Investors in a 401(k) plan must wait until retirement before taking distributions or withdrawals from the account. Taking funds out before 59½ incurs a 10% early withdrawal penalty plus income taxes due on the distribution from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
However, life events can happen, and you may need to tap into your retirement funds early. There are a few ways to withdraw from a 401(k) early without a penalty.
Key Takeaways
- You may tap into 401(k) funds without penalty under certain circ*mstances.
- Those who qualify for a hardship withdrawal can use the money for education, healthcare, and primary residence expenses.
- You may be eligible to take a loan from a 401(k), which incurs neither penalty nor taxes, but the loan must be repaid.
- Normal distributions from a 401(k) can begin at age 59½.
Normal 401(k) Distributions
IRS rules dictate that investors can withdraw funds from their 401(k) account without penalty only after they reach age 59½, become permanently disabled, or are otherwise unable to work.
Distributions from a traditional 401(k), where the tax was deferred while saving, means investors pay income tax at their current ordinary tax rate. Those with a Roth 401(k) account have already paid tax on the money saved, so withdrawals are tax-free. That also includes any earnings on the Roth account.
Plan participants must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their 401(k) each year when they reach age 72 or 73 if they reach age 72 after Dec. 31, 2022.
IRS rules dictate that investors can withdraw funds from their 401(k) account without penalty only after they reach age 59½, become permanently disabled, or are otherwise unable to work.
Hardship Withdrawals
You may be eligible to take early distributions from your 401(k) without penalty if you meet certain criteria with a hardship distribution. It requires an immediate and heavy financial burden you couldn't afford to pay. Hardship distributions are only allowed up to the amount needed to relieve the hardship.
Withdrawals exceeding that amount are considered early distributions and are subject to the 10% penalty tax. The plan administrator must approve any hardship distribution, and individuals will still owe income tax on their distribution. Qualifying expenses may include:
- Essential medical expenses for treatment and care
- Home-buying expenses for a principal residence
- Educational tuition and fees
- Expenses to prevent being foreclosed on or evicted
- Burial or funeral expenses
- Certain expenses to repair casualty losses to a principal residence, such as losses from fires, earthquakes, or floods
Home-buying expense withdrawals are commonly used for a down payment to secure a mortgage or closing costs.
401(k) Loans
Those who do not meet the criteria for a hardship distribution may be able to borrow from their 401(k) before retirement. The specific terms of these loans vary among plans and administrators.Loans from a 401(k) include interest, which is deposited back into the 401(k) and treated as investment income.
All loans must be repaid within five years unless it is used to finance the purchase of a primary residence. For employees in the armed forces, the loan term is extended by the length of their active service, without penalty. Individuals who lose or resign from their jobs must repay the loan by the due date of their federal income tax return, including extensions.
The IRS provides some basic guidelines for loans that won't trigger the additional 10% tax on early distributions. For example, a loan from a traditional or Roth 401(k) cannot exceed the lesser of 50% of the vested account balance or $50,000. Although borrowers may take multiple loans at different times, the $50,000 limit applies to the combined total of all outstanding loan balances.
A hardship withdrawal or a loan from a 401(k) is not determined by the IRS but by the employer, the plan sponsor, and the plan administrator.
SEPP Program
SubstantiallyEqual Periodic Payment (SEPP) distributes funds from anindividual retirement account (IRA)or otherqualified retirement plansbefore 59½ and avoids incurring IRS penalties. IRA owners can take an early distribution without penalty as part of IRS rule72(t). SEPP withdrawals are not permitted from the qualified retirement plan while still employed with the plan sponsor.
The money can come from an IRA via SEPP at any time. The distributions are formulated as a series of equal periodic payments over an individual's life expectancy using the IRS tables. Once SEPP payments begin, they must continue for five years or until age 59½, whichever comes later. Those who fail to meet the program's requirements incur the 10% early tax penalty.
SEPP can help those close to retirement who want to begin distributions before 59½ but may deplete retirement savings too soon.
The Rule of 55
If you lose your job or retire when you're age 55 but not yet 59½, you might be able to take distributions from your 401(k) without the 10% early withdrawal penalty. The IRS allows an employee—who has been separated from their employer—to receive a penalty-free distribution from the qualified plan in the year of turning 55 or older.
However, this only applies to the 401(k) from the employer you just left, not any earlier employer plans or individual retirement accounts (IRAs). If you transferred or rolled over IRA funds from a previous employer into a current 401(k) before you retire at age 55, those funds would qualify for penalty-free distributions.
How to Catch Up on Retirement Savings
Taking an early 401(k) withdrawal doesn't have to permanently derail retirement plans. Future retirees can catch up on retirement savings in several ways:
- Max out 401(k) contributions: If you have access to a 401(k) plan through an employer, you have an advantage. You can fully fund this employer-sponsored plan, saving up to the contribution limit each year ($23,000 in 2024, plus $7,500 in catch-up contributions if you are age 50 or older).
- Open a traditional or Roth IRA: Don't currently have access to an employer-sponsored account or want to maximize your savings beyond your 401(k)? You can save up to $7,000 in a traditional or Roth IRA (plus a catch-up contribution of $1,000 if you're age 50 or older).
- Health savings accounts: Savers who have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) have another stealth retirement planning option. A health savings accounts (HSA) allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars for qualified medical expenses. Because HSAs have no use-it-or-lose-it provision, they're also a savings tool for future costs. In 2024, the maximum contribution limits on HSAs are$4,150 for individuals and $8,300 for families.
- Investigate other investment options: Once you have exhausted your tax-advantaged options, you can consider other investments accounts, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and annuities. Keep in mind that many of these investments will be subject to capital gains taxes.
Consider consulting with a fiduciary while making your retirement plan, especially if you're catching up on savings.
What Taxes Will I Pay If I Withdraw From a 401(k)?
Early withdrawals from a 401(k) incur a 10% penalty. This penalty is in addition to income tax based on your ordinary tax rate.
How Can I Close a 401(k) and Take the Money?
If you resign from a position or are laid off or fired, you may retain control over your 401(k) account. You can close the existing account, roll funds into a different retirement account, or withdraw the money. If the 401(k) is not rolled over correctly and you are not eligible to make distributions, the money will be subject to taxes and a 10% penalty.
What Is Vesting?
Individual contributions into a 401(k) belong to the employee. Vesting requires employees to fulfill a specified term of employment to gain access to benefits, such as retirement funds.When the employee leaves a company, the employee often retains ownership of those funds and can roll those into a different retirement account. If you leave a company before partial or full vesting, you will lose a portion or all of the your contributions.
The Bottom Line
A 401(k) is designed to provide retirement income. In most circ*mstances, withdrawing money before age 59½ means paying a 10% early withdrawal penalty (plus income taxes). However, those who need money for a major expense, such as important medical treatment, a college education, or buying a home, may qualify for a hardship distribution or 401(k) loan.
