Welcome! | Ask A Question

 
 
 
 
Question

Asked 10/16/2009

401K Loan

My position was abolished. I have a loan balance of approx $10,000.00. I wanted to rollover my 401K, but noticed that the loan balance is being taken away from my 401k balance. Should I roll over my 401K or wait until the 60 days has lasped? Or does it not matter? Im trying to find the cheapest way to handle this loan. I didn't really understand how a 401K loan worked. I knew I would have penalties, but thought it all would be reported as 1099 income. I would be paying the IRS $10,000 for a $10,000 loan, it's not making sense to me! I already took that out of my 401K and now I pay it back from my existing 401K, but the money goes to the IRS?!?

Maybe I am just very confused. Does anyone have any advice or maybe help me understand it because Im just not crasping it at all.

 
 
 
 
 
Answers

Answer 1/5 - Submitted 10/17/2009

You have two different things going on with your 401(k).

When you leave employment, any outstanding loan balance is deemed a distribution. It is subject to regular income tax and an early distribution penalty (if you don't meet any exceptions). It will be reported on a 1099-R, and it didn't have any taxes withheld at the time of distribution. It is no longer a loan, you cannot repay it any further.

If you want to roll your 401(k) over, either into an IRA or another employer's 401(k), then ask the them if they can do the rollover directly to the new trustee. If they can, then there will be no taxes withheld, and a trustee-to-trustee rollover has no tax consequences (though you should receive a 1099-R for it, showing no taxable amount).

If you aren't sure yet where you want to roll it, or if they can't rollover directly to the new trustee, then they will distribute to you and let you get it into the correct account (remember the 60 day limit here -- if you miss it by even a day, the whole thing becomes taxable). If the 401(k) cut a check to you, they are most likely going to withhold 20% for federal taxes. You either have to make up that amount from your own funds, or it will become taxable to you.

An example -- your 401(k) has $100,000 in it. The company sends you a check for $80,000 and says that the other $20,000 is withheld for federal taxes.
You have to deposit $100,000 into an IRA or other 401(k) for this to be a completely tax-free rollover.
If you can't, the tax situation is: you will receive a 1099-R for $80,000, which will show as taxable but you show on the tax return that it wasn't, and another 1099-R for $20,000 which didn't roll so it would be subject to income tax and penalty (if no exceptions apply).

So you might receive as many as three 1099-R's from this, including the one from your loan balance.

 
 

Answer 2/5 - Submitted 5/1/2010

Have you got a new position elsewhere? If you do have a new job the best thing to do would be to rollover your 401k. Speak to your new boss or head of finance at your new job and they should be able to advise you how to rollover your 401k.

 
 

Answer 3/5 - Submitted 10/6/2010

If you have joined a new company just get them to roll over your 401k.

 
 

Answer 4/5 - Submitted 2/14/2011

I'm guessing you got a new job with another company. As long as you did you can just rollover your 401k. The finance department at your new employer can explain the process of rollover for your 401k. In my opinion, this would be the best option for you.

 
 

Answer 5/5 - Submitted 11/19/2011

Inquire with your loan officer about rolling over existing 401k.

 
 
 
 
Answer This Question Now

Type your Answer in the box below and post your answer.

Learn more about how this works

 
 
 

Related Questions (Ask a New Question)

 
Company stopping 401k program, but i have a 401k loan

The company i work for is looking into firing the company that handles our 401k and instead having everyone roll their 401k money into self-managed stocks. however, i have an outstanding 401k loan that i'm only 12 months into paying. how is the company's decision going to affect me? currently...

See Answers

 
401k loan

I have a 401k loan through my employer. i'd like to refinance that loan. the 401k advisor and my hr person is stating that the new loan period is determined by an old date of a dead loan (settled). how can they do that? once a loan is paid off, which that one was, it is considered "dead".

See Answers

 
401k loan payment

My husband had a outstanding loan on his 401k. he took out another 401k loan and used part of that loan to pay off the first loan. the money went back into the 401k so we deducted the first loan amount from the second loan amount and paid taxes and penalties on the remaining amount. we had already...

See Answers

 
Related Questions

Company stopping 401k program, but i have a 401k loan


The company i work for is looking into firing the company that handles our 401k and instead...

 

401k loan


I have a 401k loan through my employer. i'd like to refinance that loan. the 401k advisor...

 

401k loan payment


My husband had a outstanding loan on his 401k. he took out another 401k loan and used part...

 

Paying back a 401k loan


Question, i have a 401k loan and wanted to know if i cash in my 401k does the loan get paid...

 

401k loan rolled over


I rolled over my 401k and a 401k loan that was with my previous company which was sold last...

 

Loan on 401k, layed off by company, can't repay loan so it will be a distribution, 10 penalty


My wife was just layed off after 15 yrs employment. we have a loan against her 401k. the...

 
 

See more 401k questions

 
 
 
 
 

Ask A Question

Ask a new question about
401k: