topic Hello can you please tell me how withdrawing a 401K will affect your taxes? I see the employer already withdrew federal taxes from the amount. in Retirement tax questions

Hello can you please tell me how withdrawing a 401K will affect your taxes? I see the employer already withdrew federal taxes from the amount.

haleymarierobertson — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:22:34 GMT

Re: Hello can you please tell me how withdrawing a 401K will affect your taxes? I see the employer already withdrew federal taxes from the amount.

Bsch4477 — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 22:21:03 GMT

The distribution is added to your ordinary income and taxed at your marginal tax rate. Hopefully the tax withheld will cover the tax owed on the distribution.

Re: Hello can you please tell me how withdrawing a 401K will affect your taxes? I see the employer already withdrew federal taxes from the amount.

VolvoGirl — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 22:23:03 GMT

You didn’t actually pay the tax or the 10% penalty (you pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you are under 59 ½). You had taxes withheld like from your paycheck. You still have to enter the whole gross amount (before taxes were withheld) with your other income to figure out the total tax (and it may put you into a higher tax bracket) and then the withholding is subtracted from the total tax to figure your refund or tax due. The Gross amount shows up on 1040 line 5a and the taxable amount on 5b. The withholding will show up on 1040 line 25b.

It has to break out and show the 10% penalty separately on your return (schedule 2 line 8 which goes to 1040 line 23). Then you get credit for all the withholding taken out on 1040 line 25b.