what type of deferred comp. is it a return of money put into a retirement a/c? if so, then you should have the option of a direct rollover into an IRA. if you get the cash instead, you have 60 days to put it into a retirement a/c otherwise you will owe not only income taxes but probably penalty taxes on early distribution if under 55.
if it's deferred wages, RSUs, ISOs, etc then it will be taxed as ordinary income.
