I owe $30000. To credit card companies (3) and have $30000 in an IRA. Would using that money to pay off the credit cards be advisable? I overpay my withholding taxes every year and get about $10000 back, this would cover the taxes on the withdrawal of the IRA (I think).

I woud not touch the IRA,work out a payment plan and stick to it.$ 30000 is a lot of credit card debt. Seems better sense to me to put that tax money refund toward paying off the debt. If you are younger than 59 1/2 the penalities and taxes will be huge.