401(k) loan

SEVEN Q&As ABOUT COMPANY PLAN LOANS

Who can offer them? Most company retirement savings plans, such as 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans, are allowed to (but not required to) offer plan loans. Loans are not allowed from IRAs or SEP and SIMPLE-IRA plans. What is the maximum amount I can borrow? Plan loans are generally limited to the lesser of 50% of your vested account balance, or $50,000. Your employer can allow an exception to this rule: If 50% of your vested account balance is less than $10,000, you can still borrow up to $10,000. Example 1: Justin participates in a 401(k) plan that allows plan loans. Justin’s vested account balance is $16,000. If his plan doesn’t allow the exception, the most Justin can borrow is $8,000. If the plan allows the exception, he can borrow up to $10,000.

How to Avoid Taxes With an Outstanding Loan in Ex-Employer 401(k) Plan

Let's say that your employer's 401(k) plan allows you to take a loan against part of your 401(k) balance (generally the smaller of half of your vested balance or $50,000). You decided to take a loan and you’ve been repaying it by having it taken out of your paycheck. But now, you no longer work for that employer. Perhaps you retired, or voluntarily switched jobs, or maybe you were laid off. We explain how to navigate this scenario.

Loans From 401(k)s: Be Careful!

Over the past several years, as the U.S. economy has been struggling, more employees have turned to their company 401(k) plans for a quick source of cash by taking loans from their plan balance. Many 401(k)s offer a loan feature, in fact some plans make it so easy for employees to get a loan that they offer a 401(k) loan debit card!

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