"First House" Roth withdrawal

[Guest collegegirl]

I opened my Roth account in June 2006, so I will be able to withdraw a "maximum" of $10,000 for a first house in the beginning of January 2011.

I've read websites that say I can withdraw 10,000 worth of contributions and earnings for the first house. Suppose by then I have $16,500 in my account, and $500 of it is pure earnings. Does the government have a strict "earnings" and "contributions" column, so that there is a certain percentage of earnings and contributions I can take out when I buy the house? Or, may i opt to take ALL of the earnings and 9,500 worth of contributions out of my Roth account?

Does that make any sense?

Basically I'd like to take all the earnings out when I think about housing, particularly since I won't be able to touch any earnings until I retire.

And, if I can withdraw CONTRIBUTIONS without penalty, can I also take out the extra $6000 worth of contributions toward this house as well?

Or can I take out $16000 with no penalty, and have to keep the earnings in there because the government doesn't keep track?

Thank you all for your help!!

[jevd]

See IRS Publication 590 Page 60 & 61 for ROTH IRA distribution rules and ordering rules for withdrawals.

Pub 590 is Here