. You generally shouldn’t simply pay the expense personally, because putting personal funds into an IRA-owned investment can create tax and prohibited-transaction concerns.

Depending on the investment, the IRA may be able to receive additional contributions, rollovers, or other permissible funding. However, contribution limits and IRS rules still apply.

The key is to plan for unexpected expenses before investing, especially when your IRA owns an illiquid asset such as real estate. Keeping some cash reserves in the IRA can help cover unexpected costs without disrupting the investment.