Now that you're finally taking withdrawals from that 401(k) you've been contributing to for decades, how are 401(k) withdrawals taxed? Withdrawals—distributions, in retirement-plan speak—require you to pay taxes on what you take out, in most cases, effectively reducing your nest egg. What do you do? Here are several ways to minimize taxes on withdrawals.
Key Takeaways
- One of the easiest ways to lower the amount of taxes you have to pay on 401(k) withdrawals is to convert to aRoth IRA or Roth 401(k).
- Withdrawals from Roth accounts are not taxed.
- Some methods allow you to save on taxes but also require you to take out more from your 401(k) than you actually need.
- You can withdraw enough from a 401(k) or traditional IRA to stay in your current tax bracket but still lower the amount that is subject to RMDs.
Convert to a Roth
One of the easiest ways to lower the amount of taxes you have to pay on 401(k) withdrawals is to convert those funds to aRoth 401(k) or a Roth individual retirement account (IRA). Withdrawals from those accounts are not taxed, as long as they meet the rules for a qualified distribution. Be aware that you’ll have to declare the conversion when you file your taxes.
The big issue with converting your traditional 401(k) to a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) is the income tax you’ll have to pay on the money you convert. If you’re close to pulling out the money anyway, it may not be worth the cost of converting it. The more money you convert, the more taxes you’ll have to pay. “The longer the money can stay in the Roth before withdrawals begin, the better,” said certified financial planner (CFP) Daniel Sheehan, formerly of Sheehan Life Planning.
Ben Wacek, a CFP with Guide Financial Planning, recommends splitting your assets between a Roth account and a tax-deferred account, to share the burden. “Although you will likely pay more taxes today, this strategy will give you the flexibility to withdraw some funds from a tax-deferred account and some from a Roth IRA account in order to have increased control of your marginal tax rate in retirement,” says Wacek.
This format requires several years of planning. For example, the five-year rule requires that you have your funds in the Roth for five years before you begin withdrawals. This might or might not work for you if you’re already 65, about to retire, and suddenly worried about paying taxes on your distributions.
Withdraw Before You Need It
Some of the methods that allow you to save on taxes also require you to take out more from your 401(k) than you actually need. If you can trust yourself not to spend those funds—in other words, save or invest the extra—this can be an easy way to spread out the tax obligation.
“If the person is under 59½ years of age, the IRS allows under Rule 72(t) to take substantially equal distributions over one’s life from a qualified plan without incurring the 10% early withdrawal penalty,” Sheehan says. “However, the withdrawals need to last a minimum of five years. Therefore, someone who is 56 and starts the withdrawals must continue those withdrawals to at least age 61, even though they may not need the money.”
CFP and certified public accountant (CPA) Jamie Block of Mercer Advisors says that if you take out distributions earlier while you’re in a lower tax bracket, you could save on taxes, versus waiting until you’ll have Social Security and possible income from other retirement vehicles. It could all add up to a sudden increase in how much you’re bringing home, and if your spouse is receiving Social Security and has other retirement income too, your joint income might be even higher.
This is when taking money out of a 401(k) at a lower tax bracket—before the required minimum distributions (RMDs) kick in—has its advantages, according to Block. These distributions must be taken out at a specific age, depending on the circ*mstances. You must begin taking RMDs on April 1 the year after your turn:
- 73 if you turned that age on or after Jan. 1, 2023
- 72 if you turned that age between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2022
- 70½ if you turned that age before Dec. 31, 2019
Gear Up for Your Future Tax Bracket
If you plan ahead and are 59½ or older (and thus not subject to early withdrawal penalties), you can take out just enough money from a 401(k) or atraditional IRA that will keep you in your current tax bracket but still lower the amount that will be subject to RMDs.
While you’ll have to pay taxes on the money you withdraw, you can save further by investing those funds in another vehicle, such as a brokerage account. “Calculate how much can be taken out (if applicable over the required minimum distribution amount) in a particular year before you are subject to a higher tax bracket and take out the extra and invest it in a taxable account,” says Sheehan.
Hold it there for at least a year and you will only have to pay long-term capital gains tax on what it earns. Paying at the capital gains tax rate isn’t the same as gettingfree money from a Roth IRA, but it’s less than paying regular income tax.
What Are the Taxation Rules for 401(k) Plans?
The 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan. As such, you can't set one up outside of your workplace. It allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars up to a certain amount each year. You can decide how much to contribute and your employer will transfer that amount to your account every time you get paid. Since you aren't taxed on the contribution, you will incur taxes when it comes time to withdraw the funds. Your required minimum distributions are taxed at your regular income tax rate.
What Are the Benefits of a 401(k) Plan?
The 401(k) plan allows you to contribute pre-tax dollars to a retirement plan. You can determine how much you set aside with each paycheck, which your employer takes out automatically, so there's no guesswork. Since it uses pre-tax dollars, your gross income becomes lower, cutting down your tax liability. Some employers offer 401(k) matching, which means they'll match your contribution up to a certain amount so you essentially get free money into your retirement nest egg. Keep in mind that you're only allowed to contribute a certain amount. The threshold is adjusted annually for inflation.
What Is a Required Minimum Distribution?
A required minimum distribution is the minimum amount of money that you must withdraw from different retirement plans, such as a 401(k). Other accounts also have RMDs, including traditional, inherited, rollover, SEP, and SIMPLE individual retirement accounts. RMDs are calculated by dividing the account's year-end fair market value by the account holder's life expectancy.
When Do I Have to Start Taking Money from my 401(k)?
The point at which you have to start withdrawing money from your 401(k) depends on your age. You must begin taking your required minimum distributions on April 1 the year after you turn 73 if you reached that age on or after Jan. 1, 2023. Your RMDs kick in on April 1 the year after you turn 72 if you reached that age between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2022. Anyone who turned 70½ before Dec. 31, 2019, was required to take RMDs on April 1 of the following year.
The Bottom Line
There are several (complicated) options for reducing taxes on 401(k) withdrawals or cushioning their impact on future taxes. Whichever method you choose, it always helps to talk to an advisor to figure out which works best for your individual circ*mstances.
