Dipping into a 401(k) or 403(b) before age 59 ½ usually results in a 10% penalty. For example, taking out $20,000 will cost you $2000. Time is your money's greatest ally. But when you withdraw from your future savings, you're denying your money the chance to earn valuable interest.
If you withdraw from your 401(k) before you reach age 59½, you may have to pay a 10% additional tax on the distribution. This tax applies to the amount received that you must include in income. The 10% tax will not apply to distributions before age 59½ if you qualify for an exemption.
Deferring Social Security payments, rolling over old 401(k)s, setting up IRAs to avoid the mandatory 20% federal income tax, and keeping your capital gains taxes low are among the best strategies for reducing taxes on your 401(k) withdrawal.
A withdrawal permanently removes money from your retirement savings for your immediate use, but you'll have to pay extra taxes and possible penalties.
Key Takeaways
Taking an early 401(k) withdrawal is extremely costly, so it should only be used as a last resort. The only time you should consider cashing out a 401(k) is to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure.
The short answer is that yes, you can withdraw money from your 401(k) before age 59 ½. However, early withdrawals often come with hefty penalties and tax consequences.
As a general rule, if you withdraw funds before age 59 ½, you'll trigger an IRS tax penalty of 10%. The good news is that there's a way to take your distributions a few years early without incurring this penalty. This is known as the rule of 55.
Roll over your 401(k) to a Roth IRA
You can roll Roth 401(k) contributions and earnings directly into a Roth IRA tax-free. Any additional contributions and earnings can grow tax-free. You are not required to take RMDs. You may have more investment choices than what was available in your former employer's 401(k).
You can do a 401(k) withdrawal while you're still employed at the company that sponsors your 401(k), but you can only cash out your 401(k) from previous employers. Learn what do with your 401(k) after changing jobs.
401(k)s are typically considered as qualified plans and receive favorable tax treatment. A qualified distribution is generally one you receive after you reach 59 1/2. You may withdraw as much money from the account as you'd like once you reach this age.
The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.
The short answer: It depends. If debt causes daily stress, you may consider drastic debt payoff plans. Knowing that early withdrawal from your 401(k) could cost you in extra taxes and fees, it's important to assess your financial situation and run some calculations first.
At that point, the funds you withdraw are considered taxable income. Some 401(k) plans automatically withhold a portion – typically around 20% – to cover taxes. Be sure to check with your plan provider to understand how your withdrawals will be handled.
If you cash out your 401(k), you have 60 days to put that money into another qualified retirement account or else penalties and taxes will apply. Other common options include directly transferring your retirement account to another qualifying account or leaving it in place.
Once you start withdrawing from your traditional 401(k), your withdrawals are usually taxed as ordinary taxable income. That said, you'll report the taxable part of your distribution directly on your Form 1040 for any tax year that you make a distribution.
Transferring Your 401(k) to Your Bank Account
That's typically an option when you stop working, but be aware that moving money to your checking or savings account may be considered a taxable distribution.
If you don't roll over your payment, it will be taxable (other than qualified Roth distributions and any amounts already taxed) and you may also be subject to additional tax unless you're eligible for one of the exceptions to the 10% additional tax on early distributions.
If you decide to roll over your entire 401(k) balance, you can roll all your pre-tax dollars into a traditional IRA and all your nondeductible contributions into a Roth IRA. You wouldn't pay taxes on this type of conversion because you already paid taxes on your nondeductible contributions the year you made them.
The easiest way to borrow from your 401(k) without owing any taxes is to roll over the funds into a new retirement account. You may do this when, for instance, you leave a job and are moving funds from your former employer's 401(k) plan into one sponsored by your new employer.
Mistake #1: Not Starting Your RMD on Time
The rules for RMD starting ages have undergone changes in recent years, leading to confusion among many individuals. In the past, the starting age for RMDs was 70½. However, as of 2023, the starting age stands at 73 and is set to increase to 75 in the future.
By age 40, you should have three times your annual salary already saved. By age 50, you should have six times your salary in an account. By age 60, you should have eight times your salary working for you. By age 67, your total savings total goal is 10 times the amount of your current annual salary.
Any earnings on Roth 401(k) contributions can generally be withdrawn federally tax-free if you meet the two requirements for a “qualified distribution”: 1) At least five years must have elapsed from the first day of the year of your initial contribution or conversion, if earlier, and 2) you must have reached age 59½ or ...
Since Jan. 1, 2024, however, a new IRS rule allows retirement plan owners to withdraw up to $1,000 for unspecified personal or family emergency expenses, penalty-free, if their plan allows.
With only a few exceptions, your 401(k) distributions are subject to a mandatory 20% withholding. Money withheld from your distributions applies toward your tax bill, similar to paycheck withholding when you're working a job.