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-   -   How much tax will I pay on early 401k? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=634071)

  • Feb 7, 2012, 01:09 PM
    robertfitch
    How much tax will I pay on early 401k?
    How much tax will I pay on early 401k?
  • Feb 7, 2012, 01:33 PM
    ebaines
    If by the phrase "early 401k" you mean taking a withdrawal from a 401(k) account when under age 55, then you will pay:

    1. Federeal income tax on the withdrawal, taxed at ordinary income rates. The actual amount of tax you pay depends on your federal tax bracket.
    2. Depending on the rules for your state, you may have state income tax to pay. Tax rates vary by state.
    3. And finally there's the early withdrawal penalty, which is 10% of the withdrawal amount, unless you qualify for an exemption from the penalty. The exemptions are for the following cases:

    a) Distributions after your separation from service in or after the calendar year in which you reached age 55 (age 50 for qualified public safety employees).
    b) Distributions made as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments beginning after separation from service and made at least annually for the life or life expectancy of the participant or the joint lives or life expectancies of the participant and his or her designated beneficiary. (The payments under this exception, except in the case of death or disability, must continue for at least 5 years or until the employee reaches age 59½, whichever is the longer period.) This is known as a section 72(t) withdrawal).
    c) Distributions due to total and permanent disability.
    d) Distributions due to death (you are the beneficiary of a deceased plan participant).
    e) You have unreimbursed medical expenses that are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income – up to the amount allowed as a medical expense deduction.
    f) Distributions to an alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order.
    g) Distributions due to an IRS levy of the qualified plan. .
    h) To reduce excess employee or matching employer contributions, or to reduce excessive elective deferrals.
    I) Distributions to reservists while serving on active duty for at least 180 days.
  • Dec 9, 2012, 01:26 PM
    Earjr
    How much tax will I have to pay on an early withdrawal from my 401k. I have 14549.67 in now. I know I will Have to pay a 10% penality. I need to know how much tax I will have to pay on it as well. I am 56 now. I live in Ga.
  • Dec 10, 2012, 06:54 AM
    ebaines
    It depends on your adjusted gross income, which in turn depends on the amount of the 401(k) you are withdrawing. If a modest amount (say, less than $20K or so) then you will owe virtually no federal income tax above the 10% early withdrawal penalty. If the withdrawal is more than that, then we wouild need more detail to give a good estiamte. You will also owe income tax to GA of approximately 6%. FYI - the plan administrator will automatically withhold 20% for federal tax purposes, but nothing for GA income tax.

    One other point - since you are over 55, if the 401(k) plan is with an employer you left in the calendar year you reached age 55 or later then the early withdrawal penalty does not apply. But if the plan is with an employer you left prior to the year you turned 55 then it is indeed considered an early withdrawal and the 10% penalty applies.

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