I withdrew from a 401k with an employer to deposit it into a 403b with a new employer. What do I need so that I am not taxed on this withdrawal?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 7, 2019
14 replies
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SweetieJean

Alumni - Champ

Did you do so within 60 days?

Opus 17

Level 15

If you receive a check, the first plan is probably required to withhold 20%. You must roll over the gross amount, not the net amount, into the new plan. You would then get the withholding back at the end of the year. If you only deposit the net amount, the withheld amount becomes a taxable distribution.

(For example, if you withdraw $50,000 and the plan withholds $10,000; you must deposit $50,000 in the new plan. If you only deposit $40,000, the other $10,000 becomes a taxable distribution, and you should expect to pay 40-50% of that--up to $5000--in taxes and penalties. If you have to borrow the extra amount, 9 months worth of interest is probably better than the tax and penalties on the distributed amount.)

It is always better to do a direct transfer from plan to plan, since there is no withholding then. You can also only do one rollover like this per year; but you can do as many direct plan to plan transfers as the plans will allow.

At the end of the year, you get a 1099-R from plan 1, you will mark on your tax return that you did a rollover or transfer to another qualifying plan.

Hal_Al

Level 15

You must complete the rollover within 60 days. That is, you must deposit the $50,000 (using the example above) in the new 403b plan within 60 days of taking it out of the old 401k.